(A) Zoning permit required.
(1) A valid zoning permit shall be presented with any application for a building permit.
(2) No building permit shall be issued for any activity in a zoned area until such zoning permit is approved.
(3) It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building or other structure including accessory structures or to commence the moving, alteration or repair of any structure or the use of any land or building including accessory structures, until the Zoning Administrator has issued a zoning permit for such work or use including a statement that the plans, specifications and intended use of such land, or structure, in all respects conforms with the provisions of this ordinance.
(4) The Zoning Administrator may withhold a zoning permit for lots or structures that do not meet minimum requirements.
(5) Application for a zoning permit shall be made in writing to the Zoning Administrator on forms provided for that purpose.
(6) Zoning permits shall be void after six months from date of issue unless substantial progress on the project has been made by that time.
(B) Approval of plans. It shall be unlawful for the Zoning Administrator to approve any plans or issue a zoning permit for any purpose regulated by this ordinance until he or she has inspected such plans in detail and found them in conformity with this ordinance. To this end, the Zoning Administrator may require that every application for a zoning permit be accompanied by a plan or plat drawn to scale and showing the following in sufficient detail to enable the Zoning Administrator to ascertain whether the proposed activity is in conformance with this ordinance.
(1) The actual shape, location and dimensions of the lot.
(2) The shape, size and location of all buildings or other structures to be erected, altered or moved and of any building or other structures already on the lot.
(3) The existing and intended use of all such buildings or other structures.
(4) Such other information concerning the lot or adjoining lots as may be essential for determining whether the provisions of this ordinance are being observed.
(C) Issuance of zoning permits.
(1) If the proposed activity as set forth in the application is in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance, the Zoning Administrator shall issue a zoning permit.
(2) If any application for a zoning permit is not approved, the Zoning Administrator shall state in writing on the application the cause for such disapproval.
(3) Issuance of a permit shall, in no case, be construed as waiving any provision of this or any other ordinance or regulation.
(D) Zoning compliance and certificates of occupancy.
(1) No new building or part thereof shall be occupied, and no addition or enlargement of any existing building shall be occupied, and no existing building after being altered or moved shall be occupied, and no change of occupancy shall be made in any existing building or part thereof, until the Zoning Administrator has issued a certificate of compliance and the Building Inspector has issued a certificate of occupancy. The change of occupancy provision shall not apply to rooms intended for transient rental.
(2) Application for a certificate of occupancy may be made by the owner or his or her agent at the same time as submitting an application for a building permit, if needed, or for a zoning permit. Upon approval of a certificate of zoning compliance, the certificate of compliance shall be issued if the Building Inspector after all final inspections have been made provided he or she finds compliance.
(3) In the case of existing buildings or other uses not requiring a building permit, after supplying the information and data necessary to determine compliance with this ordinance and appropriate regulatory codes of the town for the occupancy intended, the Zoning Administrator shall issue a certificate of compliance when, after examination and inspection, it is found that the building or use in all respects conforms to the provisions of this ordinance and appropriate regulatory codes of the town for the occupancy intended.
(4) No certificate of compliance shall be issued until address numbers are properly displayed.
(E) Other permits. The Zoning Administrator shall be authorized to issue other permits as required by this ordinance or the Board of Aldermen.
(F) Incomplete applications. The Planning Director may refuse to process any application that the Planning Director determines to be incomplete unless and until the applicant has submitted any missing information or materials. If the Planning Director determines that an application is incomplete, he or she shall notify the applicant of the specific missing information or materials.
(G) Pre-application conference.
(1) Before submitting an application for development approval, it is recommended that each applicant schedule a pre-application conference with the Planning Director or designee to discuss the procedures, standards and regulations required for development approval in accordance with of this ordinance; and
(2) A mandatory pre-application conference with the Planning Director or designee shall be required for the following development reviews:
(a) CAMA land use plan amendment;
(b) Special use permits;
(c) Zoning map change; and
(d) Conservation subdivision (after preparation of site analysis map).
(H) A mandatory pre-application conference with the Public Works Director or designee shall be required for the following development reviews:
(1) Traffic impact analysis; and
(2) Traffic impact analysis major special use permit.
(Ord. passed 7-1-2021) Penalty, see § 10.06