306 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 212

the court may, on application, on notice to the board and on
due cause shown, grant a restraining order.

The Board of Zoning Appeals shall not be required to re-
turn the original papers acted upon by it, but it shall be
sufficient to return certified or sworn copies thereof or such
portions thereof as may be called for by such appeal. The
return shall concisely set forth such other facts as may be
pertinent and material to show the grounds of the decision
appealed from and shall be verified.

If, upon the hearing, it shall appear to the court that
testimony is necessary for the proper disposition of the mat-
ter, it may take evidence or appoint a commissioner to take
such evidence as it may direct and report the same to the
court with his findings of fact and conclusions of law, which
shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the
determination of the court shall be made. The court may
reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the decision
brought up for review.

All issues in any proceeding under this section shall have
preference over all other civil actions and proceedings.

309J. The Mayor and Council of Snow Hill may provide
by ordinance for the enforcement of this Act and of any
ordinance or regulation made thereunder. A violation of this
Act or of such ordinance or regulation is hereby declared to
be a misdemeanor and the Mayor and Council of Snow Hill
may provide for the punishment thereof by fine or imprison-
ment or both. It is also empowered to provide civil penal-
ties for such violation.

In case any building or structure is erected, constructed,
reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained,
or any building, structure, or land is used in violation of this
Act or of any ordinance or other regulation made under au-
thority conferred hereby, the proper local authorities of the
municipality, in addition to other remedies, may institute
any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlaw-
ful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair,
conversion, maintenance, or use, to restrain, correct, or abate
such violation, to prevent the occupancy of said building,
structure, or land, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct,
business, or use in or about such premises.

309K. Wherever the regulations made under authority of
this Act require a greater width or size of yards, courts,
or other open spaces, or require a lower height of building
or less number of stories, or require a greater percentage
of lot to be left unoccupied, or impose other higher standards