Board of Zoning Appeals

INFORMATION REGARDING Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting:

This meeting of the Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals will be conducted in person, but some of the members may appear remotely. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public can access the livestream by going to www.leawood.org for the live link. The public is strongly encouraged to access this meeting electronically; however, if you wish to comment on a public hearing item either in person or by Zoom, please contact Wade Thompson at wadet@leawood.org to make arrangements.

Public comments will only be accepted during the public hearing portion of each agenda item where a public hearing is required. The City encourages the public to submit comments in writing prior to the public hearing by emailing comments to wadet@leawood.org. Written public comments received at least 24 hours prior to the meeting will be distributed to members of the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Overview

The Board of Zoning Appeals is a seven-member board that is appointed by the governing body. The Board shall administer the details of appeals from, or other matters referred to it regarding, the application of the Leawood Development Ordinance. Specifically, the Board of Zoning Appeals shall hear appeals, determine requests for variances and exceptions and requests for setback modifications all as set forth in the Leawood Development Ordinance.

Regular meetings of the Leawood Board of Zoning Appeals are held the fourth Wednesday of each month except for the months of November and December, which the meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday. All meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, Leawood City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive.

Citizens may address the Board on items under discussion if recognized by the Chairman. Persons requiring any accommodation (i.e. qualified interpreter, hearing assistance, etc.) in order to attend a Board meeting should notify City Hall at (913) 339-6700 x160 no later than 48 hours prior to the scheduled commencement of the meeting.

The Governing Body of Leawood cannot overturn a decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals. If the request is denied, an applicant may appeal the decision to the District Court of Johnson County, Kansas. Such an appeal shall be filed within 30 days of the final decision of the Board.

Board of Zoning Appeals Paperwork

The following information and application is intended to assist in preparation and submission of the necessary papers for a Board of Zoning Appeals action.

Explanation of a Variance

A variance applies only to provisions such as required setbacks, height regulations, parking regulations, etc. The BZA may not grant a variance that would permit a use not allowed in that zoning district. KSA 12-759 states a request for a variance may be granted upon a finding by the board that all of the following conditions have been met:

  • The variance request arises from such condition which is unique to the property in question and which is not ordinarily found in the same zone or district, and is not created by an action or actions of the property owner or applicant;
  • The granting of the variance will not adversely affect the rights of adjacent property owners or residents;
  • The strict application of the provisions of the Leawood Development Ordinance will constitute unnecessary hardship upon the property owner represented in the application;
  • The variance will not adversely affect the public health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity or general welfare; and
  • Granting the variance will not be opposed to the general spirit and intent of the Leawood Development Ordinance.

Application Procedure

  1. Applications may be obtained at the Department of Planning and Development, City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive. After completing the application, submit it with any attachments to the Department of Planning and Development with the $150.00 application fee.
  2. City staff will review the request and advise the applicant if any other information is required. Applicant’s seeking a variance shall address each of the 5 conditions set forth under “explanation of a variance”. Applicant’s seeking an exception shall address each requirement as set forth in the Leawood Development Ordinance. The application will be scheduled on the next available BZA agenda. Applicants must notify all property owners within 200 feet of the subject property and the homes association by certified mail no less than 20 days prior to the hearing. The city will provide the letter and the addresses to the applicant after the agenda has been set for the next meeting. No action is necessary until you have been contacted by the city which will be after the application deadline date.
  3. The applicant or applicant’s representative must be present at the BZA meeting to present the request. Applicants may bring maps, photos, or other materials that might assist in explaining the request. Adjacent property owners and other interested parties will be allowed to speak at the hearing when called upon by the chairperson.
  4. The Board will deliberate and decide to approve the request, deny the request, or defer the request for further study. Applicants will receive written notification of the BZA’s decision.

Forms

BZA Schedule and Deadlines

Agendas and Minutes

2023

Click here for 2023 BZA agendas and minutes.

2022

December 21, 2022 Meeting

November 16, 2022 Meeting

October 26, 2022 Meeting

September 28, 2022 Meeting

August 24, 2022 Meeting

July 27, 2022 Meeting

June 22, 2022 Meeting

May 25, 2022 Meeting

April 27, 2022 Meeting

March 23, 2022 Meeting

February 23, 2022 Meeting

January 26, 2022 Meeting

2021

December 15, 2021 Meeting

October 27, 2021 Meeting

September 22, 2021 Meeting

August 25, 2021 Meeting

July 28, 2021 Meeting

June 23, 2021 Meeting

May 26, 2021 Meeting

April 28, 2021 Meeting

March 24, 2021 Meeting

February 24, 2021 Meeting

January 27, 2021 Meeting

2020

December 16, 2020 Meeting

October 28, 2020 Meeting

September 23, 2020 Meeting

August 26, 2020 Meeting

July 22, 2020 Meeting

June 24, 2020 Meeting

February 26, 2020 Meeting

January 22, 2020 Meeting – Cancelled

2019

December 18, 2019 Meeting

November 20, 2019 Meeting

October 23, 2019 Meeting

September 25, 2019 Meeting

August 28, 2019 Meeting

July 24, 2019 Meeting

June 26, 2019 Meeting

May 22, 2019 Meeting

April 24, 2019 Meeting

March 27, 2019 Meeting

February 27, 2019 Meeting

January 23, 2019 Meeting

2018

December 19, 2018 Meeting

November 28, 2018 Meeting

October 24, 2018 Meeting

September 26, 2018 Meeting

August 22, 2018 Meeting

July 25, 2018 Meeting

June 27, 2018 Meeting

May 23, 2018 Meeting

April 25, 2018 Meeting

March 28, 2018 Meeting

February 28, 2018 Meeting

January 24, 2018 Meeting

2017

December 20, 2017 Meeting

November 15, 2017 Meeting

October 25, 2017 Meeting

September 27, 2017 Meeting

August 23, 2017 Meeting

July 26, 2017 Meeting

June 28, 2017 Meeting

May 24, 2017 Meeting

March 22, 2017 Meeting

February 22, 2017 Meeting

January 25, 2017 Meeting

2016

November 16, 2016 Meeting

October 26, 2016 Meeting

September 28, 2016 Meeting

August 24, 2016 Meeting

July 27, 2016 Meeting

May 25, 2016 Meeting

April 27, 2016 Meeting

March 23, 2016 Meeting

January 27, 2016 Meeting

2015

December 16, 2015 Meeting

November 18, 2015 Meeting

October 28, 2015 Meeting

September 23, 2015 Meeting

August 26, 2015 Meeting

July 22, 2015 Meeting

May 27, 2015 Meeting

April 22, 2015 Meeting

March 25, 2015 Meeting

February 25, 2015 Meeting

January 28, 2015 Meeting

2014

December 17, 2014 Meeting

October 22, 2014 Meeting

September 24, 2014 Meeting

August 27, 2014 Meeting

July 23, 2014 Meeting

June 25, 2014 Meeting

May 28, 2014 Meeting

April 23, 2014 Meeting

February 26, 2014 Meeting

2013

October 23, 2013 Meeting

September 25, 2013 Meeting

August 28, 2013 Meeting

July 24, 2013 Meeting

June 26, 2013 Meeting

January 23, 2013 Meeting

2012

January 25, 2012 Meeting

Board Members

  • Bill Clawson, Chair (2024)
  • Mel Hawk, Vice-Chair (2024)
  • Charles ‘Bud’ Munson (2024)
  • Dr. Gregory Peppes (2026)
  • Dana Farrington (2024)
  • Gary Bussing (2025)
  • Pat Dunn (2025)

Staff Liaison: