Lexington residents who want a say in local land-use decisions have until Oct. 13 to apply for one of two open seats on the town's Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

The Select Board is looking to fill one full member vacancy and one associate member vacancy on the board, which hears appeals, special permit applications, variance petitions and comprehensive permit cases under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40B. The town originally set a Wednesday, Oct. 7, deadline but extended it to Oct. 13, according to the town's official Facebook page.

In practical terms, the ZBA is the board residents go before when they need a zoning variance for a home renovation, a special permit for a business use or approval of an affordable-housing development under Chapter 40B. The board's decisions directly affect what gets built in Lexington and under what conditions.

The ZBA is authorized for five full members and six associates, all appointed by the Select Board. Full members serve five-year terms. Associates serve one-year terms.

Applicants must meet several requirements. They must have lived in Lexington for at least eight years, have significant experience in town affairs related to the board's work and hold no major land interest in town beyond a primary residence, according to the town's ZBA page. That page also lists backgrounds in law, engineering, environmental or conservation work, and architecture or design as especially valued.

The board's Sept. 24 meeting agenda listed Chair Ralph D. Clifford, full members Nyles N. Barnert and James A. Osten, associate members Jeanne K. Krieger and Kathryn A. Roy, and alternate member Thomas Shiple. The agenda also showed two active cases on the board's docket: a variance request at 4 Compton Circle and an earth-fill permit application at 25 Maple Street. The town has not publicly stated why the two seats are open.

The Select Board's original recruitment notice encouraged applicants with professional training in related fields to come forward.

Residents can apply online through the town's Granicus board application portal. The ZBA's administrative clerk, EmmaJean Anjoorian, can be reached at 781-698-4516, and the Select Board office is available at 781-698-4580 or [email protected] for questions about the application.