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Resident alleges flawed ZBA process after ADU variance; council accepts documents for review
Summary
At public comment resident Don Purvis alleged the Zoning Board of Appeals failed to follow the five statutory variance factors, arguing the board's actions likely cost him about $50,000; council asked him to leave supporting documents with the city clerk for staff review.
During the public-comment portion of the Norcross council meeting, resident Don Purvis sharply criticized a recent Zoning Board of Appeals hearing and said the process likely cost him about $50,000 in property value.
Purvis said the ZBA opened its hearing by taking a show-of-hands for and against the motion, which he said was inappropriate for a quasi-judicial body, and that the board ignored the five statutory factors the city code requires for variance decisions. "There was not one single bit of discussion about these five criteria that the city code says this is what a variance should be based on," Purvis said, and described the respondent's petition and evidence as "a joke" in terms of applying the code standards.
Mayor and staff requested Purvis leave copies of his written materials with the city clerk for staff and counsel review. Purvis said he would provide the documents. The council did not adjudicate the claim during the meeting; staff indicated they would review the materials.
Why this matters: The complaint signals a public perception of procedural irregularity in quasi-judicial hearings; staff review of the submitted materials may prompt administrative clarifications or future agenda follow-up if substantive code or procedural issues are identified.
