R-22-BZA-01VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
RESOLUTION NO. 2022- R-22-BZA-01
A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR
THE DEERFIELD BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
WHEREAS, the Village of Deerfield ("Village") is a home rule municipality in
accordance with Article VII, Section 6 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois of 1970; and
WHEREAS, the Village's Board of Zoning Appeals (`BZA') has previously adopted
Rules of Procedure to govern the order and manner in which it conducts its meetings and
public hearings; and
WHEREAS, the BZA desires to amend its Rules of Procedure to keep its rules
consistent with State law and to continue to provide for orderly and efficient meetings and
public hearings; and
WHEREAS, the BZA has determined that it will serve and be in the best interest of
the Village and its residents to amend the Rules of Procedure in accordance with this
Resolution;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
APPEARANCE REVIEW COMMISSION, LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS,
as follows:
SECTION ONE: RECITALS. The foregoing recitals are incorporated into, and
made a part of, this Resolution as findings of the BZA.
SECTION TWO: ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT. The BZA hereby amends and
replaces its Rules and Procedures in their entirety with the Rules and Procedures attached
to this Resolution in the form of Exhibit A, which are incorporated herein.
SECTION THREE: EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution will be in full force and
effect from and after its passage, approval, and publication in the manner provided by law.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
100124727.11
AYES: Adams, Horne, Kessel, Kuczek, Kustusch
NAYS: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
PASSED: April 19, 2022
APPROVED: , 2022
RESOLUTION NO: R-22-BZA-01
ATTEST:
Kent S 1 Street, Village Clerk
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EXHIBIT A
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RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE
DEERFIELD BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
ADOPTED April 19 , 2022
I. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings when used in
these Rules of Procedure:
1. "Applicant" means a person or entity presenting an Application to the
BZA.
2. "Application" means an application for a variation or modification, an
appeal from a decision of the zoning administrator or building official, or
any other matter that is within the BZA's powers and duties to consider
pursuant to Section 2-152 of the Village Code.
3. 'BZA" means the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Village.
4. "Case" means the consideration of an Application by the Board.
5. "Village" means the Village of Deerfield, Illinois.
6. "Village Board" means the President and Village Board of Trustees of the
Village.
7. "Village Code" means "The Municipal Code of the Village of Deerfield,
Illinois, 1975," as it has been and may be amended from time to time.
8. "Zoning Ordinance" means "The Deerfield Zoning Ordinance 1978", as it
has been and may be amended from time to time.
B. Tense and Form. Words used or defined in one tense or form shall include other
tenses and derivative forms.
C. Heading. Headings provided are intended as a convenience to the user. In
case of any difference of meaning or implication between the text of these Rules
and any heading, the text shall control.
D. Conflicts. In the case of a conflict between these Rules and the codes and
ordinances of the Village or the laws of the State of Illinois or the United States,
such codes, ordinances and laws shall control.
E. Amendments. A copy of any proposed amendment to these Rules shall be
provided to all members of the BZA not less than three days prior to a vote on
the adoption thereof.
F Waiver. The chairperson may, upon good cause shown, waive any Rule that
relates solely to the conduct of the BZA's meeting or hearing and is not
mandated by Village codes or ordinances, or State law
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
MEETINGS
A. Open Meetings Act. All meetings of the BZA shall be scheduled and held, and
notice thereof shall be given, in the manner provided in the Open Meetings Act, 5
ILCS 120/1 et seq.
B. Regular Meetings. BZA meetings will be held on the third Tuesday of each
month at 7:30 P.M. in the Village Hall or other advertised place, unless such day
shall be a recognized holiday, for the purpose of holding public hearings and
conducting other business. Any regular meeting may be canceled by the BZA if
any case or matter is not ready to proceed, or if a quorum of the BZA is not
available for a regular meeting.
C. Special Meetings. The BZA may call and conduct such special or emergency
meetings as it determines may be necessary from time to time. To the extent
practicable, special meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month.
D. Joint Meetings. The BZA shall participate in joint meetings with the Village
Board, as they may be called by the Village Board from time to time. The BZA
may also call and/or participate in joint meetings with other boards and
commissions of the Village as may be necessary from time to time to perform
their powers and duties.
E. Worksho;)s. The BZA may hold such workshop sessions as it determines may
be necessary from time to time.
F. Notice of Absence. All members of the BZA shall notify the Staff Secretary, or
the Staff Secretary's designee, if they are unable to attend any meeting of the
BZA. Such notice shall be provided as far in advance as is practical under the
circumstances.
