Town Council and Boards

Duties of the Planning Board:
Review development within the Town to assure growth conforms to the guidelines developed through the Master Plan process. Encourage growth but preserve the qualities that make Vienna a unique community. Reviews Site Plan Applications for new commercial uses. Recommends zoning changes. Members are appointed by the Town Board to seven-year terms.

Duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals:
The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) has the following powers and duties 
1. Interpretations: Upon appeal from a decision by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, to decide any question involving the interpretation of any provision of the Zoning Law, including determination of the exact location of any zone boundary.

2. Variances: To vary or adapt the strict application of any of the requirements of the Zoning Law in the case of exceptionally irregular, narrow, shallow, or steep lots, and other exceptional physical conditions; or undue use hardships; whereby such strict application would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship that would deprive the owner of the reasonable use of the land or building. In granting any variance, the Board shall prescribe any conditions that it deems to be necessary or desirable.

All applications made to the Board shall be in writing and on a form prescribed by the Town. Every application shall refer to the specific provisions of the law being appealed and shall exactly set forth the interpretation that is claimed, the use for which the permit is sought, or the details of the appeal that is applied for and the grounds on which it is claimed that the appeal should be granted, as the case may be. A hearing shall be held for all actions in conformance with the requirements of Town Law. Every decision of the Board shall contain a full description of reasons for granting or denying the appeal. The reasons for the action shall be set forth in the minutes of the Board meeting at which the action was taken. Each member’s vote shall be recorded.

Members are appointed by the Town Board to five-year terms.