In accordance with Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 33:4726, the Winnsboro Planning Commission is hereby designated as the Winnsboro Municipal Planning and Zoning Commission.

Meetings of the zoning commission shall be held only after the closing of the planning commission meeting, and at such other times as the board may determine. The planning commission meeting shall be closed by declaration of the chairman. The planning commission minutes will be closed, and at this time the zoning commission meeting may be opened for business. All meetings of the board shall be open to the public.

The zoning commission shall keep separate minutes from the planning commission, showing the vote of each member upon each question; or if absent, or failing to vote, the board shall explain its actions. The minutes shall be immediately filed in the office of the commission and shall be a public record.

The zoning commission shall facilitate the administration of the details of this Zoning Ordinance, and when requested by the Winnsboro town council, the zoning commission shall hold public hearings whenever such hearings are required by this ordinance, and hear complaints filed in writing against any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the building inspector. Said zoning commission shall act as a fact-finding body and shall report to the Winnsboro town council the findings of each hearing, with recommendations as to the disposition of each case concerned. Provided, however, that any party aggrieved at the findings and recommendations of the zoning commission to the Winnsboro town council shall be entitled to a public hearing before the board of appeals and adjustments, with due notice thereof, as discussed in Article XIV, Section 4.

The zoning commission shall have the following powers and duties:

1.

Administrative review. To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged by the applicant that there is error in any order, requirement, permit, decision, implication, determination, or refusal made by the building inspector in the carrying out or enforcement of any provision of this ordinance; and to interpret the zoning map and ordinance.

2.

Special exceptions. To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of the ordinance upon which the zoning commission is required to pass under such ordinance.

3.

Variances. To hear and decide applications for variances from the terms of this ordinance, but shall grant variances only where by reason of exceptional narrowness, shallowness, or shape of a specific piece of property which at the time of adoption of this ordinance was a lot of record, or where by reason of exceptional topographic situations or conditions of a piece of property the strict practical difficulties to or undue hardship upon the owner of such property; provided that such relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intent and purposes of this ordinance.

3(1)

In granting a variance the board may attach thereto such conditions regarding the location, character, and other features of the proposed building, structure, or use as it may deem advisable in furtherance of the purpose of this ordinance.

3(2)

Before any variance is granted, it shall be shown that special circumstances attached to the property do not generally apply to other properties in the neighborhood.

A fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be posted with the building inspector with each appeal to the zoning commission; said fee is to defray costs of notices, the hearing, and any other miscellaneous expenses.

The Winnsboro town council is hereby designated as the board of appeals and adjustments. Meetings of the board of appeals shall be held only after the closing of the town council meeting or at any other called time. The town council meeting shall be closed to declaration of the Mayor of Winnsboro. The minutes of the town council meeting shall be closed, and at this time the board of appeals may tend to business at hand.

An appeal to the board of appeals and adjustments may be taken by any person, firm, or corporation aggrieved, or by any governmental officer, department, other board, or bureau affected by any decision of the zoning commission based in whole or in part upon the provisions of this ordinance. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the board of appeals and adjustments a notice of appeal, specifying the grounds thereof.

The building inspector and planning and zoning commission shall transmit to the board of appeals and adjustments all papers constituting the record upon which the appeal action was taken. The zoning commission will also transmit to the board of appeals and adjustments their findings and recommendations on this same case. The board of appeals and adjustments shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of the appeal; give proper notice three (3) times of a public hearing before the board by publishing such notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Winnsboro, at least ten (10) days prior to the date set for the public hearings; provide written notice to the parties of interest, mailed five (5) days prior to the date set for the hearing; and decide same within a reasonable time. At the hearing, any person or party may appear and be heard in person, by agent, or by attorney.

A fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be posted with the building inspector with each appeal to the board of appeals and adjustments; said fee is to defray costs of notices, the hearing, and any other miscellaneous expenses.