Sec. 495(22). Board of zoning appeals.
(a) A Board of Zoning Appeals is hereby established. It
shall consist of five (5) members to be appointed and exercise
such powers as provided by the laws of the State of Virginia.
(b) All petitions provided for in subsection 23(a) of this
section shall be in writing, signed by at least a majority of both
the property owners and residents who are within the area in
which the proposed change is requested. Said petition shall
specify the reasons for the proposed change, the change desired
in terms of districts, the names and addresses, as far as practicable,
of all property owners and residents within the area in which
the proposed change is requested, and shall specify clearly by
metes and bounds, or by courses and distances, or by plat and
survey attached thereto, the boundaries of the proposed area in
which the change is requested. Said petition, together with a
copy thereof, shall be presented to the Clerk of the Council, and
at the first succeeding meeting of the Council it shall be presented
to the Council for consideration, whereupon if the Council
deem it advisable, they shall name a Committee from their
own number, who shall investigate the advisability of having a
public hearing on the proposed change, and shall report their
findings at the next meeting of said Council. Upon said Council's
approval of a favorable report by said Committee, notice of
the proposed change shall be published in the newspaper at least
once a week for two consecutive weeks, which notice shall state
the time and place for the holding of a public hearing, on the
proposed change, the boundaries of the area which will be affected,
and the change proposed in terms of districts.
Whenever the Council shall order that notice of a public hearing
shall be given as hereinbefore provided for, it shall at the
same time refer a copy of the petition to the Board of Zoning
Appeals for report as is provided for by this subsection as is
heretofore prescribed for by this subsection.