(a) Finality of decisions. All decisions of the board of adjustment and appeals on the merits shall be final subject only to an appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Procedure. The appellant, if aggrieved, the City or any administrative officer, department or division of the city may have an appeals decision of the board of adjustment on the merits reviewed in the manner provided by the rules relating to civil proceedings. A review shall not be granted unless a petition, duly verified, setting forth that such a decision is illegal in whole or in part and specifying the grounds of the illegality is presented to the court of record within 30 days after the notification of the decision. The board of adjustment shall not be required to return the original papers acted upon by it, but shall return certified copies thereof.

(c) Effect of appeal. The issuance of a writ on a petition in this section shall not stay the proceedings upon the decision appealed from; but the court, on application, after notice to the board of adjustment and on due cause shown, may grant a restraining order. (Code 1979, § 8-23)