Requests for variances shall be considered by the Borough of Chalfont in accordance with the procedures contained in Chapter
440, Article
XVIII, and §
216-15 and the following:
A. No variance shall be granted for any construction, development, use,
or activity within any floodway area/district that would cause any
increase in the BFE.
B. Except for a possible modification of the regulatory flood elevation requirement involved, no variance shall be granted for any of the other requirements pertaining specifically to development which may endanger human life (§
216-27).
C. No variance shall be granted for prohibited activities in the identified floodplain area (§
216-31).
D. If granted, a variance shall involve only the least modification
necessary to provide relief.
E. In granting any variance, the Borough of Chalfont 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.
F. Whenever a variance is granted, the Zoning Hearing Board shall 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.
G. In reviewing any request for a variance, the Borough of Chalfont shall consider, at a minimum, the requirements in §
440-146 and 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:
(a)
Neither result in an unacceptable or prohibited increase in
flood heights, additional threats to public safety, or extraordinary
public expense;
(b)
Nor create nuisances, cause fraud on, or victimize the public,
or conflict with any other applicable state or local ordinances and
regulations.
H. A complete record of all variance requests and related actions shall
be maintained by the Borough of Chalfont. In addition, a report of
all variances granted during the year shall be included in the annual
report to the FEMA.
I. 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.