Final answer:
Local planning agencies do not have final authority over zoning variances as these typically require approval from quasi-judicial zoning appeals boards, which operate separately from planning agencies and whose decisions can be subject to court review.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked which of the following is NOT the final authority of local planning agencies:
Subdivision plat approval
Site plan approval
Sign control
Zoning variances
The answer is 'd. Zoning variances.' While local planning agencies have the authority over subdivision plat approval, site plan approval, and sign control, they typically do not have the final say on zoning variances. Zoning variances often require approval from boards of zoning appeals or other similar entities.
These boards are quasi-judicial bodies that can hear sworn testimony and whose decisions can be reviewed in court, indicating their separate and specialized role in the planning process. The complexity of zoning laws and the specialized nature of the appeals process means that typically, legal assistance is advised when contesting a zoning requirement.