Zoning Board of Adjustment

Meetings

  • 5 p.m.
  • 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month
  • City Council Chambers

    1250 SW District Drive
    Second Floor
    Ankeny, IA 50023

All Board of Adjustment meetings are open to the public.

Meeting Schedule

Applications & Guidelines

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are posted by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

The City of Ankeny Zoning Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial board compromised of five members appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. Members serve 5 years. There are no special requirements to serve.

  • Matt Ott, Chairperson
    Appointed: May 5, 2008
    Reappointed: Jan. 21, 2019
    Term Expires: Jan. 31, 2024
  • Jeffrey Baxter, Vice Chairperson
    Appointed: Feb. 1, 2016
    Reappointed: Feb. 1, 2021
    Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2025
  • Nichole Sungren
    Appointed: Mar. 5, 2012
    Reappointed: Jan. 18, 2022
    Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2026
  • Kristi Tomlinson
    Appointed: Sept. 6, 2005
    Reappointed: Jan. 20, 2020
    Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2024
  • Brett Walker
    Appointed: Oct. 19, 2015
    Reappointed: Jan. 21, 2019
    Term Expires: Jan. 31, 2024

Overview

The Zoning Board of Adjustment is empowered through Chapter 414 of the Code of Iowa and Chapter 197 of the Municipal Code to grant special exceptions as provided in the Zoning Ordinance and to hear appeals to decisions made in the enforcement of the Zoning Chapters.

The Board has the authority to allow variances to the Zoning Chapters for individual properties where provisions of the Chapter impose a unique and unnecessary hardship on the property owner and where the granting of a variance is not contrary to the intent of the Zoning Chapters or to the public interest.

The Board has no authority to allow a variance whose effect is not in harmony with the intended spirit and purpose of the Zoning Ordinance. A variance is not a right, and it shall not be granted for hardships that are created by the property owner.

The Board is also empowered through Chapter 196.02 to issue special permits authorizing the location of buildings or uses, as outlined in Chapter 196 of the Municipal Code, in any district from which they are prohibited by the Zoning Ordinance.

The City of Ankeny Zoning Board of Adjustment functions as a safety valve through which landowners can seek relief from the strict application of a zoning ordinance.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment was established in 1976.