Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals Opening

The Steuben County Plan Commission has an opening for a volunteer to serve on both the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Plan Commission (PC) is a nine-member commission that helps guide and oversee community development. This body hears subdivision plats, planned-unit-developments, zone changes, vacations, and ordinance amendments.

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is a five-member board that hears petitions concerning the use and development of property within the Steuben County Plan Commission jurisdiction. The quasi-judicial body decides land-use variances, developmental standard variances, special exception uses, and appeals of decisions.

The volunteer may be required to attend one PC meeting and up to two BZA meetings per month. These meetings are held starting at 7:00pm on the first Wednesday of the month, PC, and the two following Mondays, BZA. The volunteer may also attend two monthly site surveys on the last Thursday and Friday of the month.

The individual selected to serve will be appointed by the Steuben County Board of Commissioners for a four-year term. The term will run through December 31, 2014. The position is likely to be filled starting in January or February of 2011. Training is available for interested individuals without previous experience.

Applicants must live within the Steuben County Plan Commission jurisdiction and cannot be an appointed or elected government official. Additionally, applicants cannot be a registered member of the Democratic Party. Indiana Code, IC-36-7-4-208, prohibits appointment of more than two citizen members from any single political party, and there are already two Democrats appointed to the Plan Commission.

Please contact the Steuben County Plan Commission immediately at 260 668.1000 x1600 or plancommission@steubencounty.com with any questions or to request an application.