Boards, Commissions & Committees
Members of boards, commissions, or committees provide a positive service that is invaluable to the continued progress of our town. They may advise the Town Council and Administrator on a wide variety of issues by making recommendations on important policy matters.
Serving on a board, commission or committee can be a rewarding experience for community service-minded residents. It is an excellent way to participate in the functioning of local government and to make a personal contribution to the improvement of our community. If we are to have, a “Government of the people, by the people, for the people", we must have the continued participation of the many dedicated boards, commissions, and committee members. Making local government effective and responsive is everybody's responsibility.
Irmo citizens have an opportunity to actively participate in running the Town through their services on Town Boards, Committees, and Commissions. These groups help shape and carry out policy. An Irmo staff member works with each board to help it conduct business.
Note: Appointees must be residents of the Town of Irmo at the time of their appointment and at all times during their term in office. Additionally, Board or Commission members shall not hold public office as an elected official at the time of their appointment or at any other time during their term. Each Board and Commission member shall serve at the discretion of the Town Council. In addition, Board and Commission members shall serve without compensation throughout the duration of their appointment, but may be reimbursed for applicable expenses incurred on official duty, with authorization from the Town Council.
Active Boards/Commissions
The Town of Irmo Board of Zoning Appeals meets on the 3rd Monday of the Month at 6:00 p.m., as needed.
For BZA Agendas and Minutes, please click HERE.
For information on BZA membership, please click HERE.
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About Boards of Zoning Appeals in South Carolina
Administrative Review
The board has the exclusive power to hear and decide appeals where it is alleged the zoning administrator, in the enforcement of the zoning ordinance, erred in an order, requirement, decision or determination. In such cases, the board may reverse or affirm, wholly or in part, or may modify the order, requirements, decision or determination of the zoning administrator. The board has all the powers of the zoning administrator in such cases and may issue or direct the issuance of a permit.
When deciding an administrative appeal from a decision of the zoning administrator, the board is not bound by the conclusion or reasoning of the zoning administrator and may consider and apply the appropriate provisions of the zoning ordinance as dictated by the facts before it.
VariancesThe board has the power to hear and decide appeals (requests) for variances when strict application of the zoning ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship.
A variance allows the board to modify an otherwise legitimate zoning restriction when, due to unusual conditions, the restriction may be more burdensome than was intended. The variance must not impair the public purpose. To obtain a variance on the ground of unnecessary hardship, there must at least be proof that a particular property suffers a singular disadvantage through the operation of a zoning regulation. An owner is not entitled to relief from a self-created or self-inflicted hardship. A claim of unnecessary hardship cannot be based on conditions created by the owner nor can one who purchases property after the enactment of a zoning regulation complain that the nonconforming use would work a hardship upon him.
When deciding whether to grant or deny a variance, the board has some discretion; however, the board is not free to make whatever determination appeals to its sense of justice. The board must apply the standards prescribed by the zoning ordinance and the 1994 State Planning Act. Courts will not uphold a decision of the board to grant or deny a variance based on errors of law, fraud or lack of supporting evidence, or a board action that is arbitrary, unreasonable, discriminatory or an abuse of discretion.
Standard for Granting VariancesThe board may grant a variance in an individual case of unnecessary hardship if the board makes and explains in writing all of the following findings.
- Extraordinary conditions. There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property. Extraordinary conditions could exist due to size, shape, topography, drainage, street widening, beachfront setback lines or other conditions that make it difficult or impossible to make an economically feasible use of the property.
- Other property. These conditions do not generally apply to other property in the vicinity.
- Utilization. Because of these conditions, the application of the ordinance to the particular piece of property would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property.
- Detriment. The authorization of a variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property or to the public good, and the character of the district will not be harmed by the granting of the variance.
Other factors applicable to a variance also are prescribed by S.C. Code.
- Profitability. The fact that the property may be used more profitably, if a variance is granted, may not be considered as grounds for a variance.
- Conditions. In granting a variance, the board may attach conditions to it. These conditions may affect the location, character or other features of the proposed building, structure or use as the board may consider advisable to protect established property values in the surrounding area or to promote the public health, safety or general welfare.
