(a) In passing upon requests for variances, the Floodplain Administrator shall consider all technical evaluations, all relevant factors, standards specified in other sections of this chapter, and the:
(1) Danger that materials may be swept into other lands to the injury of others;
(2) Danger to life and property due to flooding or erosion damage;
(3) Susceptibility of the proposed facility and its contents to flood damage and the effect of such damage on the existing individual owner and future owners of the property;
(4) Importance of the services provided by the proposed facility to the community;
(5) Necessity to the facility of a waterfront location, where applicable;
(6) Availability of alternative locations for the proposed use which are not subject to flooding or erosion damage;
(7) Compatibility of the proposed use with existing and anticipated development;
(8) Relationship of the proposed use to the comprehensive plan and floodplain management program for that area;
(9) Safety of access to the property in time of flood for ordinary and emergency vehicles;
(10) Expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise, and sediment transport of the flood waters expected at the site; and,
(11) 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 system, and streets and bridges.
(b) Variances shall only be issued upon a:
(1) Showing of good and sufficient cause;
(2) Determination that failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional “hardship” to the applicant; and
(3) Determination that the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety, extraordinary public expense, create a nuisance, cause “fraud and victimization” of the public, or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances.
(c) Variances may be issued for new construction and substantial improvements, and other proposed new development necessary for the conduct of a functionally dependent use provided that the provisions of this article are satisfied and that the structure or other development is protected by methods that minimize flood damages during the base flood and does not result in additional threats to public safety and does not create a public nuisance.
(d) Upon consideration of the factors of subsection (a) above, and the purposes of this chapter, the Floodplain Administrator may attach such conditions to the granting of variances as it deems necessary to further the purposes of this chapter.
(Ord. 1445, eff. August 14, 2014; as amended by Ord. 1500, eff. July 26, 2018)