ORDER OF BUSINESS/AGENDAS
A. Establishing the Aenda. The Chairperson shall establish the items to be
included on the agenda for each meeting of the BZA. Each agenda shall be
established in consultation with the Staff Secretary. In establishing each agenda,
the Chairperson and Staff Secretary shall consider the number of pending
Cases, the complexity of such Cases, and any applicable time constraints for the
processing of such Cases; but in no event, without the prior consent of the
Chairperson, shall more than five Applications or cases be placed on an agenda
for a meeting.
Q
Order of Business. In general, the order of business for each agenda shall
contain the following items in the following order:
CALL TO ORDER
Performed by the Chairperson or the temporary chairperson.
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
C
2. ROLL CALL
Performed by the Staff Secretary or the Staff Secretary's
designee.
3. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
Consideration of any unapproved minutes of any previous BZA
meetings.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT TIME
Opportunity for members of the public to speak on topics not
otherwise appearing on the meeting agenda.
5. PENDING CASES
a. RECOMMENDATIONS AND DETERMINATIONS
Consideration of BZA Cases (in numerical order) on which
the BZA has previously directed the preparation of a
recommendation or determination for consideration and for
which the public hearing has been closed.
b. CONTINUED CASES
Consideration of BZA Cases (in numerical order) for which
the public hearing or meeting has previously been
convened and continued by the BZA, and on which
substantive evidence has been heard by the BZA.
C. NEW CASES
Consideration of BZA Cases (in numerical order) for which
no public hearing or meeting has previously been
convened or on which no substantive evidence has been
heard by the BZA.
6. OLD BUSINESS
Consideration of any matters previously before the BZA.
7. NEW BUSINESS
Consideration of any matters not previously before the BZA.
8. REPORT BY VILLAGE STAFF
Report by the Staff Secretary, or the Staff Secretary's designee, of
any activities or events of interest occurring since the last BZA
meeting or anticipated, including Village Board action on BZA
recommendations, actions of other boards and commissions on
BZA Cases, related Village staff activities, and pending legislation.
9. ADJOURN
Modification of Order of Business. The order of items on the agenda as
distributed may be modified or rearranged by the Chairperson, for good cause
shown, with the consent of the BZA.
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
D. Distribution of Agenda and Related Materials. The agenda for each BZA meeting
and all relevant materials prepared by applicants or Village Staff shall be
distributed to each BZA member by the Staff Secretary.
IV. CONDUCT OF HEARINGS AND MEETINGS
A. Robert's Rules of Order. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, current edition,
shall govern the conduct of meetings of the BZA. However, Robert's Rules of
Order shall not govern where they conflict with these Rules of Procedure or other
applicable law.
B. Standards of Decorum. All BZA members and all others attending meetings of
the BZA shall conduct themselves in a manner that shall not disrupt the business
of the BZA. The use of cellular phones in the meeting room is prohibited. The
Chairperson may indicate that persons who become personally abusive or in
other ways violate ordinary standards of decorum will be ruled out of order.
C. Public Comment and Participation
Rules Governing Public Comment Time.
a. The agenda of every regular and special meeting of the BZA shall
include a reservation of time for public comment ("Public
Comment Time").
b. Subject to Rule IV.C.1.d, the Chairperson shall recognize and
allow to speak any person desiring to speak during Public
Comment Time.
C. Public Comment Time is in addition to, and does not replace, the
opportunity for the public to speak during any duly convened
public hearing or meeting conducted by the BZA on a specific
case.
d. If a person desires to speak during Public Comment Time about a
matter or case that is the subject of its own agenda item at the
same meeting, and public comment will be allowed during that
agenda item whether by designation of the Chairperson or in the
course of a duly convened public hearing, the Chairperson may
require that person to speak about the matter during the agenda
item instead of during Public Comment Time. If no public
comment will be allowed during the specific agenda item, then the
person will be allowed to speak about the matter during Public
Comment Time.
e. The total amount of time allocated for Public Comment Time at
any meeting shall not exceed 30 minutes, unless determined
otherwise by the Chairperson. In the event that all persons
desiring to speak during the Public Comment Time are not able to
do so within the time limit allowed, the Chairperson may either
extend the time allocated for Public Comment Time, or allow for
continuation of Public Comment Time after the completion of all
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
other matters on the agenda, or as the BZA may otherwise
determine.
f. No person shall speak during the Public Comment Time for more
than three minutes, unless the Chairperson designates a longer or
shorter time period. Generally, the longer or shorter time period
will apply to all persons participating in the Public Comment Time
at the same meeting.
2. Rules Governina All Public Comment.
a. Each speaker should state their name and address in a
clear manner so that it can be recorded in the minutes of
the meeting. If a speaker chooses, they may decline to
provide their address.
b. If a speaker is representing, or speaking on behalf of, an
individual, group, or association, the speaker must state
the nature of that representation.
