Zoning Board of Appeals Application

Applying For a Public Hearing Before the Zoning Board of Appeals

Zoning Board of Appeals meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, at Township Hall, 4200 Telegraph Road. In the event of a holiday or Election Day, the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings are typically held on the third Tuesday of the month.

In the event a meeting date needs to be changed, the Board members will be notified and a notice will be posted at Township Hall.

Applications are accepted no later than the first day of the month prior to the meeting or when the 20th agenda item has been submitted.

After your application has been reviewed, our staff will let you know what meeting agenda you will be placed on.

Please note: the homeowner, applicant or other representative on behalf of the homeowner, must attend the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in order for the Board to take action.

Before You Begin

Online Application Checklist

Please note there are attachments required in order to submit this online application. You cannot save form in progress, so be sure to have the following ready before you begin:

A narrative/letter of explanation explaining the reason(s) for the request.
A landscape plan (proposed and/or existing) is required for new construction, accessory structures, and retaining walls. A landscaping plan shall indicate types, size, and species of plantings.
A complete set of scaled drawings reduced to 8 1/2 x 11 inch indicating:
1. Accurate dimensions of the proposal including details on the type of materials and proposed color.
2. Elevations (front, sides and rear) showing building materials and window and door locations.
3. Full site plan with accurate dimensions from all lot lines to the proposal.
Color site photos.

Additional Requirements

Please note the following additional requirements which can be completed within 3 business days of submitting the online application:

Application fee
1. See fee schedule <link to fee schedule page>
2. Pay online
3. Pay in person during normal business hours: M-Th 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Check or cash payable to Bloomfield Township.
Two (2) complete sets of scaled drawings (for new construction, additions/alterations) indicating:
1. Accurate dimensions of the proposal including details on the type of materials and proposed color.
2. Elevations (front, sides and rear) showing building materials and window and door locations.
3. Full site plan with accurate dimensions from all lot lines to the proposal.
A CD or thumb drive containing all plans and photos submitted.

Subdivision Associations

Subdivision Association comments should be provided no later than the night of the scheduled meeting. Association will be notified as part of legal noticing.
As a courtesy, the Planning Division will notify the subdivision association if association comments are not shown on the plans at the time of application for building permits.
1. Zoning Board of Appeals approvals shall be valid for a period no longer than one year unless a building permit has been obtained within the one-year period.
Building permit applications must be submitted with separate copies of plans (contact the Building Division at 248-433-7715 for further information). Building permits will be issued upon compliance with building codes and Township ordinances.

Online Application

After your application has been reviewed, our staff will let you know what meeting agenda you will be placed on.

Please note: the homeowner, applicant or other representative on behalf of the homeowner, must attend the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in order for the Board to take action.

Type of Zoning *

Residential

Commercial

General Information

Owner's Name *

Owner's Phone: *

Owner's Street Address *

Owner's City *

Owner's State *

Owner's Zip *

Owner's Fax

Owner's Email *

Contact Name *

Contact Phone *

Business Name *

Business Phone *

Business Street Address *

Business Fax *

Business Email *

Subject Property

Subject Property Address *

Parcel(s) tax ID number(s) *

Appeal

Colored Site Photos *

Please take site photos of your property with the directions labeled on each picture. Please include several angles/view including: front of the home, toward the existing/proposed structure location, and views facing away from the structure.

Landscape Plan *

Please include as much information as possible, including type of plantings, species and height at time of planting.

Detailed Description of Request *

Pursuant to Article II, Section 42-53 of the Zoning Ordinance, the undersigned hereby makes application to the Board of Zoning Appeals for either: *

Choose one

Dimensional Variance

Permission Request (Accessory Structure Uses)

Interpretation

Required 1 *

Proposed 1 *

Required 2

Proposed 2 *

A Dimensional Variance is a variance from any standard requirement of the ordinance such as deviation from setbacks, parking, landscaping, density, height or bulk regulations. A Dimensional variance requires you to prove practical difficulty. The standards that the Zoning Board of Appeals will use in determining whether a practical difficulty exists require you to provide responses to the following questions. Additional information may be attached.

