Any person believing that the use and development standards of these regulations would result in unnecessary hardship may file an application for a variance. The Appeals Board shall have the power to authorize, in specific cases, such variances from the standards of these regulations, not inconsistent with Federal regulations, as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owning to special conditions of the lot or parcel, a literal enforcement of the provisions of these regulations would result in unnecessary hardship.
(a) Application Process.
(1) Fifteen copies of the completed application along with a fee of $100 shall be filed with the Floodplain Administrator at least thirty-five (35) days prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Appeals Board.
(2) Such application at a minimum shall contain the following information:
A. Name, address, and phone number of the applicant(s) and representative(s) if any, and the signature of the property owner(s).
B. A current and accurate legal description of the property(s) in question and a current survey prepared by a licensed surveyor.
C. A description of the existing use and the proposed use (if applicable).
D. A description of the variance sought and the reason for the variance request including what provisions of the Floodplain Regulations are affected.
E. A list of all property owners within, contiguous to, and directly across the street from the property(s) in question. The list of addresses may correspond to the County Auditor's current tax list.
F. A plot plan to show:
1. Boundaries and dimensions of the property and the size and location of all proposed and existing structures.
2 The nature of the special conditions or circumstances.
3. The proposed use of all parts of the lot and structures.
4. The location of the floodplain.
5. The use of land and location of structures on adjacent properties.
6. Such additional information as may be required by this Appeals Board and/or requested by the Floodplain Administrator to review the application.
(b) Review Procedure.
(1) Public Notice for Hearing. At least one (1) notice shall be given at least ten (10) days prior to a scheduled public hearing in one (1) or more newspapers of general circulation in the Municipality. Such notice shall include the time and place of the public hearing and the nature of the proposed variance(s).
(2) Notice to Property Owners. Written notice of the hearing shall be mailed by the Municipality at least ten (10) days prior to the date of a scheduled public hearing to all property owners as listed under Section 1705.04(a)(1)E. The notice shall correspond to subsection (b)(1) hereof in content.
(3) Procedure at Hearings.
A. All testimony shall be given under oath.
B. A complete record of the proceedings shall be kept, except confidential deliberations of the Board, but including all documents presented and a verbatim record of the testimony of all witnesses.
C. The applicant shall proceed first to present evidence and testimony in support of the appeal or variance.
D. The administrator may present evidence or testimony in opposition to the appeal or variance.
E. All witnesses shall be subject to cross-examination by the adverse party or their counsel.
F. Evidence that is not admitted may be proffered and shall become part of the record for appeal.
G. The Board shall issue subpoenas upon written request for the attendance of witnesses. A reasonable deposit to cover the cost of issuance and service shall be collected in advance.
H. The Board shall prepare conclusions of fact supporting its decision. The decision may be announced at the conclusion of the hearing and thereafter issued in writing or the decision may be issued in writing within a reasonable time after the hearing.
(c) Public Hearing. At such hearing the applicant shall present such statements and evidence as the Appeals Board requires. In considering such variance applications, the Appeals Board shall consider and make findings of fact on all evaluations, all relevant factors, standards specified in other sections of these regulations and the following factors:
(1) The danger that materials may be swept onto other lands to the injury of others.
(2) The danger to life and property due to flooding or erosion damage.
(3) The susceptibility of the proposed facility and its contents to flood damage and the effect of such damage on the individual owner.
(4) The importance of the services provided by the proposed facility to the community.
(5) The availability of alternative locations for the proposed use which are not subject to flooding or erosion damage.
(6) The necessity to the facility of a waterfront location, where applicable.
(7) The compatibility of the proposed use with existing and anticipated development.
(8) The relationship of the proposed use to the comprehensive plan and floodplain management program for that area.
(9) The safety of access to the property in times of flood for ordinary and emergency vehicles.
(10) The expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise, and sediment transport of the flood waters and the effects of wave action, if applicable, expected at the site.
(11) The costs of providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including maintenance and repair of public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical, and water systems, and streets and bridges.
(12) Variances shall only be issued upon:
A. A showing of good and sufficient cause.
B. A determination that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship due to the physical characteristics of the property. Increased cost or inconvenience of meeting the requirements of these regulations does not constitute an exceptional hardship to the applicant.
C. A determination that the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights beyond that which is allowed in these regulations; additional threats to public safety; extraordinary public expense, nuisances, fraud on or victimization of the public, or conflict with existing local laws.
D. A determination that the structure or other development is protected by methods to minimize flood damages.
E. A determination that the variance is the minimum necessary, considering the flood hazard, to afford relief.
F. Upon consideration of the above factors and the purposes of these regulations, the Appeals Board may attach such conditions to the granting of variances as it deems necessary to further the purposes of these regulations.
(d) Other Conditions for Variances
(1) Variances shall not be issued within any designated floodway if any increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge would result.
(2) Generally, variances may be issued for new construction and substantial improvements to be erected on a lot of one-half acre or less in size \contiguous to and surrounded by lots with existing structures constructed below the base flood level, providing items in Section 1705.04(c)(1) through (11) have been fully considered. As the lot size increases beyond one-half acre, the technical justification required for issuing the variance increases.
(3) Any applicant to whom a variance is granted shall be given written notice that the structure will be permitted to be built with a lowest floor elevation below the base flood elevation and the cost of flood insurance will be commensurate with the increased risk resulting from the reduced lowest floor elevation.
(Ord. 12-06. Passed 5-8-06.)