The purpose of this Article is to provide for
variances from this chapter in cases where the strict application
thereof would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardships
inconsistent with the general purpose and objectives of this chapter.
Any variance to this chapter shall be granted
by the Zoning Board of Appeals in accordance with the standards and
procedures set forth in this Article. In granting a variance, the
Zoning Board of Appeals may impose conditions similar to those provided
for special permit usage to protect the best interest of the surrounding
property, the neighborhood and the town as a whole.
Variances may be instituted by filing an application with the Zoning Board of Appeals using forms supplied by the Board, which shall include all information reasonably considered by the Board as necessary to make its findings under § 149-59 of this Article. The information supplied by the applicant shall include a legal description of the property, a map showing the property, a plat and elevations necessary to show the proposed variance and other drawings or information reasonably considered necessary by the Board of Appeals to an understanding of the proposed use and its relationship to surrounding properties.
A.Â
Area variances. An area variance does not involve a use prohibited by this chapter. A variance to allow a use to be located on a lot or property which does not conform to the dimensional requirements for that district listed in Article IV may be granted only in the event that all of the following circumstances are specifically found to exist by the Zoning Board of Appeals and are each so stated in the Board's findings:
(1)Â
That the strict application of said dimensional requirements
would result in a specified practical difficulty to the applicant.
(2)Â
How substantial the requested variance is in relation
to the requirements.
(3)Â
That the difficulty cannot be alleviated by some practical
method feasible for the applicant to pursue.
(4)Â
That there will be no substantial change in the character
of the neighborhood or a detriment to the adjoining properties.
(5)Â
That the variance would not be materially detrimental
to the purpose of this chapter or to property in the district in which
the property is located or otherwise conflict with the description
or purpose of the district or the objectives of any plan or policy
of the town and that the variance requested is the minimum variance
which would alleviate the specific practical difficulty found by the
Zoning Board of Appeals to affect the applicant.
B.Â
Use variances. A variance to allow a use that is prohibited
by this chapter may be granted only in the event that all of the following
circumstances are specifically found to exist by the Zoning Board
of Appeals and are each so stated in the Board's findings and no such
variance shall be valid unless all of the following circumstances
are so found:
(1)Â
That the strict application of said use provisions
of this chapter would result in a specified unnecessary hardship to
the applicant which arises because of exceptional or extraordinary
circumstances applying to the property and not applying generally
to other properties in the same district or which results from a lot
size or shape legally existing prior to the date of this chapter or
topography or other circumstances over which the applicant has had
no control.
(2)Â
That the property in question cannot yield a reasonable
financial return if used for any permissible use, special permit use
or site plan review use applicable to the zoning district in which
the property is located.
(3)Â
That the variance is necessary for the preservation
of a property right of the applicant substantially the same as owners
of other property in the same district possess without such a variance.
(4)Â
That the variance would not be materially detrimental
to the purpose of this chapter or to property in the district in which
the property is located or otherwise conflict with the description
or purpose of the district or the objectives of any plan or policy
of the town and that the variance requested is the minimum variance
which would alleviate the specific unnecessary hardship found by the
Zoning Board of Appeals to affect the applicant.
A.Â
Within 35 days of receipt by the Zoning Board of Appeals
of a completed application for a variance, the Zoning Board of Appeals
shall give notice, by public advertisement in the official newspaper
of the town, of a public hearing to be held on the application not
less than five days and not more than 31 days after the notice.
B.Â
Within 35 days of the final adjournment of a public hearing called and held under Subsection A of this section, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall grant, grant with conditions or deny the variance applied for. The decision of the Board shall be in writing and shall contain each of the findings specified in § 149-59 of this Article and the factual basis for each finding from the record of the hearing, which shall support the decision of the Board.
Unless otherwise specified or extended by the
Zoning Board of Appeals, decision on any request for a variance shall
expire in six months if the applicant fails to undertake the proposed
action or project. The Zoning Board of Appeals may increase this period
from six months to one year at its discretion.