Planning Commission
Second Tuesday
at 7:30pm

Zoning Board
of Appeals
Fourth Wednesday
at 6:00pm

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The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) consists of five residents of the Township who are appointed by the Township Board of Trustees. The ZBA is empowered by the Zoning Ordinance and state statute to grant variances to the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance upon findings of certain facts and/or conditions that exist. The ZBA is also empowered to make other decisions assigned to it by the Zoning Ordinance, upon certain findings and subject to specific requirements.

The Zoning Ordinance provides for three areas of Appeal:

1. A use or area (dimensional) variance;
2. An appeal of an Administrative decision; and
3. An interpretation of the Zoning Map or Zoning Ordinance text.

The ZBA cannot change the Zoning Ordinance text or the Zoning Map; this can only be performed by the Board of Trustees.

An area (dimensional) variance is granted upon a showing of “practical difficulty, generally created by a dimensional requirement in the Zoning Ordinance. The practical difficulty must apply to the property, not to the applicant. If granted, the variance is a license to violate a specific provision of the Zoning Ordinance. Area variances typically involve setbacks, height limitations, square footage requirements, bulk, lot area and other numerical standards in the Zoning Ordinance.

A use variance is granted upon a showing of “unnecessary hardship,” which again must apply to the property and not the applicant. If granted, the variance is a license to use the property in a way not allowed by the Zoning Ordinance.

Section 27.06 of the Zoning Ordinance establishes standards which apply to all variance requests.

Download a copy of Olive Township's Variance Request Form

Click here to review meeting minutes from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Meetings are held as necessary on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m.

e to Olivie Township!