Chapter 5.2
Variances
Sections:
5.2.110 Variance Application and Appeals
5.2.160 Expiration of Approval
5.2.100 Purpose
The purpose of this Chapter is to provide flexibility to development standards, in recognition of the complexity and wide variation of site development opportunities and constraints. The variance procedures are intended to provide flexibility while ensuring that the purpose of each development standard is met. Because some variances are granted using “clear and objective standards,” they can be granted by means of a Type I procedure. Other variances, as identified below, require a Type II or III procedure because they involve discretionary decision-making.
5.2.110 Variance Application and Appeals
The variance application shall conform to the requirements for Type I, II, or III applications (Chapter 4.2, Sections 4.2.120, 4.2.130 and 4.2.140) as applicable. As part of the application, the applicant shall provide a narrative or letter explaining the reason for his/her request, alternatives considered, and why the subject standard cannot be met without the variance. Appeals to variance decisions shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 4.2.
5.2.120 Class A Variances (Type I Review)
A. Class A variances. The following variances are reviewed using a Type I procedure, as governed by Chapter 4.2, Section 4.2.120, using the approval criteria in subsections B and C, below:
1. Front yard setbacks. Up to a 10 percent change to the front yard setback standard in the land use district.
2. Interior setbacks. Up to a 10 percent reduction of the dimensional standards for the side and rear yard setbacks required in the land use district.
3. Lot coverage. Up to 10 percent increase of the maximum lot coverage required in the land use district.
4. Landscape area. Up to 10 percent reduction in landscape area (overall area or interior parking lot landscape area).
5. Street Tree Requirements. Reduction in the number or the spacing of required street trees.
B. Class A variance approval criteria. A Class A Variance shall be granted if the applicant demonstrates compliance with criteria all of the following criteria:
1. The variance requested is required due to the lot configuration, or other conditions of the site;
2. The variance does not result in the removal of trees with an 8” or larger trunk diameter. If there are no reasonable alternatives for the placement of the structure, the City Planner may authorize removal of one or more trees in the building pad area.
3. The variance will not result in violation(s) of Chapter 3, or other design standards.
C. Class A Variance approval criteria to Street Tree Requirements. In lieu of the criteria in Section B above, a request for a Class A Variance to the street tree requirements in Section 3.3.140 may be granted if the applicant demonstrates compliance with the following criteria:
1. Installation of the tree would interfere with existing utility lines; or
2. The tree would cause visual clearance problems; or
3. There is not adequate space in which to plant a street tree; and
4. Replacement landscaping is provided elsewhere on the site (e.g., parking lot area trees).
D. Class A Variance approval criteria to Vehicular Access and Circulation Standards. Where vehicular access for a particular parcel cannot be reasonably designed to conform to the standards of Chapter 3.2, the applicant may request a variance to the access requirements in Section 3.2.120.
In lieu of the criteria in Section B above, a request for a Class A Variance to vehicular access and circulation requirements may be granted if the applicant demonstrates compliance with all of the following criteria:
1. There is not adequate physical space for shared access, or the owners of abutting properties do not agree to execute a joint access easement;
2. There are no other alternative access points on the street in question or from another street; or the access separation requirements cannot be met;
3. The request is the minimum adjustment required to provide adequate access;
4. The approved access or access approved with conditions will result in a safe access;
5. If the access will be to a Linn County Road or state highway, the roadway authority provides written concurrence with the proposal; and
6. Visual clearance requirements of Chapter 3.2 will be met.
5.2.130 Class B Variances
A. Class B variances. Due to their discretionary nature, the following types of variances shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission using a Type II procedure, in accordance with Chapter 4.2, Section 4.2.130:
1. Variance to minimum housing density standard. The City may approve a variance after finding that the minimum housing density provided in Chapter 2, Section 2.2.150 cannot be achieved due to physical constraints that limit the division of land or site development. “Physical constraint” means drainage channel, wetlands, unusual parcel configuration, access constraints, or a similar constraint. The variances approved shall be the minimum variance necessary to address the specific physical constraint on the development.
2. Variance to Parking Standards. The City may approve variances to the minimum or maximum standards for off-street parking in Chapter 3.4 upon finding the following:
a. The individual characteristics of the use at that location require more or less parking than is generally required for a use of this type and intensity;
b. The need for additional parking cannot reasonably be met through provision of on- street parking or shared parking with adjacent or nearby uses; and
c. All other parking design and building orientation standards are met, in conformance with the standards in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.
3. Variance to Maximum or Minimum Yard Setbacks to Reduce Tree Removal or Impacts to Wetlands. The City may grant a variance to the applicable setback requirements in Chapter 2 for the purpose of preserving a tree or trees on the site of proposed development or avoiding wetland impacts. Modification shall not be more than is necessary for the preservation of trees or wetlands on the site.
5.2.140 Class C Variance
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide standards for variances to a standard in this Code other than those listed in Section 5.2.120 – “Class A Variance”, Section 5.2.130 – “Class B Variance” or Section 5.2.150 – Class D Variance”. Class C variances may be granted if the applicant shows that, owing to special and unusual circumstances related to a specific property, the literal application of the standards of the applicable land use district would create a hardship to development which is peculiar to the lot size or shape, topography, sensitive lands or other similar circumstances related to the property over which the applicant has no control, and which are not applicable to other properties in the vicinity (e.g., the same land use district); except that no variances to “permitted uses” shall be granted.
