KRS § 100.217 Board of adjustment -- Membership -- Appointment -- Terms -- Vacancies -- Oath -- Compensation -- Removal -- Officers -- Effect of compact -- Membership upon establishment of consolidated local government.

100.217 Board of adjustment -- Membership -- Appointment -- Terms -- Vacancies -- Oath -- Compensation -- Removal -- Officers -- Effect of compact -- Membership upon establishment of consolidated local government. (1) (a) Before any zoning regulation may have legal effect within the planning unit, a board or boards of adjustment shall be appointed for the planning unit as stated in the agreement under which the unit operates. The agreement may provide for a joint board of adjustment. The agreement may provide for additional boards of adjustment with jurisdiction of a particular city or area within the planning unit. Provided, that the jurisdiction of the boards of adjustment so established shall be clearly defined as to territorial limits, that all territory within the planning unit is within the jurisdiction of some board of adjustment so established and, that no territory is subject to the jurisdiction of more than one (1) board of adjustment, except as provided in KRS 100.203(5). (b) Except as provided by paragraph (c) of this subsection, in a county containing a consolidated local government where a planning agreement is not required, there shall be one (1) board of adjustment which shall be established by ordinance of the consolidated local government. Until such time as the consolidated local government establishes and appoints a board of adjustment pursuant to this subsection, the existing board of adjustment for the county shall serve as the board of adjustment for the entire planning unit. (c) A city with a population equal to or greater than twenty thousand (20,000) based upon the most recent federal decennial census within a county containing a consolidated local government where a planning agreement is not required may establish, by ordinance, a board of zoning adjustment under the provisions of this section. If such a city creates a board of zoning adjustment, then that board of zoning adjustment shall have exclusive jurisdiction within that city's territorial boundaries. (2) (a) A board of adjustment shall consist of either three (3), five (5), or seven (7) members, all of whom must be citizen members, and not more than two (2) of whom may be citizen members of the planning commission. (b) A joint board of adjustment shall consist of no fewer than three (3) members, all of whom must be citizen members, and no more than two (2) of whom may be citizen members of the planning commission. Each appointing authority whose jurisdiction is represented by the joint board shall be entitled to appoint one (1) member to represent that jurisdiction. (3) The mayor shall be the appointing authority for cities, and the county judge/executive shall be the appointing authority for counties, subject to the approval of their respective legislative bodies. The mayor shall be the appointing authority for a consolidated local government pursuant to the provisions of KRS 67C.139. (4) The term of office for the board of adjustment shall be four (4) years, but the term of office of members first appointed shall be staggered so that a proportionate number serve one (1), two (2), three (3), and four (4) years respectively. (5) Vacancies on the board of adjustment shall be filled within sixty (60) days by the appropriate appointing authority. If the authority fails to act within that time, the planning commission shall fill the vacancy. When a vacancy occurs other than through expiration of the term of office, it shall be filled for the remainder of that term. (6) All members of boards of adjustment shall, before entering upon their duties, qualify by taking the oath of office prescribed by Section 228 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky before any judge, county judge/executive, notary public, clerk of a court, or justice of the peace within the district or county in which he resides. (7) Reimbursement for expenses or compensation or both may be authorized for members on a board of adjustment. (8) Any member of a board of adjustment may be removed by the appropriate appointing authority for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or conflict of interest. Any appointing authority who exercises the power to remove a member of the board of adjustment shall submit a written statement to the commission setting forth the reasons for removal, and the statement shall be read at the next meeting of the board of adjustment, which shall be open to the general public. The member so removed shall have the right of appeal from the removal to the Circuit Court of the county in which he resides. (9) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, when a city of the first class and a county containing such city have in effect a compact pursuant to KRS 79.310 to 79.330, the terms of the members on the board shall be for three (3) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Upon the effective date of the compact, if the board is not reorganized pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the mayor, and county judge/executive with approval of the fiscal court, shall adjust the terms of the sitting members to provide that the terms of one-third (1/3) plus one (1) of the members expire in one (1) year, the terms of one-third (1/3) of the members in two (2) years, and the terms of one-third (1/3) of the members expire in three (3) years. Upon expiration of these staggered terms, successors shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years. Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, upon the establishment of a consolidated local government in a county where a city of the first class and a county containing such city have had in effect a cooperative compact pursuant to KRS 79.310 to 79.330, the terms of the members on the board shall be for three (3) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Upon expiration of the terms of incumbent members, their successors shall be appointed to three (3) year terms which are staggered. (10) Each board of adjustment annually shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary and any other officers it deems necessary, and any officer shall be eligible for reelection at the expiration of his term. Effective: July 14, 2018 History: Amended 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 130, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2018. -- Amended 2014 Ky. Acts ch. 92, sec. 194, effective January 1, 2015. -- Amended 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 56, sec. 1, effective July 12, 2012. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 147, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 77, sec. 20, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 141. sec. 23, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 184, sec. 3, effective July 15, 1980. -- Created 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 172, secs. 35 to 43.