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Staff says generator siting cases are unique; commissioners warn of increased BZA workload if exceptions removed
Summary
Staff told the planning commission generator siting and encroachment variances to the Board of Zoning Appeals are case-specific and modest in number, while commissioners cautioned that removing ordinary exceptions could flood the BZA with applications.
Commissioners and staff discussed how many generator variance cases reach the Board of Zoning Appeals and what would happen to BZA workload if many common exceptions were removed. Staff said they see a modest number of generator variance applications each year—"probably 3 or 4 a couple a year"—and that each case is highly site-specific.
"Each case is pretty unique," the staff member said (staff member, speaker 4), describing BZA reviews that hinge on site conditions such as wetlands or constrained property lines. Other participants cautioned that eliminating many administrative exceptions would shift the burden to BZA review. "If the commissioners say it's too long of a list, you guys are gonna be inundated with BZA applications," one attendee warned (speaker 5).
Staff indicated it favors preserving a pathway to administrative approval for limited encroachments where reasonable, while recognizing the BZA remains the proper venue when true hardships or site constraints exist. No vote was taken; staff will factor the workload and uniqueness of cases into revised ordinance language.