B. Applicability.
1. The variance standards are intended to apply to individual platted and recorded lots only.
2. An applicant who proposes to vary a specification standard for lots yet to be created through a subdivision process may not utilize the Class C variance procedure.
3. A variance shall not be approved which would vary the “permitted uses” of a zoning district (Chapter 2).
C. Approvals Process and Criteria
1. Class C variances shall be processed using a Type III procedure, as governed by Chapter 4.2, Section 4.2.140, using the approval criteria in subsection 2, below. In addition to the application requirements contained in Chapter 4.2.140, the applicant shall provide a written narrative or letter describing his/her reasoning for the variance, why it is required, alternatives considered, and compliance with the criteria in subsection 2.
2. The City shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny an application for a variance based on finding that all of the following criteria are satisfied:
a. The variance is necessary because the subject Code provision do not account for special or unique physical circumstances of the subject site, existing development patterns, or adjacent land uses.
b. A hardship to development exists which is peculiar to the lot size or shape, topography, sensitive lands, or other similar circumstances related to the property over which the applicant has no control, and which are not applicable to other properties in the same land use district;
c. The variance will result in no foreseeable harm to adjacent property owners or the public. Existing physical and natural systems, such as but not limited to traffic, drainage, natural resources, and parks will not be adversely affected any more than would occur if the development occurred as specified by the subject Code standard; and
d. The need for the variance is not self-imposed by the applicant or property owner.
e. The variance requested is the minimum necessary to address the special or unique physical circumstances related to the subject site;
f. The variance does not conflict with other applicable City policies or other applicable regulations;
5.2.150 Class D Variance
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide criteria for variances from floodplain development standards contained in Chapter 3.7. Class D variances may be granted if an applicant substantiates the existence of exceptional circumstances that preclude consistency with the development standards in Chapter 3.7 and demonstrates consistency with the applicable variance criteria.
B. Applicability. Class D variances are limited to the following:
1. Modifying the required elevation standard for new construction and substantial improvements to be erected on a lot of one-half acre or less in size contiguous to and surrounded by lots with existing structures constructed below the base flood level.
2. Allowing a Water Dependent use, provided structures or other development is protected by methods that minimize flood damages during the base flood and create no additional threats to public safety.
3. Reconstruction, rehabilitation, or restoration of structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the Statewide Inventory of Historic Properties, upon a determination that the proposed reconstruction, rehabilitation, or restoration will not preclude the structure’s continued historic resource designation and the variance is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure.
4. Allow a lesser degree of floodproofing than watertight or dry-floodproofing for non-residential structures, where it can be determined that such action will have low damage potential, complies with all other variance criteria and otherwise complies with Building Codes.
C. Approvals Process and Criteria.
1. Class D variances shall be processed using a Type III procedure, as governed by Chapter 4.2, Section 4.2.150, using the approval criteria in Section 5.2.150.C.3, below. In addition to the application requirements contained in Chapter 3.7 and Chapter 4.2, Section 4.2.150, the applicant shall provide a written narrative or letter describing his/her reasoning for the variance, why it is required, alternatives considered, and compliance with the criteria in Section 5.2.150.C.3, below. The burden to show that the variance is warranted and meets the criteria set out below is on the applicant.
2. In passing upon such applications, the Planning Commission shall consider all technical evaluations, all relevant factors, standards specified in other sections of this ordinance, and the:
a. danger that materials may be swept onto other lands to the injury of others;
b. danger to life and property due to flooding or erosion damage;
c. susceptibility of the proposed facility and its contents to flood damage and the effect of such damage on the individual owner;
d. importance of the services provided by the proposed facility to the community;
e. necessity to the facility of a waterfront location, where applicable;
f. availability of alternative locations for the proposed use which are not subject to flooding or erosion damage;
g. compatibility of the proposed use with existing and anticipated development;
h. the relationship of the proposed use to the comprehensive plan and flood plain management program for that area;
i. safety of access to the property in times of flood for ordinary and emergency vehicles;
j. expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise, and sediment transport of the flood waters and the effects of wave action, if applicable, expected at the site; and,
k. 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 systems, and streets and bridges.
3. The City shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny an application for a variance based on findings made in response to Section 5.2.150.C.2, and findings that all of the following criteria are satisfied:
a. The proposed variance will not be materially detrimental to the purposes of this Code, to any other applicable policies and standards, and to other properties in the same land use district or vicinity;
b. Variances shall not be issued within a designated floodway if any increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge would result.
c. Variances shall only be issued upon a determination that the variance is the minimum necessary, considering the flood hazard, to afford relief.
d. 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 nuisances, cause fraud on or victimization of the public or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances.
4. The decision to either grant or deny a variance shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for such approval and denial. If the variance is granted, the property owner shall be put on notice along with the written decision that the permitted building will have its lowest floor below the Base Flood Elevation and that the cost of flood insurance likely will be commensurate with the increased flood damage risk.
5.2.160 Expiration of Approval
Variance approvals granted under Chapter 5.2 shall expire if not acted upon by the property owner within one year of the date of City approval.
Where the owner has applied for a building permit or final plat, has made site improvements consistent with an approved development plan (e.g., Site Design Review or preliminary subdivision plan), or provides other evidence of working in good faith toward completing the project, the City Administrator may extend the variance approval period for up to one year.