Opinion ID: 1058461
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Semmes' Appeal from the Town BZA

Text: On May 24, 2006, Martha Semmes (Semmes), the Town's Director of Planning and Zoning, informed the County that pursuant to the PUGAMP, both localities would have to apply for a commission permit for HS-3 because it was not a feature shown on the plan. The School Board and the Board of Supervisors subsequently appealed Semmes' determinations to the Town BZA. Following a hearing, the Town BZA determined that it did not have jurisdiction to consider an appeal arising from matters in controversy outside of the Town's corporate limits. Semmes filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the circuit court pursuant to Code § 15.2-2314, seeking review of the Town BZA's decision. Specifically, Semmes contended that the PUGAMP had been implemented as part of the Town's comprehensive plan and, pursuant to Code § 15.2-2232 as incorporated into the Town's Zoning Ordinance, she had the authority as the Town Zoning Administrator to determine whether a proposed public use [within the UGA] is a feature shown on the adopted comprehensive plan. Semmes asserted that the Town Zoning Ordinance gives the Town BZA the authority to decide appeals where an error is alleged in any ... determination made by an administrative official in the administration or enforcement of [the Town Zoning] Ordinance, and therefore, the Town BZA erred in determining that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal.