The City Council shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of all appeals under this chapter, shall give due notice to all the parties and shall render its decision within a reasonable time. Any party may appear in person or by agent or attorney. The City Council may reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the decision or order appealed from and may make such decision and order as, in its opinion, ought to be made in the matter; and, to that end, it shall have all the powers of the Planning and Development Department, but the concurring vote of four-fifths of the members of the City Council shall be necessary to reverse or modify any decision or order of the Planning and Development Department. The City Council shall have the power also in passing upon appeals, when practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships would result from carrying out the strict letter of this chapter to adapt the application of the chapter of the necessities of the case to the end that the spirit of the chapter shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured and substantial justice done.
(1997 Code, § 152.22) (Ord. passed - -1997; Ord. 2010-26, passed 12-14-2010)