The Department may only grant a variance from the requirements of the Standards and Specifications when strict adherence will result in exceptional hardship and not achieve the purposes of this Article. The applicant must submit a written request for a variance to the Department. The request must specify the variance sought and the reasons to allow it. The Department must not grant a variance unless the unique circumstances of the site justify the variance. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 14, § 1; 1986 L.M.C., ch. 45, § 1; 2013 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1.)