- Use variance. Generally, the board may not grant a variance that would allow the establishment of a use not otherwise permitted in a zoning district, physically extend a nonconforming use of land or change the zoning district boundaries shown on the official zoning map. However, the 1994 Act does allow use variances to be authorized by a local zoning ordinance. Nevertheless, granting use variances is not a good zoning practice and is not recommended.
The board of appeals has the exclusive power to permit uses by special exception subject to standards and conditions in the zoning ordinance. The zoning ordinance must include the standards and conditions the board must follow when considering such appeals. Standards and conditions for special exceptions could relate to access, noise, screening, lighting, compatibility with adjoining uses and traffic generation. In some zoning ordinances, conditional uses granted after review should be designated as special exceptions.
Appeals to the Board
Appeals to the board and appeals from decisions of the board must follow the prescribed procedures. Appeals from administrative actions and decisions of the zoning administrator are taken to the board of zoning appeals, then to circuit court and finally to the state appellate courts. An appeal from an administrative decision of the zoning administrator is never taken to the governing body. Except for appeals of board decisions on use variances, appeals from decisions of the BZA on variances or special exceptions also are taken to circuit court and finally to the state appellate courts.
For Planning Commission Agendas and Minutes, please click HERE.
For information on Planning Commission membership, please click HERE.
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The Town of Irmo Planning Commission is a group of Town residents appointed by the Mayor and Town Council to serve as a citizen advisory group for the council on planning related issues. The Planning Commission is comprised of seven individuals representing a broad cross-section of the Town. The commission holds legislative meetings to make recommendations to the Town Council regarding annexations, rezonings, text amendments, and the Town’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Annexation
In South Carolina, residents are afforded the opportunity to specifically request as an individual (or group of neighbors) to incorporate their homes into the Town. There are three (3) primary methods to annex property into the Town of Moncks Corner; 100% ordinance, 75% petition/ordinance and 25% petition/election.
Property owners sign an annexation petition and submit it to the town via mail, email, or delivery. Because the petition must also seek zoning within the Town, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation of the requested zoning.
The petition for annexation is presented for approval at two separate Town Council meetings. Upon final reading, the property may be officially annexed into the town limits of Irmo, zoning is assigned, and town services will begin.
Zoning Map Amendment (Rezoning)Zoning districts are designed to place compatible land uses together while separating land uses that may have adverse impacts on each other. As areas transition over time, it may be necessary to change the zoning district of a property to allow development that may have not been previously compatible with the area. The public process to change a zoning district is called rezoning.
Property owners sign a rezoning application and submit it to the town via mail, email, or delivery. The Planning Commission will hear the rezoning request and provide a recommendation to the Town Council.
The petition for rezoning is presented for approval at two separate Town Council meetings. Upon final reading, the property may be officially rezoned and can benefit from the approved land uses for the new zoning district.
Text Amendment
A Text Amendment may be proposed to change or amend the ordinances for development and growth in the Town. This can occur to help clarify a standard or adopt regulations for growth to address the changing needs and desires of the community.
The Planning Commission may initiate a requested change or form a recommendation to the Town Council for official adoption. The request to amend an ordinance is then presented for approval at two separate Town Council meetings. Upon final reading, the requested amendment to the ordinance may be officially adopted.
Comprehensive PlanThe Planning Commission is responsible for the adoption, recommendation, review and updating of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. A Comprehensive Plan is the Town’s “blueprint” for growth and development for the next 10 years. It is designed to be a publicly engaged document on the community’s population growth, natural resources, land use, transportation systems, housing needs, community facilities, cultural resources and economy.
The Comprehensive Plan serves as a vital resource for the Planning Commission to make recommendations and the Town Council to consider planning related concerns.
The Irmo Okra Strut Commission shall consist of not less than five, nor more than seven, regular members who shall be appointed by the town council for three-year terms, staggered so that no more than three members shall expire in any given year.
Meetings are held for the Okra Strut Commission once per month.
View the 2023 Meeting Schedule