Dear fellow planners,

My planning commission is considering making the transition from a variance board to a hearing examiner.  A couple of questions they would like me to pose to other planners around the state:  Do any of you have a hearing examiner rather than a board?  Is the examiner a local person or out of the area?  Do you prefer a hearing examiner or an actual board to review variances/appeals?  Any tips or suggestions would be really helpful. 

We currently process one variance request every other year or so and with a small population it is hard to get people to serve on the board and keep them trained etc…  thanks for your help and responses in advance. 

Mitch Poulsen

Executive Director

Bear Lake Regional Commission

P.O. Box 472

Garden City, Ut. 84028

435-946-2198

208-847-5275 (c)

435-946-2205 (f)