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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORDINANCE 1033-1985Suggested by: Planning h Zoning CITY OF KENAI ORDINANCE NO. 1033-85 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AMENDING KENAI MUNICIPAL CODE SECTIONS 14.20.160 AND 14.20.320 %moo, (b)(69) CONCERNING THE VARIANCE PERMIT DEFINITION AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE KENAI ZONING CODE. WHEREAS, the Kenai Zoning Code provides for the issuance of a variance permit by the Kenai Advisory Flanning Z Zoning Commission if certain conditions have been satisfied by the petitioner, and WHEREAS, certain deficiencies in the variance permit section of the Code have created review problems for the Commission, and WHEREAS, the existing review criteria are too general and do not include certain conditions which shGuld be considered in evaluating a variance permit request, and WHEREAS, the proposed revision of the variance permit section includes a more accurate intent statement and more descriptive review criteria, and WHEREAS, a public hearing has been conducted by the Kenai Advisory Planning do Zoning Commission on March 27, 1985 in accordance with the Kenai Zoning Code, and WHEREAS, the Commission unanimously recommended approval of the variance permit section in accordance with adopted Resolution No. PZ 85-19. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, that KMC 14.20.180 and 14.20.320 (b) (69) are repealed and re-enacted as follows: 14.20.180 Variance Permits (a) Intents A variance means the relaxation of the development requirements of this chapter to provide f relief when the literal enforcement would deprive a property owner of the reasonable use of his real property. { (b) Permit Application: An application for a variance permit shall be filed in writing with the administrative official and signed by the owner of the property concerned. wb 1) the application shall r•ontain the follcwinq: (i) A iPgal description of the property involved; (ii) Plans showing the location of all existing and proposed buildings or alterations, elevations of Such buildings or alterations, and such data as may be required. (c) Review Criteria: The Commission shall establish a finding that all of the conditions have been found to exist as a prerequisite to issuance of a variance permit. 1) Special conditions or circumstances are present which are peculiar to the land or structures involved which are not applicable to other lands or structures in the same land use or zoning district. 2) The special conditions or circumstances have not been caused by actions of the applicant and such conditions and circumstances do not merely constitute pecuniary hardship or inconvenience. 3) The granting of the variance shall not F�uthorize a use that is not a permitted principal use in the zoning district in which the property is located. 4) The granting of a variance shall be the minimum variance that will provide for the reasonable use of the land and/or structure. 5) The granting of a variance shall not be based upon other non -conforming land uses or structures within the sale land t:ae or zoning district. (d) Public Hearing: The public hearing and notification procedure for a variance application shall be accomplished in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. (e) Permit Expiration and Extension: An approved variance permit shall lapse 12 months from the date of approval if no certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Official. The Commission may grant a time extension not to exceed six months upon a finding that circumstances have root changed sufficiently since the date of initial permit approval. A request for extension must be submitted prior to expiration of the permit. A public hearing shall not be required as a condition to granting the extension. I 14.20.320 Definitions (b) (69) "Variance" means the relaxation of the uevelopment requirements of this chapter to provide relief when the literal enforcement would deprive a property owner of the reasonable use of his real property. PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENA1, ALASKA, this 17th day of April, 1985. M WJVGON MAYOR ATTEST: 4 et Whelan, City Clerk Pfi -" I i First Reading: April 3, 1985 ' Second Reading: April 17, 1985 ' Effective Date: May 17, 1985 i - Y iµ.20.170-14.20.180 compliance with Horizontal Property Regimes Act, AS 34.07 has been made prior to the sale of any townhouse dwelling C units, and further: (i) The developer or subdivider of any Planned Unit Residential Development shall depnsit with the appropriate homeowners' association, formed in compliance with the Horizontal Property Regimes Act cited in this section, a contingency fund in the sum of $500 per dwelling unit in the townhouse development; [ii] A copy of the by-laws of the homeowners' association showing in what manner the aforesaid contingency fund shall be controlled shall be furnished to the City for review and approval. (Ord 925) 14.20.180 Variance Permits: (a) Intent. A variance means a relaxation of the development requirements of this chapter in . cases where unusual physical features of the property would make strict application of the zoning regulations unreasonable. (b) Procedure. (1) An application for a variance permit shall be filed in writing with the administrative official and signed by the owner of the property concerned. 0� [i] The application shall contain the following: (a) A legal description of the property involved; (b) Plans showing the location of all existing and proposed buildings or alterations, elevations of such buildings or alterations, and such data as may be required. [ii] The application for a variance shall contain a statement and adequate evidence showing the following conditions, all three of which must exist before a variance may be granted: a That there are exceptional physical cir-_ cumstances or conditions'applicable to the property or to its intended use or development which do hot apply generally to the other properties in the same land use district; (b) That the strict application of the provisions of this chapter would result in practical dif- ficulties or unnecessary hardship; (c) That the granting of the variance will not result in material damage to other properties in the vicinity nor be detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare. (iii) The public hearing and notification procedure Z for a variance application shall be accomplished in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. (2) An approved variance permit shall lapse 12 months from the date of approval if no certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Official. The Commission may grant a ..r time extension not to exceed six' months upon a finding that circumstances have not changed sufficiently since the date of initial permit approval. A request for extension must be submitted prior to expiration of the permit. A public �. rearing 0all not be required as a condition to granting the extension. (Ords 925, 987) 14-35 (City of Kenai Supp. #32 - 11; 17/84) P COT` OF KENAI "Od CaJO dl o f 414a" 2+o RMLao ;Mm, m.ns:u MM1 TEL04ME M - 7W MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Waooner anj Kenai City Council FROM: Jeff Labahn. Land Manaaer SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 1033-85: Variance Permit Revisions DATE: April 9. 1985 Ordinance No. 1033-85 proposes certain amendments to the Kenai Zonino_ Code. Specifically, this ordinance revamps the section dealing with the application. review. and issuance of a valiance permit by the Kenai :advisory Plaimiiig & Zoning Commission. The Commission has the final authority to issue a variance permit as provided in the Kenai Zoning Code. The proposed ordinance differs from the existing code in two ways: 1) The definition/intent statement for "variance" has been broadened in scope. The existing code states that there must be "unusual physical features of the property" which must be present in order Lo grant a variance. The proposed ordinance does not limit a variance to the existence of certain physical features. Rather. the variance can be considered in any situation where "..the literal enforcement would deprive the property owner of the reasonable use of his real property." 2) The existing Code requires that all of three stated conditions must be satisfied as a prerequisite to obtaining a variance. The proposed ordinance expands these requirements to five review criteria which better define the parameters of a variance JBL:jl