Application fees are not refundable. They are intended to cover the costs necessary to review the application. 

Although the Plan Commission generally makes recommendations, there are some instances where the Commission makes the final decision (e.g., conditional uses). Those decisions can be appealed to circuit court. An appeal must be made soon after the decision has been made.

No. The zoning code clearly identifies those standards that can be adjusted with a special exception

Administrative adjustments and special exceptions are both tools used in this zoning code to provide flexibility, but they serve different purposes and follow different review processes. An administrative adjustment allows a rather limited modification from specific development standards expressly identified in the zoning code. Because the deviation is limited, administrative adjustments are handled administratively by staff. A special exception, in contrast, allows for more substantial, but still, minor modifications and are reviewed by the Plan Commission at a public meeting.