1. Why would strict compliance with the zoning ordinance prevent you from using your property for a permitted purpose or be unnecessarily burdensome? *

2 Why is your variance request fair to other property owners? *

3. Would a lesser variance than you are requesting allow you to use the property as desired? *

4. Describe the circumstances unique to your property (that are not generally applicable in the immediate area or to other properties in the same zoning district), which create the need for the variance. *

5. Explain why the need for the requested variance is not self created (due to the actions of the applicant, owner, or their predecessors). *

6. Please add any additional information you wish to include here (optional).

Section 42-5.1 of the Bloomfield Township Zoning Ordinance provides that accessory structures proposed to be added to a lot containing an already existing principal building or use shall be subject to review and approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Please note, structures meeting provisions under General Exceptions, Section 42-3.10 are exempt from this requirement. Specifically, the Board of Zoning Appeals when considering whether to approve an accessory structure that is proposed shall apply the standards that are set forth in Section 42-7.6. All uses as listed in any district requiring Board approval for a permit shall be of such location, size, and character that, in general, it will be in harmony with the appropriate and orderly development of adjacent properties. The standards the Zoning Board of Appeals will use in determining whether an accessory structure should be approved require you to provide responses to the following questions. Additional information may be attached.

1. What is the nature and intensity of the use and how will it affect adjoining properties? *

2. How will the sized, layout, and its relation to pedestrian and vehicular traffic to and from the use, cause disruption to adjacent properties? *

3. How will the location and height of buildings; the location, nature and height of walls, fences; and the nature and extent of landscaping of the site be such that it will not negatively impact adjacent land and buildings? *

4. How will the nature, location, size, and site layout be harmonious to the neighborhood? *

5. How will the location, size, intensity, and site layout be objectionable to nearby dwellings, by reasons of noise, fumes or flash of lights of a greater degree than is normal, or interfere with adequate supply of light or air, or increase the danger of fire or otherwise endanger the public safety? *

6. Please include any additional information you would like us to consider here (optional).

Section No. *

Has a building permit been refused for this request? *

Yes

If you are applying for a fence, is there a dog/dogs on the property?

Yes

Is this an existing condition? *

Yes

If so, is this appeal the result of an Ordinance Violation? *

Yes

Please provide Subdivision Association comments here. If unavailable, please provide prior to the meeting.

Digital Signatures

By signing and submitting this application, the property owner and contact person are indicating that all information contained in this application, all accompanying plans and all attachments are complete and accurate to the best of his or her knowledge. The parties also acknowledge that this agreement is the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability, and admissibility. This application is not valid unless signed by the property owner.

An application fee <link to online pay> is required at the time of application in accordance with the fee schedule <link to fee schedule> as adopted by the Board of Trustees.

I hereby authorize the employees and representatives of Bloomfield Township to enter and conduct an investigation of the above referenced property.

Typed Signature of Property Owner *

Typed Signature of Property Co-Owner

if applicable

Typed Signature of Contact Person *

Today's Date: *

What to Expect After Submittal of Your Application

A Township Planning Division staff member will contact you if any additional information is required for your application; otherwise your application is complete for the Board's consideration.
Please note, not all photos submitted with your application will be used in the PowerPoint prepared by Township staff.
If you have not done so already, please contact your homeowner's association as soon as possible, to allow them an opportunity to review your plans prior to the public meeting. You may also contact adjoining property owners to allow them to review your plans, and see if they will provide you a letter or email of support (forward to Planning staff to be added to your application file).
If the need for any revisions to your application or plans should arise, please contact Planning staff immediately so that we can determine if changes can be addressed at the same meeting.
Fifteen days prior to the public hearing, legal notices are mailed to all property owners and homeowner's associations within 500 ft. of the subject property.
An agenda will be posted to the Township's website the Thursday prior to the public hearing. Check this if you would like to see the order of the agenda:
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/
The night of the public hearing, the ZBA chairman will ask each applicant to come to the podium and briefly explain their request. Be prepared to answer any questions from the Board. It is not necessary to bring your plans since staff will have a PowerPoint presentation containing the plans.
The ZBA can approve, deny, or table your request (or any portion of it) to the next meeting.
If approved, remember to apply for required permits with the Building Division within the timeframe noted in the ZBA's motion. You do not need documentation showing ZBA approval since this is handled internally.
Planning staff is here to assist you through this process. If you should have any questions, please contact Andrea Szajnecki: aszajnecki@bloomfieldtwp.org at 248.433. 7795.

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