[Amended 9-19-1978 by Ord. No. 3-1978; 4-20-2004 by L.L. No. 3-2004]
There shall be a Zoning Board of Appeals of seven members as provided by law.
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have all the powers and duties prescribed by law and by this chapter, which are more particularly specified as follows, provided that none of the following provisions shall be deemed to limit any power of said Board that is conferred by law:
A. 
Interpretation. On appeal from an order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative official or on request by any official, board or agency of the City to decide any of the following questions:
(1) 
Determination of the meaning of any portion of the text of this chapter or of any condition or requirement specified or made under the provisions of this chapter.
(2) 
Determination of the exact location of any district boundary shown on the Zoning Map.
B. 
Variances. To authorize a use variance or area variance in accordance with the requirements of § 81-b of the General City Law.
C. 
Temporary certificate of occupancy. To authorize, upon denial of a certificate of occupancy, the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy for a period not to exceed 90 days during the completion of any alterations that are required under the provision of any law or ordinance or for a part of a partially completed building. Such temporary certificate shall not be construed as in any way altering the respective rights, duties or obligations of the owner or of the City respective to the use or occupancy of the land or building or any other matter covered by this chapter. No such temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued unless the Board finds:
(1) 
That denial of a certificate of occupancy prior to completion of the alterations or of the building would cause unnecessary hardship; and
(2) 
That the safety of the occupants of the building and of adjacent buildings and land would be adequately assured under such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe.
The powers and duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be exercised in accordance with its own rules of conduct and procedure, which rules shall be consistent with and pursuant to all the provisions of City law applicable thereto.
A. 
In addition, at least 10 days before the date of any public hearing, the Building Inspector shall transmit to the Secretary of the Planning Board a copy of any appeal or application, together with a copy of the notice of such hearing. The Planning Board shall submit to the Zoning Board of Appeals an advisory opinion on said appeal or application at any time prior to the public hearing, and such opinion shall be made known to the public at such hearing and made part of the official record thereof.
B. 
Unless work is commenced and diligently pursued within one year of the date of the granting of a variance or special permit, such variance or permit shall become null and void.
C. 
All appeals and applications made to the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be in writing, on forms prescribed by the Board, and shall be accompanied by a fee which shall be determined by the rules and regulations of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
D. 
Every appeal or application shall refer to the specific provisions of the chapter involved and shall exactly set forth the interpretation that is claimed, the use for which the special permit is sought or the details of the variance that is applied for and the grounds on which it is claimed that the variance should be granted, as the case may be.
E. 
Every decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be recorded in accordance with standard forms adopted by the Board and shall fully set forth the circumstances of the case and shall contain a full record of the findings on which the decision is based. Every decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be recorded and filed with the City Clerk by case number, together with all documents pertaining thereto.
F. 
All the provisions of this chapter relating to the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be strictly construed; the Board, as a body of limited jurisdiction, shall act in full conformity with all provisions of law and of this chapter and in strict compliance with all limitations contained herein; provided, however, that if the procedural requirements set forth in this chapter have been substantially observed, no applicant or appellant shall be deprived of the right of application or appeal.