Board of Zoning Appeals Members:
Herbert Blachly, Raymond Schneider, Gary Dial, Ron Krysiak and Cal Arthur.

The Zoning of Zoning Appeals consists of five members of Lawrence Township who are appointed to a 5-year term by the Lawrence Township Trustees. The Board is a quasi-judicial body established by stature and its function is to hear:

1. Requests for variances from the terms of the Zoning Resolution
   The Lawrence Township Zoning Resolution regulates most building and land uses within the Township. Occasionally, a setback regulation, height or size requirement cannot be met by the applicant. Ohio law uses the variance procedure for these special cases. A variance is a waiver from compliance with a specific provision of the zoning regulations. It may be granted to a property owner by the Board of Zoning Appeals when practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship would occur from strict application of the Zoning Resolution. Most often, variances are requested for relief from dimensional requirements such as setbacks, height or size of buildings, fences, accessory buildings, or other improvements. In granting a variance, the Board may impose such conditions as it may deem necessary to protect the public health, safety, and morals and in furtherance of the purposes and intent of the Zoning Resolution. Variances cannot be granted to allow a use that is not permitted by the Lawrence Township Zoning Resolution.

2. Requests for conditional use certificates
   Most zoning regulations provide for conditional uses in their Zoning Resolution, which may be different from district to district. A conditional use is a special use having some uncommon or unique characteristics, which is specifically listed and permitted in a particular zoning district. The Board of Zoning Appeals holds a public hearing on the conditional use application and reviews the conditions; if they are satisfied that the conditions, as outlined in the zoning resolution, have been met, the applicant is entitled to a conditional use permit.

   A conditional use is normally an infrequent, unusual, and temporary use of land. Some examples of conditional uses are: landfills, strip mines, home occupations, and recreation parks and clubs.

3. An appeal from the decision of the Zoning Inspector
   The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the power to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order requirements, decision, or determination made by the Zoning Inspector in the enforcement of the Zoning Resolution. The Board will determine the validity of the appeal and proceed with deliberations to arrive at a fair and equitable decision or decide that the zoning inspector was correct.