(a) Requirements for zoning variances. The Administrative Hearing Officer may vary or modify the provisions of this article when it is alleged that practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships prevent conformance with the strict letter of this article, provided the spirit of law is observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. A variance may be granted only if the Administrative Hearing Officer makes the following affirmative findings:
(1) Because of certain unique physical conditions, such as irregularity, narrowness or shallowness of lot size and shape or exceptional topographical conditions peculiar to and inherent in the particular lot, there is no reasonable possibility of developing the lot in strict conformance with this article; or
(2) Because of exceptional circumstances other than financial considerations, the grant of a variance is necessary to avoid practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship and to enable the applicant to develop the lot.
(b) Requirements for critical or bog protection area variances. For a property located in the critical area or a bog protection area, a variance to the requirements of the County's critical area program or the bog protection program may be granted if the Administrative Hearing Officer makes the following affirmative findings:
(1) Because of certain unique physical conditions, such as exceptional topographical conditions peculiar to and inherent in the particular lot or irregularity, narrowness, or shallowness of lot size and shape, strict implementation of the County's critical area program or bog protection program would result in an unwarranted hardship, as that term is defined in the Natural Resources Article, § 8-1808, of the State Code, to the applicant;
(2) (i) A literal interpretation of COMAR, Title 27, Criteria for Local Critical Area Program Development or the County's critical area program and related ordinances will deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in similar areas as permitted in accordance with the provisions of the critical area program within the critical area of the County; or
(ii) The County's bog protection program will deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in similar areas within the bog protection area of the County;
(3) The granting of a variance will not confer on an applicant any special privilege that would be denied by COMAR, Title 27, the County's critical area program to other lands or structures within the County critical area, or the County's bog protection program to other lands or structures within a bog protection area;
(4) The variance request is not based on conditions or circumstances that are the result of actions by the applicant, including the commencement of development before an application for a variance was filed, and does not arise from any condition relating to land or building use on any neighboring property;
(5) The granting of a variance will not adversely affect water quality or adversely impact fish, wildlife, or plant habitat within the County's critical area or a bog protection area and will be in harmony with the general spirit and intent of the County's critical area program or bog protection program;
(6) The applicant for a variance to allow development in the 100-foot upland buffer has maximized the distance between the bog and each structure, taking into account natural features and the replacement of utilities, and has met the requirements of § 17-9-208 of this Code;
(7) The applicant, by competent and substantial evidence, has overcome the presumption contained in the Natural Resources Article, § 8-1808, of the State Code; and
(8) The applicant has evaluated and implemented site planning alternatives in accordance with § 18-16-201(c).
(c) Requirements for all variances. A variance may not be granted unless it is found that:
(1) the variance is the minimum variance necessary to afford relief; and
(2) the granting of the variance will not:
(i) alter the essential character of the neighborhood or district in which the lot is located;
(ii) substantially impair the appropriate use or development of adjacent property;
(iii) reduce forest cover in the limited development and resource conservation areas of the critical area;
(iv) be contrary to acceptable clearing and replanting practices required for development in the critical area or a bog protection area; nor
(v) be detrimental to the public welfare.
(d) Conditions for granting a variance in the critical area.
(1) For a property with an outstanding violation, the granting of a variance under this subsection shall be conditioned on the applicant completing the following within 90 days of the date of decision, as applicable:
(i) obtaining an approved mitigation or restoration plan;
(ii) completing the abatement measures in accordance with the County critical area program; and
(iii) paying any civil fines assessed and finally adjudicated.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d)(1), the Office of Planning and Zoning may extend the time for abatement to the next planting season because of adverse planting conditions. An applicant may also be granted a 180 day extension to satisfy the conditions of a variance upon timely application to the Planning and Zoning Officer and good cause shown.
(e) Lapse. Any critical area variance granted shall lapse by operation of law if the conditions are not satisfied within 90 days or as extended.
(f) Prohibition. A variance may not be granted to density within the resource conservation area (RCA).
(g) Odenton Town Center. A variance may not be granted to the provisions of the Odenton Town Center Master Plan.
(Bill No. 4-05; Bill No. 69-07; Bill No. 90-09; Bill No. 93-12; Bill No. 76-13; Bill No. 20-16; Bill No. 5-20; Bill No. 64-23; Bill No. 84-23)