The Zoning Board Of Adjustment is a "quasi-judicial" administrative body that performs the following duty: to hear and decide appeals from; and to review and order requirements, decisions, or determinations made by the Zoning Administrator. The Board's function is that of granting variances and/or Special Exceptions.

A variance is a permit which the Zoning Board Of Adjustment may grant in certain situations, enabling a property owner to make use of his/her property in some way that conflicts with the literal provisions of the Brunswick County Unified Development Ordinance.

Specific Exceptions are required in instances where certain land used are not permitted outright because of their unique characteristics.

First, schedule a meeting with a staff member. This may be done by contacting the Planning Department: plan@brunsco.net, 910-253-2025 or 800-621-0609.

Information Needed:

• Address of property in question.
• Property owner's name.
• Parcel number of property (available from the Tax Office).
• Detailed Site Plan

When the specific request is determined, a formal application is submitted to the Planning Department not fewer than 30 days before the Planning Board meeting.

The application should include the following:

• A detailed statement of all proposed uses of the property.
• Completed application forms.
• Site plan showing all buildings, outdoor facilities, parking lots, all signs, proposed lighting, sanitation facilities, and utilities. Site plan must include dimensions of parcel of land, dimensions of existing structures and/or proposed structures -- including set backs (i.e., distance from adjacent properties).
• Detailed plan for any amplification or other entertainment equipment located outdoors.

After the Zoning Administrator has reviewed the Application for completeness, a date will be scheduled for public hearing by the Board Of Adjustment.

Before the case is heard by the Board Of Adjustment, the Zoning Administrator reviews the application and prepares a public notice to be mailed to all adjacent property owners. A sign is placed on the property to notify interested parties that a special exception/variance request is pending. Anyone interested in a particular request may call the Planning Department to address their questions. Public notice concerning the request -- as well as the time, date, and place of Board Of Adjustment meeting -- is mailed to adjacent property owners.

At the Board Of Adjustment meeting, the property owner or his agent, who must be present at the meeting, can explain plans for the property including a description of its proposed use.

The Case Hearing is not to solicit broad public opinion about how the board should vote on a matter; rather, it is a time for submittal of relevant factual evidence into the record by applicants, opponents, and staff -- all parties being sworn in advance at the opening, as required by State statute.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Zoning Administrator shall place into the record relevant evidence as a series of findings of fact.

Next, at this same meeting, the Zoning Board Of Adjustment shall make a full statement of both the evidence and findings, and either:

• Issue the Special ExceptionVariance as is; or
• Issue the Special ExceptionVariance with further appropriate conditions and safeguards; or
• Deny the request.