§ 156.07 VARIANCES.

   (A)   No variances shall be granted to any development located in a designated floodway, as defined in § 156.02.

      (1)   Whenever the standards of this chapter place undue hardship on a specific development proposal, the applicant may apply to the Building Department for a variance.

      (2)   The Building Department shall review the applicant’s request for a variance and shall submit its recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

   (B)   No variance shall be granted unless the applicant demonstrates that all of the following conditions are met:

      (1)   The development activity cannot be located outside the SFHA;

      (2)   An exceptional hardship would result if the variance were not granted;

      (3)   The relief requested is the minimum necessary;

      (4)   There will be no additional threat to public health, safety, beneficial stream uses and functions, especially aquatic habitat or creation of a nuisance;

      (5)   There will be no additional public expense for flood protection, lost environmental stream uses and functions, rescue or relief operations, policing or repairs to streambeds and banks, roads, utilities or other public facilities;

      (6)   The provisions of §§ 156.27 and 156.57 of this chapter shall still be met;

      (7)   The activity is not in a designated floodway;

      (8)   The applicant’s circumstances are unique and do not represent a general problem; and

      (9)   The granting of the variance will not alter the essential character of the area involved including existing stream uses.

   (C)   The Building Inspector shall notify an applicant in writing that a variance from the requirements of §§ 156.70 through 156.73 of this chapter that would lessen the degree of protection to a building will:

      (1)   Result in increased premium rates for flood insurance up to amounts as high as $25 per $100 of insurance coverage;

      (2)   Increase the risks to life and property; and

      (3)   Require that the applicant proceed with knowledge of these risks and that he or she will acknowledge in writing that he or she assumes the risk and liability.

   (D)   Variances requested in connection with restoration of a historic site or historic structure, as defined in § 156.02, may be granted using criteria more permissive than the requirements of divisions (B) and (C) above, subject to the conditions that:

      (1)   The repair or rehabilitation is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure; and

      (2)   The repair or rehabilitation will not result in the structure being removed as a certified historic structure.

(Ord. 05-09, passed 5-24-2005)