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<section article="glu" article_name="Land Use" number="4-205" title_number="4" title_name="Zoning" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Designation and Adoption">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A legislative body may authorize the planning director or another designee to grant an administrative adjustment from the following requirements in a zoning law enacted by the legislative body:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>height;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>setback;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>bulk;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>parking;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>loading, dimensional, or area; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>similar requirements.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Before developing criteria and procedures for administrative adjustments under this section, the legislative body shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>consult with the planning commission and the board of appeals; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>provide:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>reasonable public notice of the proposed criteria and procedures;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>an opportunity for a public hearing; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>an opportunity for public review and comment.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The criteria for an administrative adjustment shall include:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>standards for actions on requests;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>standards for the classes of development that are eligible for an administrative adjustment; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the maximum variation from a zoning requirement that is allowed under an administrative adjustment.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Procedures for administrative adjustments may address:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>applications;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>notice to the public and to the parties in interest;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>an opportunity for a public hearing;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>an opportunity for the taking of testimony and evidence; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>decision making.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A decision on an application for an administrative adjustment shall include written findings of fact and conclusions of law.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>By enacting a local law or adopting a procedure, a legislative body may authorize the appeal to the board of appeals of a decision to approve or deny an administrative adjustment.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Nothing in this section is intended to authorize a local jurisdiction to allow an administrative adjustment to State or local requirements that are intended to protect environmentally sensitive areas such as streams, slopes, wetlands, natural heritage areas, or critical areas.</text>
  </level>
</section>