C. For speakers desiring to use audio or visual equipment in
connection with a presentation, arrangements for such use
must be made with the Village in advance of the meeting.
d. In the interest of promoting the efficient conduct of public
business, speakers should refrain from repeating their own
testimony and comments, and should refrain from
repeating testimony and comments that have previously
been provided to the BZA by other individuals.
e. Speaker time limits may be enforced by the Chairperson
f. No person should be discourteous, belligerent,
threatening, disparaging, or otherwise uncivil. The
Chairperson may limit the comments of any person who
engages in this conduct. No person may continue to
speak after the Chairperson has taken the floor from that
person.
g. All questions or statements from the floor should be
directed to the Chairperson and the members of the BZA.
All others may be ruled out of order.
h. The Chairperson shall have the right to interrupt a speaker
in order to enforce these Rules or other applicable rules.
Interruptions and Other Disturbances: No person shall
interrupt the proceedings of the BZA or cause any other
form of disturbance or disruption.
Any person violating the standards of process and
decorum set forth in these Rules may be evicted from the
premises of the meeting at the order of the Chairperson or
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
a majority of the BZA, or be subject to other action as
deemed necessary by the Chairperson and the BZA.
k. Any person shall have the right at any time to provide
written comments to the BZA by addressing those
comments to: the Village of Deerfield, c/o Building and
Code Enforcement Supervisor, 850 Waukegan Road,
Deerfield, IL 60015, and delivering the comments via any
of the following methods:
by personal delivery at the front desk of the Village
Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday;
by mail, courier, or any similar delivery service; or
iii. by email to the email address(es) of the current staff
member(s) for the BZA.
D. Procedures for Public Hearings and Meetings. Public hearings and meetings on
BZA Cases shall be conducted in accordance with the following general
procedures:
Introduction by the Chairperson.
a. General. The Chairperson shall begin each public hearing or
meeting on a case by announcing the name of the applicant, the
case number(s) and the relief requested in each case. The
Chairperson shall explain the procedures for the conduct of the
hearing or meeting, when oral testimony from the public will be
received and when and to whom written testimony can also be
submitted.
b. Swearing In Witnesses. The Chairperson shall administer an oath
to all persons intending to testify during the course of the hearing,
whether for the applicant or from the public.
2. Summary of Application. The Staff Secretary, or the Staff Secretary's
designee, shall explain, in summary form, the basic facts of, and relief
requested in, the Application. This summary may include relevant prior
history of the property or code provisions involved.
3. Ap;:licant's Presentation. The applicant shall present the Application in
such form and with testimony of witnesses and other evidence as it
deems desirable. During the applicant's presentation, BZA members, but
not the public, may ask questions that may be necessary to aid the BZA
or the public in understanding the material being presented. The
Chairperson may set a time limit for the applicant's presentation.
4 Questions by the BZA. At the conclusion of the applicant's presentation,
BZA members may ask such questions of the applicant's witnesses as
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
may be necessary to clarify material presented or the relief requested.
5. Public Testimony and Comment on BZA Cases. Members of the public
who are present shall have the right to address to the BZA their
questions, testimony, evidence and comments about the relief requested
and the evidence presented by the applicant and other members of the
public in accordance with the following rules.
a. At the start of the period for public testimony and comment on a
BZA Case, the Chairperson shall advise the public that all
information presented is under oath.
b. Each speaker must state their name in a clear manner so that it
can be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
C. Unless the Chairperson determines another time limit is
appropriate, at each BZA meeting at which public testimony is to
be heard on a specific Planned Development Case, each speaker
shall be limited to three minutes to provide their testimony. The
Chairperson may enforce the speaker time limits.
d. If a speaker is representing, or speaking on behalf of, an
individual, group, or association, the speaker must state the
nature of that representation. At the discretion of the
Chairperson, such a speaker may be granted more than three
minutes to speak.
e. For speakers desiring to use audio or visual equipment in
connection with a presentation, arrangements for such use must
be made with the Village in advance of the meeting.
f. In the interest of promoting the efficient conduct of public
business, speakers should refrain from repeating their own
testimony and comments, and should refrain from repeating
testimony and comments that have previously been provided to
the BZA by others.
g. The Chairperson shall allow each speaker to speak one time only,
unless the Chairperson determines that allowing a speaker to
address the BZA again will contribute new testimony or other
evidence.
No person may be discourteous, belligerent, impertinent,
threatening, disparaging, or otherwise uncivil. The Chairperson
may limit the comments of any person who engages in this
conduct. No person may continue to speak after the Chairperson
has taken the floor from that person.
