APPEAL PROCEDURES
Appeals may be taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals when:
1. It is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement or decision made by the Zoning Enforcement officer or the Planning and Zoning Commission, or
2. When a variance is sought from the provisions of the Zoning Regulations. A variance may be permitted if the Board finds that a literal enforcement of the Zoning Regulations would result in exceptional difficulty or unusual hardship because of conditions especially affecting a parcel of land but not affecting generally the district in which it is located.
Appeals for variances may be submitted at any time. Appeals from an action of the Zoning Enforcement Officer or the Planning and Zoning Commission must be filed within thirty days after such action.
Any appeal concerning a variance for a lot containing or intended for the location of a single family residence or an addition or accessory building thereto and which is submitted before the fifteenth day of the month shall have its public hearing scheduled for the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. All other appeals or applications shall have the date of receipt as the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. The regular meetings of the Board are the first Monday of each month.
The Board shall within sixty-five days after receipt of the notice of appeal, hear such appeal and give due notice thereof to the parties. Notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be published in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in Voluntown at least twice at intervals of not less than two days, the first not more than fifteen days, nor less than ten days, and the last not less than two days before such hearing. Said Board shall decide such appeal within sixty-five days after the hearing.
Notice of the decision of the Board shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in Voluntown and addressed by certified mail to the appellant within fifteen days after such decision is rendered. A copy of the decision shall be filed with the Clerk of the Town of Voluntown.
Zoning Board of Appeals Meetings
The Zoning Board of Appeals meets on the First Monday of each month when there is an agenda.
- Appeal Procedures and Application Form, can be read and printed from here.
- ZBA Meetings are livestreamed and recorded and can be viewed on the Town of Voluntown CT- Government YouTube channel.
- ZBA minutes, agendas, and member list can be found, here: Town of Voluntown – Meeting Information (civicweb.net)
The Zoning Board of Appeals was created in accordance with Title 8, Chapter 124, Section 8-5 of the CT general statutes. The responsibility of the board is to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement or decision made by the official charged with the enforcement of chapter 124 or any bylaw, ordinance or regulation adopted under the provisions of this chapter and to hear and decide all matters including special exceptions and special exemptions under section 8-2g upon which it is required to pass by the specific terms of the zoning bylaws, ordinance or regulations in harmony with their general purpose and intent and with the due consideration for conserving the public health, safety, convenience, welfare and property values solely with respect to a particular parcel of land.
