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. ZBA decisions are final and cannot be considered by any other board or commission of the Township; decisions may only be appealed to the Ottawa County Circuit Court.
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 of the Zoning Ordinance establishes standards which apply to all variance requests.
Download Olive Township’s Variance Request Form
Meetings are held as necessary on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Applications requiring review by the ZBA must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which you desire it to be considered. Please contact the Township Hall to verify all meeting dates as they are subject to change.
Zoning Board of Appeals Members:
- Kirk Assink — Board Member
- Douglas Brouwer — Board Member
- Dwayne Dreyer — Board Member
- Bruce Geurink — Board Member
- Bob Hoekwater — Board Member
- Steve Kushion — Zoning Administrator