All questions or statements from the public must be directed to the
Chairperson and the BZA members. The Chairperson shall
determine the manner in which responses to questions or
statements from the public will be handled. In general, following
the conclusion of all public participation, the Chairperson shall
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
direct the questions from the public to the applicant in an orderly
and consolidated manner for response.
After general public testimony and comment, the Chairperson will
open the floor to cross examination for those individuals that
request the right to cross examine by entering their names on a
sign in sheet for interested parties that has been made available
by the Village Staff (see Appendix A). The Chairperson shall
have the responsibility to enforce proper decorum. Questions
must be relevant to the subject matter as determined by the
Chairperson. Individuals that enter their names on the sign in
sheet for interested parties will be given an opportunity to cross
examine the petitioner, Village Staff or others. The Chairperson
may require some type of preliminary statement of the nature of
the evidence proposed to be elicited from the witness.
k. The Chairperson shall have the right to interrupt a speaker in
order to enforce these Rules or other applicable rules.
6. Response by the Applicant. The Chairperson shall allow the applicant a
reasonable time to respond to the public testimony and comments
presented.
7. BZA Discussion and Deliberation. Following public testimony and
comment and the applicant's response, the BZA may discuss, in an
orderly fashion, the Application and all material presented. No further
public testimony or comment nor further applicant information may be
presented without permission of the Chairperson. During this discussion,
members of the BZA may ask the Chairperson to direct additional
questions to the witnesses for the applicant or members of the public who
testified. Witnesses for the applicant or members of the public may not
address the BZA during this portion of the meeting without the consent of
the Chairperson.
8. BZA Action.
a. Based on the BZA's discussions, the BZA may (i) act on a
recommendation on the Application; (ii) where the BZA has
recommending authority on an Application, direct the Village Staff
and Village Attorney to prepare a draft recommendation for
consideration at a subsequent meeting; (iii) direct the applicant,
Village Staff and/or Village Attorney to provide new or additional
information in connection with the Application; (iv) enter a final
determination where the BZA has final authority to act on an
Application; or (v) take such other action as may be permitted by
law.
b. Prior to consideration of any other item of business, the BZA shall
consider whether a public hearing should be reopened for future
consideration of public testimony and comment.
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 2022
9. Continuances.
E. Voting.
a. Any applicant may request and shall be granted one continuance
of a public hearing on an Application. If an applicant fails to
appear at a scheduled hearing without giving prior notice to the
Staff Secretary, the hearing may be continued. Any further
requests for continuance by the applicant shall be subject to the
approval of the BZA for good cause shown.
b. If, during the course of a meeting, it becomes apparent that the
BZA cannot conclude an agenda item before 10:00 P.M., those
items may be continued to the next available BZA meeting.
On Applications. The BZA shall vote to make a decision on an
Application only with a written recommendation before it where the
applicable code or ordinance requires such a written recommendation. A
concurring vote of four members of the BZA shall be necessary to: (i)
reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of the Director
of Community Development or any administrative official of the Village
charged with the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance or Chapter 6 of
the Village Code; or (ii) to recommend any variation or modification to the
Village Board. A roll call vote shall be taken on all decisions regarding a
case before the BZA. Members absent from any portion of a hearing on
an Application should not vote on the matter unless they first reviewed the
entire record of such missed portion of the hearing and have fully
informed themselves of the essential facts and issues of the matter being
heard so as to be able to cast an informed and independent vote.
2. On Other Matters. Except as required by Paragraph 1 above, the BZA
may take such other action to conduct its business without a written
recommendation before it. In such cases, the vote required to approve
such an action shall be a majority of those present, unless another vote is
specifically required.
VI. TRANSMITTAL OF BZA DECISIONS
A. Transmittal. The Staff Secretary shall promptly transmit any resolution or other
recommendation of the BZA to the Village Board, the record of proceedings
before the BZA, and any additional materials received by the Village after BZA
action is taken; provided, however, that where the BZA possess final authority
over an Application, the Staff Secretary shall promptly transmit only the
resolution of the BZA to the Village Board. In addition, the Staff Secretary shall
identify any changes in the materials submitted to the BZA that are made
following the BZA action, as well as any change in circumstances affecting the
matter between BZA action and transmittal to the Village Board.
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Deerfield Zoning Board of Appeals Rules of Procedure Adopted April 19 , 2022
B. Representation at Villa a Board Meetings. A member of the BZA may attend
meetings of the Village Board where recommendations of the BZA are on the
agenda for consideration. This responsibility shall rest with the Chairperson or
the Chairperson's designee, and the member presenting the opinion should
agree with the majority.
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