Section 33:4780.7 - Board of adjustment; membership; powers and procedures; appeals from decisionsA.(1) The governing authority of St. Helena Parish may provide for the appointment of a board of adjustment and, in the regulations and restrictions adopted pursuant to this Subpart, may provide that the board may determine and vary the application of such regulations and restrictions in harmony with their general purpose and intent and in accordance with general or specific rules contained therein.(2) The board of adjustment shall consist of five members and may include two alternate members, all of whom shall be landowners and qualified voters of St. Helena Parish. The members of the first board shall serve terms as follows: one for one year, one for two years, one for three years, one for four years, and one for five years. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of five years each.(3) Of the two alternate members first appointed, one alternate member shall be appointed for a term of three years and the other for a term of two years. Thereafter, each alternate member shall be appointed for a term of three years. Alternate members shall serve only when called upon to form a quorum and when so serving shall have all the powers and duties of regular members.(4) All members shall be removable for cause by the appointing authority upon written charges and after public hearings. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term of any member whose position becomes vacant. The board shall elect its own chairman, who shall serve for one year.(5) The board shall adopt rules in accordance with the provisions of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this Subpart. However, no rules adopted by a board of adjustment, zoning administrator, or other official or official body appointed by the governing authority shall be effective until approved in writing by the governing authority.B.(1) Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairman and at such other times as the board may determine. The chairman, or, in his absence, the acting chairman, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the board shall be open to the public. The board shall keep minutes of its meetings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if the member is absent or fails to vote, indicating that fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be filed immediately in the office of the board and shall be public records. All testimony, objections thereto, and rulings thereon shall be taken down by a reporter employed by the board for the purpose.(2)(a) Appeals to the board of adjustment may be taken by any person aggrieved or by any officer, department, board, or bureau of the parish affected by any decision of the administrative officer. An appeal shall be taken within a reasonable time, as provided by the rules of the board, by filing with the officer from whom the appeal is taken and with the board of adjustment a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof. The officer from whom the appeal is taken shall forthwith transmit to the board all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.(b) An appeal stays all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from, unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken certifies to the board of adjustment after the notice of appeal shall have been filed with him that, by reason of facts stated in the certificate, a stay would, in his opinion, cause imminent peril of life or property. In such case, proceedings shall not be stayed otherwise than by a restraining order that may be granted by the board of adjustment or by a court of record on application or notice to the officer from whom the appeal is taken and on due cause shown.(c) The board of adjustment shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of the appeal, give public notice thereof, as well as due notice to the interested parties, and decide the appeal within a reasonable time. Any party may appear in person or by agent or by attorney at the hearing.(3) The board of adjustment shall have the following powers:(a) To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is error in any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the provisions of this Subpart or of any ordinance adopted pursuant thereto.(b) To hear and decide all matters referred to it or upon which it is required to pass pursuant to ordinance.(c) In passing upon appeals, where there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in the way of carrying out the strict letter of an ordinance, to vary or modify the application of any of the regulations or provisions of an ordinance relating to the use, construction, or alteration of buildings or structures or the use of land so that the spirit of the ordinance shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured, and substantial justice done.C.(1) In exercising its powers, the board may, in conformity with the provisions of this Subpart, reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirement, decision, or determination appealed from and may make such order, requirement, decision, or determination as ought to be made, and to that end shall have all the powers of the officer from whom the appeal is taken.(2) The concurring vote of a majority of the members of the board present and voting shall be necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of any administrative official, to decide in favor of the applicant on any matter upon which the board is required to pass pursuant to ordinance, or to effect any variation in the ordinance.Acts 1987, No. 355, §1, eff. 7/6/1987.