(A) The Board of Zoning Adjustments shall have the power to hear and decide on applications for dimensional variances where, by reason of the exceptional narrowness, shallowness, or unusual shape of a site on the date of adoption or amendment of this zoning code or by reason of exceptional topographic conditions, or some other extraordinary situation or condition of that site, the literal enforcement of the dimensional requirements (height or width of building or size of yards, but not population density) of this zoning code would deprive the applicant of reasonable capacity to make use of the land in a manner equivalent to the use permitted other landowners in the same zone. The Board may impose any reasonable conditions or restrictions on any variance it decides to grant.
(B) Before any variance is granted, the Board must find that the granting of the variance will not adversely affect the public health, safety or welfare, will not alter the essential character of the general vicinity, will not cause a hazard or a nuisance to the public, and will not allow an unreasonable circumvention of the requirements of the zoning regulations. In making these findings, the board shall consider whether:
(l) The requested variance arises from special circumstances which do not generally apply to land in the general vicinity, or in the same zone.
(2) The strict application of the provisions of the regulation would deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of the land or would create an unnecessary hardship on the applicant
(3) The circumstances are the result of actions of the applicant taken subsequent to the adoption of the zoning regulation from which relief is sought.
(C) The Board shall deny any request for a variance arising from circumstance s that are the result of willful violations of the zoning regulation by the applicant subsequent to the adoption of the zoning regulation from which relief is sought.
(D) The Board shall not possess the power to grant a variance to permit a use of any land, building, or structure which is not permitted by this zoning code in the zone in question, or, to alter density requirements in the zone in question.
(E) A dimensional variance applies to the property for which it is granted, and not the individual who applied for it. A variance also runs with the land and is transferable to any future owner of the land, but it cannot be transferred by the applicant to a different site.
(Ord. 794, passed l2-22-83; Am. Ord. 90-925,passed 7-26-90; Am. Ord. 2005-1373, passed 3-24-05)