(a) The issuance of a variance is for floodplain management purposes only. Insurance premium rates are determined by statute according to actuarial risk and will not be modified by the granting of a variance.
(b) The variance criteria set forth in this article are based on the general principle of zoning law that variances pertain to a piece of property and are not personal in nature. A variance may be granted for a parcel of property with physical characteristics so unusual that complying with the requirements of this ordinance would create an exceptional hardship to the applicant or the surrounding property owners. The characteristics must be unique to the property and not be shared by adjacent parcels. The unique characteristic must pertain to the land itself (e.g., size, shape, topography, location, and/or surroundings), not to the structure, its inhabitants, or the property owners. Variances shall only be granted when the strict application of this chapter deprives such property of privileges enjoyed by other property in the vicinity and located within identical flood zones. In addition, conditions shall be attached to variances as necessary to ensure that such approvals do not grant special privileges that are inconsistent with the limitations of other properties in the vicinity and flood zone in which the proposed development is located.
(c) It is the duty of Yolo County to help protect its citizens from flooding. This need is so compelling and the implications of the cost of insuring a structure built below flood level are so serious that variances from the flood elevation or from other requirements in the flood ordinance are quite rare. The long term goal of preventing and reducing flood loss and damage can only be met if variances are strictly limited. Therefore, the variance guidelines provided in this chapter are more detailed and contain multiple provisions that must be met before a variance can be granted. The criteria are designed to screen out those situations in which alternatives other than a variance are more appropriate. Variances may not be granted for any activity which is not expressly authorized by the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1445, eff. August 14, 2014; as amended by Ord. 1500, eff. July 26, 2018)