HomeMy WebLinkAboutZoning Board of Appeals - ZBA - Charge - Revised January 2006 BOARD OF APPEALS
Members: 5 Full Members
6 Associate Members
Appointed by: Board of Selectmen
Length of Term: Full members-5 year,staggered
Associate members- 1 year
Appointments made: September 30
Meeting Times: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month
Description: Under the Zoning By-Law,the Board issues special permits for use of property,grants variances from
dimensional requirements of the By-Law,and hears appeals from decisions of the Building Commissioner.
Criteria for Membership—Individual:
1) Shall have had significant experience and activity in town affairs related to matters within the purview of the
Board of Appeals as evidenced,for example,by:
•Membership on major town boards such as Selectmen,Planning Board,and Conservation Commission
•Town meeting membership
•Involvement in land-use related community activities,including zoning matters
2) Shall have lived in Lexington for at least eight years. This residency requirement is suggested for the Board of
Appeals whose power and impact are so far-reaching that special emphasis is placed on deep-seated knowledge
and familiarity with development issues. Fairness and balanced judgment are essential to the decision process.
3) Before appointment to full membership,shall have been an associate member for at least two years.
4) Shall have no major land-holding interest in Lexington.
5) Full members shall not hold membership on any other major boards(i.e.Planning Board,Board of Selectmen,
School Committee,Historic Districts Commission,or the Appropriation Committee).
6) Full members who have served consecutively for the equivalent of two full terms(10 years)or more shall not
be re-appointed until after a lapse of at least one year.
Collective: It is highly desirable that the Board of Appeals should include people with various specialties such as:
Legal training and experience;Engineering background;Environmental and/or conservationist experience; and
Architectural and/or design training
Ref.: Lexington Code Chapter 135 §10;MGL Chapter 40A§12.
Selectmen designated as Special Municipal Employees on April 24, 1963.
Selectmen reaffirmed designation as Special Municipal Employees on January 18,2006.