A.
The Deputy County Administrator of Planning and Growth Management,
the Deputy County Administrator's successor or a person duly authorized
by the County Administrator shall be the Zoning Officer.
B.
The Zoning Officer, or a duly authorized designee, shall have primary
responsibility for the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
C.
The Zoning Officer shall have the authority to:
(1)
Receive, review, analyze and make recommendations on all applications
filed under the provisions of this chapter for transmittal to the
Planning Commission or Board of Appeals.
(2)
Approve site plans required to be submitted pursuant to this
chapter.
(3)
Issue permits pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, issue
stop-work orders or revoke any permit upon violation of any of the
provisions of this chapter or any approvals granted based on the requirements
of this chapter.
(4)
Conduct inspections and surveys to determine whether a violation
of this chapter exists.
(5)
Seek criminal or civil enforcement for any provision of this
chapter and take any action on behalf of the County, either at law
or in equity, to prevent or abate any violation or potential violation
of this chapter.
(6)
Render interpretations, upon written request of an interested
person whose property may be affected, as to the applicability of
the chapter to particular uses and its application to the factual
circumstances presented.
(7)
Design and distribute applications, forms and notices required
by this chapter, requesting information which is pertinent to the
requested approval.
(8)
Perform such duties as are necessary for the proper enforcement
and administration of this chapter.
The Zoning Officer has the power to issue the following permits:
A.
Zoning permits. No building or other structure shall be erected,
nor shall any existing building or structure be moved, added to, enlarged
or structurally altered and no excavation for any building or other
structure shall begin until a zoning permit certifying compliance
with these regulations has been issued.
B.
Use and occupancy permits. No building, other structure or land shall
be used, nor shall any building, structure or land be converted, wholly
or in part, to any other use, except for agricultural uses permitted
by right under the provisions of this chapter, until a use occupancy
permit, certifying compliance with these regulations, has been issued.
C.
Sign permits. No permanent, freestanding or building signs may be erected without first obtaining a sign permit in accordance with Article XIX.
D.
Demolition permits. No building or other structures shall be razed,
demolished or removed, either entirely or in part, nor shall any of
said activities be commenced, without a demolition permit.
F.
Other permits. Additional permits may be required to enforce the
provisions of this chapter.
A.
The Zoning Officer will accept applications for any of the permits
listed above only from the owner of the subject property, an authorized
representative of the owner or a contract purchaser.
B.
The Zoning Officer may require an applicant to submit proof of ownership,
authority from the owner or contractual relationship with the owner.
C.
When required under the provisions or requirements of this chapter, a major or minor site plan, in compliance with Appendix A,[1] shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer along with the
application for a zoning permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
The Zoning Officer will only consider fully completed applications for the permits listed in § 297-430.
B.
The Zoning Officer will deem an application to be complete when it
contains all of the information that is necessary to decide whether
or not the development, if completed as proposed, will comply with
all of the requirements of this chapter.
C.
All applications to be approved by the Zoning Officer shall include the information set forth in Appendix A[1] of this chapter for the particular type of approval requested.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
D.
The Zoning Officer shall develop application forms, instructional
sheets, manuals, checklists or other techniques or devices to assist
applicants in understanding the application requirements and the form(s)
and type of information that must be submitted.
A.
The Zoning Officer will issue any permit authorized by this chapter
only when a review of the application submitted, including a site
plan and any other plan required, indicates that the development will
comply with the provisions of this chapter and any approval granted
by the Board of Appeals, Planning Commission and/or County Commissioners.
Any plans and applications finally approved are incorporated into
any permit issued, and all development shall occur strictly in accordance
with such approved plans and applications.
B.
A permit is issued when a copy of the fully executed permit is delivered
to the permit recipient, and delivery is accomplished when the permit
is hand-delivered or mailed to the permit applicant.
All permits issued by the Zoning Officer, based on plans or
applications approved by the County Commissioners, Planning Commissioner
and/or Board of Appeals, are deemed to authorize any such approved
uses, arrangements, construction or other matter allowed by this chapter.
Any use, arrangement, construction or other matter which deviates
from that authorized by the permit is a violation of this chapter.
A.
The construction standards for all off-site and on-site improvements
required by this chapter shall conform to all applicable County design
and construction standards. Appropriate County agencies will approve
the plans and specifications for all required improvements and shall
inspect the construction of such improvements to ensure conformity.
B.
Inspection during the installation of the on- and off-site improvements
shall be made by the Zoning Officer in order to certify compliance
with the approved site plan and applicable standards.
C.
Upon satisfactory completion of the required improvements, and after
having received verification by the appropriate County agencies, the
Zoning Officer shall recommend to the County Commissioners the release
of any bond which may have been furnished for the guaranty of satisfactory
installation of such improvements or parts thereof. This release shall
provide for 10% of the total bond to be retained for a period of 12
months after completion of all work. Said retainer shall be for the
protection of the County to remedy failures, discrepancies or other
defects in the previously approved improvements.
D.
The installation of such improvements shall in no case serve to bind
or obligate the County to accept responsibility for the maintenance,
repair or operation of such improvement in any way unless the County
determines that such on-site or off-site improvement, after completion,
will be dedicated to the County. In such case, a maintenance agreement
may be required by the County.
