The Planning Commission may authorize, upon appeal in specific cases, a variance from the terms of this Planning and Zoning Code so long as the variance will not be contrary to the public interest according to the following procedures:
(a) Application Requirements. An application for a variance shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator for review by the Planning Commission upon the forms provided, and shall be accompanied by the following requirements necessary to convey the reason(s) for the requested variance:
(1) Name, address and phone number of applicant(s);
(2) Proof of ownership, legal interest or written authority;
(3) Description of property or portion thereof;
(4) Description or nature of variance requested;
(5) Narrative statements establishing and substantiating the justification for the variance pursuant to subsection (c) below;
(6) Site plans, floor plans, elevations and other drawings at a reasonable scale to convey the need for the variance;
(7) Payment of the application fee as established by Council;
(8) Any other documents deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator;
(9) The application and required documentation shall be submitted at least eighteen (18) days prior to the meeting of the Planning Commission at which the application is to be considered. Applications received less than eighteen (18) days in advance of a meeting will be placed on the agenda of the next Planning Commission meeting.
(b) Review for Completeness. Within ten (10) days after receiving an application for variance, the Zoning Administrator shall review the submitted application for completeness and compliance with the applicable submission requirements. If the application is deemed insufficient, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the applicant of the necessary changes or additional information needed. When the application is deemed complete and the application fee has been paid, the Zoning Administrator shall officially accept the application for consideration of the action(s) requested on the date such determination is made and place it on the Planning Commission's agenda.
(c) Review by the Planning Commission. The Commission shall hold a public hearing and give notice of the same. Notice of the public hearing shall be given by first class mail to the applicant and to the property owners within 250 feet of the subject property. The Planning Commission shall review each application for a variance to determine if it complies with the purpose and intent of this Planning and Zoning Code and evidence demonstrates that the literal enforcement of this Planning and Zoning Code will result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship.
(1) Area Variance. The following factors shall be considered and weighed by the Planning Commission to determine practical difficulty:
A. Whether special conditions and circumstances exist which are peculiar to the land or structure involved and which are not applicable generally to other lands or structures in the same zoning district. Examples of such special conditions or circumstances are exceptional irregularity, narrowness, shallowness or steepness of the lot;
B. Whether the property in question will yield a reasonable return or whether there can be any beneficial use of the property without the variance;
C. Whether the variance is substantial and is the minimum necessary to make possible the reasonable use of the land or structures;
D. Whether the essential character of the neighborhood would be substantially altered or whether adjoining properties would suffer substantial detriment as a result of the variance;
E. Whether the variance would adversely affect the delivery of governmental services such as water, sewer, trash pickup;
F. Whether the property owner purchased the property with knowledge of the zoning restrictions;
G. Whether special conditions or circumstances exist as a result of actions of the owner;
H. Whether the property owner's predicament feasibly can be obviated through some method other than a variance;
I. Whether the spirit and intent behind the zoning requirement would be observed and substantial justice done by granting a variance; and
J. Whether the granting of the variance requested will confer on the applicant any special privilege that is denied by this regulation to other lands, structures, or buildings in the same district.
(2) Use Variance. In order to grant a use variance, the Planning Commission shall determine that strict compliance with the terms of this Planning and Zoning Code will result in unnecessary hardship to the applicant. The following factors shall be considered and weighed by the Planning Commission to determine practical difficulty:
A. The property cannot be put to any economically viable use under any of the permitted uses in the zoning district in which the property is located;
B. The variance requested stems from a condition which is unique to the property at issue and not ordinarily found in the same zone or district;
C. The hardship condition is not created by actions of the applicant;
D. The granting of the variance will not adversely affect the rights of adjacent property owners or residents;
E. The granting of the variance will not adversely affect the public health, safety or general welfare;
F. The variance will be consistent with the general spirit and intent of the Planning and Zoning Code; and
G. The variance sought is the minimum that will afford relief to the applicant.
(d) Requests for Additional Information. The Planning Commission may request that the applicant supply additional information that the Commission deems necessary to review and evaluate the request for a variance.
(e) Additional Conditions and Safeguards. The Planning Commission may further prescribe any conditions and safeguards that it deems necessary to ensure that the objectives of the regulation(s) or provision(s) to which the variance applies will be met.
(f) Action by the Planning Commission. The Commission shall either approve, approve with supplementary conditions as specified in subsection (e) above, or disapprove the request for variance according to the procedures established for appeals in Section 1183.07.
(g) Term and Extension of Variance. Variances shall be non-assignable and shall expire one year from the date of their enactment, unless prior thereto, the applicant commences actual construction in accordance with the granted variance or an extension of time has been granted by the Zoning Administrator. There shall be no modification of variances except by further consideration of the Commission. Once the time limit pursuant to this Section has expired, a request for a variance shall be considered to be a new application for a variance and shall meet all requirements for application and review pursuant to this Section.
(Ord. 62-2023. Passed 1-16-24.)