Township of Halfmoon, PA Article VII Variances

§ 118-28 Grant of relief.

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

§ 118-29 Variance procedures and conditions.

Requests for variances shall be considered by the Zoning Hearing Board and/or the Centre Region Building and Housing Code Board of Appeals in accordance with the procedures contained in § 118-16 and the following:

A. No variance shall be granted for any of the other requirements pertaining specifically to development which may endanger human life (§ 118-23).[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. No variance shall be granted for any construction, development, use, or activity within any floodway area that would cause any increase in the one-hundred-year-flood elevation.

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

D. In granting any variance, the adjudicatory body 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.

E. Whenever a variance is granted, the adjudicatory body shall also notify the applicant in writing that:

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

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

F. In reviewing any request for a variance, the adjudicatory body shall consider, at a minimum, the following:

(1) That there is good and sufficient cause.

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

(3) That the granting of the variance will neither result in air 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.

G. A complete record of all variance requests and related actions shall be maintained by the Township. In addition, a report of all variances granted during the year shall be included in the annual report to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Notwithstanding any of the above, however, all structures shall be designed and constructed so as to have the capability of resisting the one-hundred-year flood.