City of Lorena is looking for volunteers to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the second Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. The Zoning Board of Adjustment meets on an as needed schedule.  Citizens must live in the city limits or ETJ of Lorena.

Establishment                                                                         

The Planning and Zoning Commission is established in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code.

Powers and Duties                                                                 

In addition to any authority granted to the Planning and Zoning Commission by state law, or other Ordinances of the City, the Planning and Zoning Commission may:

Make recommendations to the City Council about adoption, modification, and implementation of the comprehensive plan and supporting studies;

Make recommendations to the City Council concerning amendments to this Ordinance and the creation or modification of zoning districts;

Make recommendations to the City Council concerning the rezoning of land and approval of certain applications specified in this Ordinance;

 Make recommendations to the City Council about adopting or amending the Comprehensive Plan, and the Thoroughfare Master Plan;

Consider and report to the City Council about new public ways, lands, buildings, bridges, extensions, or street openings and their relation to the comprehensive plan;

Conduct related business and make other recommendations on matters that are specifically requested, assigned, or required by the City Council or Zoning Administrator.

Establishment                                                                         

A Zoning Board of Adjustment is established in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code.

Board Action                                                                           

The Zoning Board of Adjustment may:

Hear and decide an appeal that alleges error in an order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of state law regarding zoning or this Ordinance;

Hear and decide Special Exceptions to the terms of a Zoning Ordinance when the Ordinance requires the Zoning Board of Adjustment to do so;

Authorize in specific cases a variance from the terms of a Zoning Ordinance if the variance is not contrary to the public interest and, due to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship, and so that the spirit of the Ordinance is observed and substantial justice is done; and

Hear and decide other matters authorized by an Ordinance adopted under state law.

In exercising its authority under Subsection A.1, the Zoning Board of Adjustment may reverse or affirm, in whole or in part, or modify the administrative official’s order, requirement, decision, or determination from which an appeal is taken and make the correct order, requirement, decision, or determination, and for that purpose the Zoning Board of Adjustment has the same authority as the administrative official

The concurring vote of seventy-five (75) percent of the members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment is necessary to:

Reverse an order, requirement, decision, or determination of an administrative official;

Decide in favor of an applicant on a matter on which the Zoning Board of Adjustment is required to pass under this Zoning Ordinance; or

Authorize a variation from the terms of this Zoning Ordinance.

Please contact the City Secretary Monica Hendrix for more information or see the Lorena Zoning Ordinance for more information.