There shall be a quasi-judicial agency known as the Office of Zoning Administration. The duties of this office shall be performed by one or more Zoning Administrators as authorized by the Council, who shall be appointed by the Director of Planning subject to the civil service provisions of the Charter. If more than one Zoning Administrator is authorized, a position of Chief Zoning Administrator shall be established, the appointment to which shall be made by the Director of Planning, and the others shall be Associate Zoning Administrators. Subject to rules and regulations as may be prescribed by ordinance, the Office of Zoning Administration shall investigate and determine all applications for variances from any of the regulations and requirements of the zoning ordinances, and shall have other powers and duties with respect to zoning and land use as prescribed by ordinance.
The Council shall by ordinance provide time limits within which a Zoning Administrator must act for each type of case under his or her jurisdiction. If no determination is made by a Zoning Administrator within the prescribed time, the applicant may request that the matter be transferred to the jurisdiction of an Area Planning Commission or other board as prescribed by ordinance.
The Chief Zoning Administrator may adopt rules necessary to carry out the requirements prescribed by ordinance and which are not in conflict or inconsistent with those ordinances. All rules and regulations shall be available for inspection in the Office of Zoning Administration.