Township of Girard, PA Article VIII Variances

§ 100-31 Relief from hardships.

If compliance with any of the requirements of this chapter would result in an exceptional hardship to a prospective builder, developer or landowner, the Township of Girard may, upon request, grant relief from the strict application of the requirements.

§ 100-32 Variance procedures and conditions.

A. Requests for variances shall be considered by the Township of Girard in accordance with the procedures contained in § 100-16 and the following:

(1) No variance shall be granted for any construction, development, use, or activity within any AE Area/District without floodway that would, together with all other existing and anticipated development, increase the BFE more than one foot at any point.

(2) No variance shall be granted for any of the other requirements pertaining specifically to development regulated by Article VI, Prohibited Activities, or to § 100-24, Development endangering human life.

(3) If granted, a variance shall involve only the least modification necessary to provide relief.

(4) In granting any variance, the Township of Girard shall attach whatever reasonable conditions and safeguards it considers necessary in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare and to achieve the objectives of this chapter.

(5) Whenever a variance is granted, the Township of Girard shall notify the applicant, in writing, that:

(a) The granting of the variance may result in increased premium rates for flood insurance.

(b) Such variances may increase the risks to life and property.

(6) In reviewing any request for a variance, the Township of Girard shall consider, at a minimum, the following:

(a) That there is good and sufficient cause.

(b) That failure to grant the variance would result in exceptional hardship to the applicant.

(c) That the granting of the variance will neither result in an unacceptable or prohibited increase in flood heights, additional threats to public safety, or extraordinary public expense; nor create nuisances, cause fraud on or victimize the public, or conflict with any other applicable state or local ordinances and regulations.

(7) An applicant for a variance shall, as part of the request for a variance, submit to Girard Township an application fee which shall cover all costs, expenses etc., of Girard Township, and such fee shall be as adopted by resolution of the Girard Township Board of Supervisors.

(8) A complete record of all variance requests and related actions shall be maintained by the Township of Girard. In addition, a report of all variances granted during the year shall be included in the annual report to FEMA.

B. Notwithstanding any of the above, however, all structures shall be designed and constructed so as to have the capability of resisting the one-percent-annual-chance flood.