Zoning Board of Appeals

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Zoning Board of Appeals

 

The City of Utica Zoning Board of Appeals is a review board established by State and local law to address appeals from the strict application of the City's Zoning Ordinance.  The textual Zoning Ordinance and associated Zoning Map establish various districts throughout the City where various uses are either permitted or prohibited.  Additionally, the Zoning Ordinance sets forth the manner by which properties are to be developed, including setbacks, height and bulk restrictions and lot coverage.  The City's master plan serves as the basis for both the various regulations included in the Zoning Ordinance and the Zoning Map.

The Zoning Board of Appeals has a number of duties and responsibilities, as provided in Section 2-29-66 of the City of Utica Zoning Ordinance. 

Those duties include: zoning interpretation, overturning interpretations made by the Commissioner of Codes Enforcement, the Director of Planning, other City administrative officials and the Zoning Board itself, approve special uses, grant variances, granting approval for building within the bed of mapped streets, extension of district boundaries, granting of temporary uses and home occupation permits.

The Zoning Board of Appeals is comprised of five (5) members that are citizens of the City of Utica. Zoning Board members are appointed by the Mayor and serve no more than two consecutive five year terms.  The current list of Zoning Board of Appeals members include:

Fred Matrulli
Frank Donato
Wendy Tarver
Nedzad Smajic
George Clark


The City of Utica Zoning Board meets regularly on a monthly basis.  Generally, meetings are held at 5:00 PM on the third Tuesday of every month in the Common Council chambers of City Hall.  All meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals are open to the public and, as such, are advertised in the Observer-Dispatch.  In addition, all matters scheduled for review by the Zoning Board of Appeals are subject to additional public notice requirements.  Property owners within a 200-foot radius of any subject property are notified by mail of an owner's intent to seek a determination from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Due to public notice requirements and the need for review of applications by other State and local agencies, there is a pre-filing deadline for all agendas.  The schedule of meeting dates and the deadline for filing applications for the 2024 calendar year are as follows:

CITY OF UTICA

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 2024

5:00 PM

DEADLINE DATE

MEETING DATE

             AGENDA

December 21, 2023

January 16, 2024

VIEW

February 2, 2024

February 20, 2024

VIEW

March 1, 2024

March 19, 2024

 VIEW

March 29, 2024

April 16, 2024

VIEW

May 3, 2024

May 21, 2024

VIEW

May 31, 2024

June 18, 2024

VIEW

June 28, 2024

July 16, 2024

VIEW

August 2, 2024

August 20, 2024

 VIEW

August 30, 2024

September 17, 2024

VIEW

September 27, 2024

October 15, 2024

VIEW

November 1, 2024

November 19, 2024

 VIEW

November 27, 2024

December 17, 2024

VIEW

Use Variance

Area Variance

In order to be placed on the agenda, a complete application must be submitted by the applicant.  A complete application should include, at a minimum: completed application form, plot plan, photographs, the necessary environmental review (if necessary) and any other drawings or materials which will assist the Zoning Board of Appeals in their review of each application.  Additionally, each application should include the appropriate application fee, as set forth below:

Application Type

     Fee (check or money order)

Interpretation    

25.00

Area Variance

75.00

Use Variance

150.00

Building in mapped street

20.00

Temporary Use

100.00

Boundary Extension

20.00

Special Use

150.00


To check whether or not you proposed project is permitted without Zoning Board approval, see our searchable Zoning Code or call our offices at 315-792-0181.

Should you have any questions regarding the Zoning Board of Appeals, please contact Department of Urban & Economic Development staff at (315) 792-0181.