Board of Zoning Appeals

Mission
The mission of the BZA is:

• To hear and decide appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative officer in administering or enforcing the zoning ordinance
• To authorize variances from zoning ordinance requirements under specific circumstances
• To hear and decide applications for interpretation of the district map where there is any uncertainty as to the location of a district boundary.

Membership Composition
Membership is comprised of 5 County residents appointed by the Circuit Court judge with recommendations for appointments made by the Board of Supervisors. Members are not required to be appointed by electoral district, but it is the practice of the Board to recommend appointment by district. The Circuit Court, upon the request of the County, may appoint a maximum of 3 alternates to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

Requirements
Members shall not concurrently hold another public office in the County but one member may also be a member of the Planning Commission. Composition requirements are set forth in Code of Virginia §15.2-2308 and Article 34 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Swearing In
All members must take an oath of office, given by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, to qualify.

Term

• Board members are appointed to 5-year terms and can serve an unlimited number of terms.
• Initial appointments shall be made for a term to allow not more than 1 membership to expire each year.
• Appointments to fill vacancies shall only be for the unexpired portion of the term.
• A member whose term expires shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
• The secretary of the Board shall notify the Circuit Court promptly of any vacancy that occurs, and not less than 30 days prior to the scheduled expiration of a current member’s term.

Meeting Notifications

• All meetings are public hearings that must be advertised for 2 successive weeks in a local newspaper of record. Advertisements must run no sooner than 5 days before the meeting date, and no later than 21 days before the meeting date.
• Closed meetings may be held in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). (Reference Powhatan County Zoning Ordinance, Article 34; Code of Virginia § 15.2-2204, notice of public hearing).
• Adjacent landowners are notified if there are any issues pending which would affect them.

Compensation
Compensation for serving on this board is $30 per meeting if member attends.