Naperville City Council members unanimously approved an amendment to the city code that gives members of the Zoning Board of Appeals authority to grant variance requests.
The power change was established to help streamline the process and eliminate the duplication of efforts by two city boards.
Previously, the City Council had the ultimate power to grant variance requests. Giving the Zoning Board final say on variances will simplify and expedite the process, ease the City Council’s obligation to visit each site seeking a variance and reduce meeting agenda items, Zoning Board members said.
It takes a petitioner three months to complete the process now. Transferring power to the Zoning Board of Appeals will reduce that time to one month.
The new guidelines also establish the City Council as the body for reviewing appeals and give the Zoning Board authority to initiate a zoning text amendment. The amendment also requires all notification signs to include date, time and location of a public hearing.
