Zoning Board of Appeals Members

Contact Mark Sweppenheiser, Zoning Administrator, 231-592-4057, for more information.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meets the 4th Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m., as needed, at City Hall. Click here for a list of past meeting minutes.

Duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals derives its authority from Section 7.2 of the Big Rapids Zoning Ordinance. Its duties are as follows:

• The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have power to adopt rules and regulations for its own government, not inconsistent with law or with the provisions of this and of any other Ordinances of the Municipality.


• Meetings of the Board of Appeals shall be held at the call of the Chairman and at such other times as the Board of Appeals may determine. The Chairman, or in his absence the Acting Chairman, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses.


• Hearings of the Board of Appeals shall be public. The Board of Appeals shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the action of the Board of Appeals and the vote of each member upon each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examination and other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the Board of Appeals and shall be a public record.


• The Board of Appeals shall consist of five (5) members, and four (4) members shall constitute a quorum. The Board of Appeals shall act by resolution. The concurring vote of a majority of the members shall be necessary to reverse an order, requirement, decision or determination of an administrative official or body, or to decide in favor of the applicant a matter upon which the board is required to effect a variation in the requirements of this Ordinance, except that a concurring vote of 2/3 of the members of the board shall be necessary to grant a use variance. A majority vote shall be necessary to grant a non-use variance.


• The Board of Appeals may call on the Municipal Departments for assistance in the performance of its duties, and it shall be the duty of such departments to render such assistance to the Board of Appeals as may reasonably be required.