This workshop is designed for local officials, staff, and others who want a more thorough understanding of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of planning commissions and boards of adjustment. What you will learn: (1) the legal authority and responsibility under Alabama law for planning commission and board of adjustment members – what each can do and cannot do; (2) Where the planning commission’s authority ends and the board of adjustment’s authority begins; the relationship between the city council and the planning commission; (3) how the law says an aggrieved party can appeal a determination by boards of adjustment, building inspector, etc.
TOPICS INCLUDE: (1) How Chapter 52 of the Code of Alabama assign responsibility for local planning among four governmental entities; (2) How the comprehensive or master plan is implemented in part through various regulatory devices. (The role of zoning in land use planning); (3) How the board of adjustment serves as a “safety valve” to minimize hardships; (4) Proper and improper uses of variances; (5) Administrative and legal issues in local planning: The test of “hardship,” “takings,” and other topics. A number of case studies and examples are used throughout the workshop to maintain the program’s focus on practical day-to-day issues faced by the typical Alabama municipality.