RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF A VARIANCE
The Town of Maggie Valley recognizes that there may exist certain conditions that make the literal enforcement of its Zoning Ordinance result in a practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship. To that end, the Town has created a process whereby interested parties may request a variance from specific requirements of the ordinance. In order for a variance to be granted, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that all of the following conditions are met. In the spaces provided below, indicate the facts that you intend to show and the arguments that you intend to make to convince the Board of Adjustment that it can properly reach these required conclusions. Please remember, you will be required to demonstrate to the Board that all of these findings can be made. Upon receipt of this application, the Board will schedule a hearing. All witnesses at the hearing shall provide sworn testimony and the Board may only base their conclusion on the testimony heard at the hearing. The Board of Adjustment is authorized to subpoena witnesses and compel the production of evidence. Any person who, while under oath during a proceeding before the Board of Adjustment, willfully swears falsely, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Ordinance Reference Ð Town of Maggie Valley Zoning and Sign Ordinance ¤1306.3 (Variances). To authorize upon appeal in specific cases such variances from the terms of the Ordinance as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this Ordinance will, in an individual case, result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship; so that the spirit of the Ordinance shall be observed, public safety and welfare secured, and substantial justice done. The existence of a nonconforming use of neighboring land, building or structures in the same district or of permitted or nonconforming uses in other districts shall not constitute a reason for the requested variance. The fact that property may be utilized more profitably will not be considered adequate to justify the Board in granting a variance. Such variance may be granted in such individual case of unnecessary hardship upon a finding by the Board of Adjustment that all of the following conditions exist: (Attach additional sheets if necessary).
1.) There
are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular place
or property in question because of its size, shape or topography that are not
applicable to other lands or structures in the same district. Comments: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.) Granting
the variance requested will not confer upon the applicant any special
privileges that are denied to other residents of the district in which the
property is located. Comments: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3) A
literal interpretation of the provisions of this Ordinance would deprive the
applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other residents of the district in
which the property is located.
Comments: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.) The
requested variance will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of this
Ordinance and will not be injurious to the neighborhood or to the general
welfare. Comments: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5.) The
special circumstances are not the result of the actions of the applicant. Comments: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6.) The
variance requested is the minimum variance that will make possible the legal
use of the land, building or structure.
Comments: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7.) The
variance is not a request to permit a use of land, building or structure which
is not permitted by right or by special exception in the district
involved. Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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