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variance authority to the PZC (see attachment #1). Based on that direction, staff drafted an amendment granting variance authority to the PZC and presented that amendment to the PZC at a public hearing held on February 26, 2015. At that hearing, the PZC voted 5-0 to recommend that the BCC adopt the proposed changes (see attachment #2). • Authority to Reduce PD Setbacks At its September 16, 2014 meeting, the BCC considered a request to approve a 20% minor reduction in rear year setback requirements for the 8 marina lots within the Marsh Island PD. As required under current PD regulations, that request for a minor change in setbacks required a public hearing before the PZC and a public hearing before the BCC. The request was supported by staff, the Marsh Island architectural review board, the North Barrier Island Task Force, and the PZC. Ultimately, the request was unanimously approved by the BCC, as recommended. During the September 16th hearing, BCC members expressed a desire to consider having a less lengthy process for approving minor PD requests like the Marsh Island proposal, and directed staff to explore such changes. Based on the BCC's direction, staff drafted a change to allow PZC approval of minor PD setback reductions. That proposed change was considered by the PZC at a December 11, 2014 public hearing. At that hearing, the PZC voted 6-0 to recommend that the BCC adopt the proposed change (see attachment #3). Staff has now drafted an LDR amendment ordinance incorporating the proposed PZC variance authority changes and the proposed changes to allow PZC approval of minor PD setback modification requests. The BCC is now to consider the proposed amendments at its March 24, 2015 public hearing, and is to approve, approve with modifications, or deny the proposed amendments. ANALYSIS • Granting Variance Authority to the PZC The drastic reduction in BOA variance caseload is primarily due to two factors. First, since the County began requiring form board surveys for new homes in 1985, almost no setback (building location) mistakes related to initial construction have been made for most of the existing housing stock in the unincorporated area. Second, in the early 1990s, the LDRs were changed to allow staff -level variances and determinations of legal non -conformity for minor setback encroachments for structures constructed prior to form board survey requirements. Because of the dramatic drop in caseload, there is little need, if any, for a separate board to handle zoning related setback variances. In addition, with such little caseload activity and multi-year gaps between meetings, it has been difficult to maintain a full board. In fact, for more than a year, only two out of the five BOA member positions have been filled, and no meeting quorum is possible without additional appointments. Staff has coordinated with the County Attorney and determined that the BOA can be dissolved via a BCC resolution and that its variance authority can be delegated to the PZC via the proposed LDR amendments. In staff's opinion, the PZC is an existing body that has the expertise and ability to handle zoning related setback variance requests. Also, because the variance caseload is so small, delegation of variance granting authority to the PZC will not adversely impact the PZC's workload. F:\Commmtit Development \C.rDev BCC12015 BCC1902(BOAland9 t 5(PDplans).doc 2 68