B. - Office Of Zoning Administration

B. OFFICE OF ZONING ADMINISTRATION

1. Establishment.

There is hereby established an office of zoning administration, hereinafter called the "office"; there is hereby vested in the office the duties of administering and enforcing this ordinance and the power necessary for such administration and enforcement. The zoning administrator shall be the officer in charge of the office.

2. Administration.

In carrying out its administrative duties the office shall:

a. Building, permits, certificates of occupancy, special plans. Review all applications for building permits, certificates of occupancy, and approvals of special plans hereunder; approve or disapprove such applications as they related to zoning and make the necessary certifications and issue the necessary certificates and approvals of special plans.

b. Applications for amendment. Receive all applications for amendments to this ordinance, including the zoning map; refer such applications to the planning commission for examination and hearing and submit to the police jury all such applications together with the recommendations of the planning commission.

c. Procedures. Establish and administer rules and regulations for proceedings with and within the office, together with the regular forms for such proceedings, and a schedule of fees for processing amendments, issuing certificates and registering in its records those matters and things required by this ordinance to be registered.

d. Zoning map. Maintain the zoning map showing the current classification of all land.

e. Record of actions. Maintain records of all action taken by the office under this ordinance.

f. Zoning commission. Intervene for and on behalf of the parish in all public hearings before the zoning commission, present facts and information to assist the commission in reaching a decision, resist and oppose any deviations from the standard provisions of this ordinance and have decisions of the zoning commission reviewed in a court of proper jurisdiction when, in the judgment of the zoning administrator and with the approval of the police jury, such review is desirable.

g. Initiation of amendments. Propose and recommend the enactment of such amendments to this ordinance, including the zoning map as are made desirable or necessary because of changing conditions or because of judicial or administrative proceedings or for the purpose of improving administration and enforcement, all in accordance with the amendment procedure set forth herein.

3. Enforcement.

In carrying out its enforcement duties the office shall:

a. Investigations and surveys. Conduct investigations and surveys to determine compliance or noncompliance with the provisions of this ordinance. Incidental to such surveys and investigations, an authorized representative of the office may enter into and upon any land or structure other than a dwelling to be inspected or examined.

b. Enforcement. Issue written orders requiring compliance with the provisions of this ordinance; such orders shall be served personally or by registered mail upon the person, firm, or corporation deemed by the office to be violating the provisions of this ordinance; provided, however, that if such person, firm, or corporation is not the owner of the land on or the structure in which the violation is deemed to exist or to have occurred, a copy of the order shall be sent by registered mail to the owner of such land or structure, the owner to be determined from the tax roll for the preceding year in the office of the tax assessor of Natchitoches Parish. The date of mailing shall be deemed the date of service of any order served by registered mail.

c. Legal proceedings. Institute, in courts of proper jurisdiction, proceedings for the enforcement of the provisions of this ordinance and administrative orders and determinations made hereunder when in the judgement of the zoning administrator and with the approval of the mayor such measures are desirable.

4. Appeals from the office.

Any person aggrieved or any officer or department may appeal to the zoning commission from any order or decision of the office.

a. Procedure. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the office and with the zoning commission, within the time provided by the rules of the commission, a notice of appeal specifying the particular grounds upon which the appeal is taken. Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the office shall transmit to the zoning commission all of the original documents and materials, or true copies thereof, constituting the record upon which the order of decision appealed from was based.

b. Effect of appeal. An appeal from the office to the zoning commission shall stall all proceedings unless the zoning administrator certifies that, by reason of the facts stated in the certificate, a stay would in his opinion cause imminent peril to life or property. When such certificate is filed, proceedings shall not be stayed except by a restraining order granted, after due notice to the office, by the zoning commission or a court of proper jurisdiction.