Boards and Commissions
Board of Zoning Appeals
The Lawrence Board of Zoning Appeals is a seven-member citizen board appointed by the Lawrence City Commission. They operate in a quasi-judicial capacity and are empowered to conduct public hearings and make decisions on individual cases involving the administration of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Lawrence.
The Board has code authority to consider the following type of applications: 1) to render an interpretation of any provision of the ordinance or Zoning Districts Map; 2) to grant exceptions to the provisions of the ordinance where there is specific code authority given to them to consider such an exception; 3) to grant a variance from the provisions of the ordinance when there is a finding that certain conditions deprive an individual from reasonable capacity to use their land as others in the same zoning district; and, 4) to consider an appeal made by any individual who feels they have been harmed by an action, a decision or an alleged error in the enforcement of the ordinance by an administrative official.
Decisions made by the Board are final. Anyone may appeal a decision made by the Board to the Douglas County District Court for a determination of the reasonableness of the Board's action. These guidelines were established in K.S.A. 12-759 et seq., the Lawrence City Commission adopted an ordinance establishing the creation of a board of zoning appeals.
