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Board of Zoning Appeals
The Board of Zoning Appeals hears and acts upon any requests where the applicant claims that a permit or decision has been made in error by the Building Inspector or other official administering the adopted building code or zoning ordinance. This Board also reviews special permit uses as required by the Paris Zoning Ordinance.
The Board of Zoning Appeals has the authority to grant variances based on the following conditions found in the Zoning Ordinance:
Purpose and Intent. Pursuant to Section 13-7-207, Tennessee Code Annotated, the Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the power to hear and decide applications for variances from the terms of this ordinance, but only where, by reason of exceptional narrowness, shallowness or shape of a specific piece of property, which at the time of the adoption of this ordinance was a lot of record; or where, by reason of exceptional topographic conditions, or other extraordinary or exceptional situation or condition of a piece of property, the strict application of the provisions of this ordinance would result in practical difficulties to or undue hardship upon the owner of such property, provided that such relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intents and purpose of this ordinance. The purpose of the variance is to modify the strict application of the specific requirements of this Ordinance in the case of exceptionally irregular, narrow, shallow, or steep lots, or other exceptional physical conditions, whereby such strict application would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship which would deprive an owner of the reasonable use of his land. The variance shall be used only where necessary to overcome some obstacle which is preventing an owner from using his property as the Zoning Ordinance intended. For more information about the Board of Zoning Appeals, please see Title 11, Chapter 16 of the Zoning Ordinance or contact the Planning and Codes Department at 731-641-1410 or 731-641-1409.
The Board of Zoning Appeals is a seven member board and meets on an as needed basis. Members are appointed to three (3) year terms by the Mayor with Commission approval.
Board of Zoning Appeals Board:
Kathy Ray
Gayle Griffith
Rachel Terrell, Chairman
Lynda Searcy
Tara Wilson
Richard Edwards, Vice Chairman
Jackie Jones
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