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Series II: Board of Zoning Adjustment records, 1923-1997, undated

 Series

Scope and Contents

This series contains committee meeting minutes from the Board of Zoning Adjustment’s review of applications and appeals for zoning variances. Types of variances included requests for new building projects or home renovations; special use permits; district rezoning, such as rezoning a house to operate business; and lot resizing. Of particular note is an application from the Westminster School Inc. to build schools and boarding buildings and the Atlanta Merchandise Mart’s appeal against the the boards' decision to halt construction. This series also includes a folder of decision letters sent to applicants and reports drafted by the board secretary that contained fact-checked findings collected about the property, finding conclusions, and staff recommendation of approval or denial. In 1975, the board began recording their public hearings, so the written minutes became less detailed. The videotapes, on which the minutes were recorded, are available in the City of Atlanta records at the Atlanta History Center.

Dates

  • 1923-1997, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

In 1955, the Atlanta Board of Zoning Appeals consolidated with the Fulton County Board of Zoning Appeals, both of which made recommendations regarding the establishment of business and housing zones, to become the Atlanta-Fulton County Joint Board of Adjustment, commonly called the Board of Adjustment. It served as an appeals body for zoning regulations that involved “hardship cases.” In 1975, the board reformed into the Board of Zoning Adjustment and continued to hear applications for variances, special exceptions regarding zoning ordinance, and appeals to administrative decisions. In 2017, the Board of Zoning Adjustments became part of the newly titled Department of City Planning.

Extent

4.59 linear ft. (eleven document cases)

Language

From the Collection: English