Zoning Board of Appeals

Meetings

• 2021 Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Dates (PDF)

Members

The Zoning Board of Appeals is composed of six members.

History

The Zoning Board of Appeals has been making determinations concerning these types of applications since 1927 when the City of Mount Vernon created and enacted a Zoning Code.

Duties

The City of Mount Vernon is required by New York State Law to have a Zoning Board of Appeals to hear any grievances or discrepancies of the Mount Vernon Zoning Code. Therefore, the six-member Zoning Board of Appeals has specific duties that are clearly identified by New York State Law. The Zoning Board of Appeals is tasked with granting use variances, area variances as well as the interpretation of the Mount Vernon Zoning Code.

Reviewing use variances requires the Zoning Board of Appeals to examine whether the proposed use of land for a purpose which is otherwise not allowed or is prohibited by the applicable zoning regulations should be permitted.

The granting of area variances authorizes the Zoning Board of Appeals to determine whether the use of land in a manner which is not allowed by the dimensional or physical requirements of the applicable zoning regulations should be granted.

The interpretation of the Mount Vernon Zoning Code is also a power of the Zoning Board of Appeals; wherein, the Board makes a determination regarding the context and intent of the Mount Vernon Zoning Code.