Board of Zoning Appeals

Meetings

  • 6:30 p.m.
  • 4th Thursday of each month
  • Town Hall
    726 Broadway
    Chesterton, IN 46304

Members

The board is made up of 5 members, who are selected in accordance with IC 36-7-4-902(a); current members are:

  • Joseph Ackerman
  • Richard Riley
  • James Kolwaski
  • Joel Carney
  • Fred Owens

Composition

There are 3 citizen members (i.e., not elected or appointed officials of the town) appointed by the Town Council President:

  • 1 of these appointments must be a Plan Commission member
  • 1 citizen member appointed by the Town Council, who must not be a Plan Commission member
  • 1 member selected by the Plan Commission from its membership, who may not be the same Plan Commissioner appointed by the Town Council President

Partisan

There is no partisan for this board.

Secretary

Gail Murawski is the secretary for this board.

Terms

Initially staggered, then each new appointment is for a 4-year term; members may be removed from office by the appointing authority.

Duties

Duties of the board is set forth more specifically in Section 303 (G) of the Subdivision Control and Zoning Ordinance. Generally, the Board of Zoning Appeals will:

  • Hear appeals from decisions of administrative officers regarding enforcement of the zoning ordinance
  • Hear and decide petitions for variances from the uses and development standards set forth in the zoning ordinance
  • Hear and decide petitions for special exceptions