Sec. 924. (a) In establishing the alternate procedure under section 923 of this chapter, the plan commission may adopt rules or recommend ordinances:

(1) limiting the kinds of variance, special exception, special use, contingent use, or conditional use petitions or applications that may be filed under the alternate procedure;

(2) permitting the hearing officer, in appropriate circumstances, to transfer a petition or an application filed under the alternate procedure to the board of zoning appeals;

(3) requiring the creation of minutes and records of the proceedings before the hearing officer and the filing of the minutes and records as public records; and

(4) regulating conflicts of interest and communication with the hearing officer, so as to require the same level of conduct as is required by the 900 series of this chapter.

(b) The staff (as defined by the zoning ordinance), if any, may file a written objection to a petition or an application for a variance, exception, or use if:

(1) it would be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the community; or

(2) the use or value of the area adjacent to the property included would be affected in a substantially adverse manner.

(c) If a written objection is filed under subsection (b), the petition or application shall:

(1) be considered withdrawn; or

(2) be transferred to the board of zoning appeals if requested by the petitioner or applicant.

(d) The staff (as defined by the zoning ordinance), if any, may indicate that it does not object to the approval of the variance, exception, or use if specified conditions are attached. If the petitioner or applicant does not accept these conditions, the petition or application shall:

(1) be considered withdrawn; or

(2) be transferred to the board of zoning appeals if requested by the petitioner or applicant.

(e) The hearing officer may impose conditions and may permit or require the owner of a parcel of property to make a written commitment concerning the use or development of that parcel, as provided in section 1015 of this chapter. If the petitioner or applicant for the variance, exception, or use does not accept these conditions or make the commitment, the petition or application shall:

(1) be considered withdrawn; or

(2) be transferred to the board of zoning appeals if requested by the petitioner or applicant.

(f) The hearing officer may not modify or terminate any commitment, whether made under this section or section 1015 of this chapter. Commitments made under this section may be modified or terminated only by the board of zoning appeals.

(g) A decision of a hearing officer under the alternate procedure may not be a basis for judicial review, but it may be appealed to the board of zoning appeals. An interested person who wishes to appeal a decision of a hearing officer under the alternate procedure must file the appeal with:

(1) the board of zoning appeals if the board of zoning appeals consists of only one (1) division; or

(2) a division of the board of zoning appeals if the board of zoning appeals consists of more than one (1) division;

within five (5) days after the decision is made.

As added by P.L.357-1983, SEC.21. Amended by P.L.320-1995, SEC.16; P.L.126-2011, SEC.32.