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The Board of Zoning Appeals shall not grant a Variance unless it makes the following findings based upon evidence presented to it.

Required Findings

1. That by reason of exceptional narrowness, shallowness, or shape of a particular piece of property at the time of enactment of this Ordinance, or by reason of exceptional topographic conditions or other exceptional and extraordinary situation or condition of such piece of property, the strict application of any regulation contained within this Ordinance would result in peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties to or exceptional or undue hardship upon the owner of such property.

2. That the Variance is the minimum Variance necessary so as to relieve such difficulties or hardship and thereby make possible the reasonable use of the land, Building, or Structure.

3. That the Variance will not authorize uses or activities in the applicable District other than those permitted by this Ordinance.

4. That financial returns alone shall not be considered as a basis for granting a Variance.

5. That the granting of the Variance will not be substantially detrimental to the public good or substantially injurious to other property or improvements in the area in which the subject property is located and will not substantially impair the intent and purpose of the general provisions of the Town’s zone plan and this Ordinance.

6. That the proposed Variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to the adjacent property, or substantially increase the congestion in the public streets, or increase the danger of fire, or endanger the public safety.

7. That the alleged difficulty or hardship has not been caused or created by the act or omission of the Applicant or any person having an interest in the property.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained or implied in the Zoning Ordinance section referencing Variances, none of the following shall be deemed or considered to be, or be considered in making a determination whether strict compliance with this Ordinance presents, a peculiar and exceptional practical difficulty to or exceptional or undue hardship upon the owner of property:

• Pecuniary considerations

• Aesthetic considerations

• Historic Preservation

• Public good

• Over-compliance with other provisions of this Ordinance

• Personal Situations

• Proximity to inconsistent or incompatible Uses or Development

• Other Variances that have been granted

• Nonconformities

• District boundaries

• Conditional Uses or Uses Permitted Subject to Limited Use Standards

• Deterioration of surrounding area

Neither any Nonconforming Use of neighboring lands, Structures, or Buildings in the same District, nor any non-permitted or Nonconforming Use of lands, Structures, or Building in other Districts shall be considered grounds for the issuance of a Variance.

Under no circumstances shall the Board of Zoning Appeals grant a Variance to allow a Use that is not permissible under this Ordinance in the applicable District, or any Use which is expressly or by implication prohibited by the terms of this Ordinance in said District.

The Board of Zoning Appeals may impose such conditions and restrictions upon the premises benefited by a Variance as may be necessary to comply with the provisions set out in Zoning Ordinance to reduce or minimize the injurious effect to such Variance upon surrounding property and better carry out the general intent of this Ordinance. The Board of Zoning Appeals may establish expiration dates as a condition or as a part of any Variances.

Any person, including without limitation any agency of the Town, who is aggrieved by a decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals on a Variance, may appeal by certiorari to a court of competent jurisdiction. The judgment and findings of the Board of Zoning Appeals on all questions of fact that may be involved in any appeal, cause, hearing or proceeding under this Ordinance shall be final and subject to review only for illegality or want of jurisdiction.

Variance Checklist

Applicants should submit the following information.

1. The length of the boundaries of the lot measured to the nearest foot.  Locations, square footages, and exterior dimensions, measured from outside wall to outside wall, of all existing and proposed buildings and structures.  A plot plan may satisfy this requirement. 

2. Applicable drawings, illustrations, or exhibits that further describe the request. 

3. Any additional information the Planning Department determines is necessary for a full and complete review by the Board of Zoning Appeals. 

PROCEDURE

Step 1. Preliminary Meeting with Staff 
A pre-application meeting is required prior to submitting an application.  Meeting with staff will ensure your request can be legally heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

To schedule a meeting, please contact the Planning Department at (615)776-6704 or via email at Planning@nolensvilletn.gov

Step 2. Variance Application Submittal
Applicants should submit their application in accordance with the Board of Zoning Appeals submittal schedule.  The application shall state fully the grounds for the request and all the facts upon which the appellant is relying and shall address the following issues (explanation may be submitted on a separate letter due to space constraints):

• The request is justified because the lot is substantially different than the surrounding lots AND, by either or both of the following (i) the property is exceptional due to narrowness, shallowness, or shape of the property or, (ii) the property contains exceptional topographic conditions or other extraordinary or exceptional situations or conditions.

• The strict application of the Zoning Ordinance would result in practical difficulties to or undue hardship upon the owner of the property (e.g. - why is your situation not generally applicable to other properties throughout the Town - explanation cannot be of a personal or financial nature).

• The relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantially impairing the intent and purpose of the Zoning Ordinance. Applicants should state why the variance is being requested, what function the variance would accomplish and what specific and unique circumstances exist that would authorize consideration by the Board. For a list of submittal requirements see the Variance Checklist.

Step 3. Staff Review
Staff will review the application for completeness, prepare a staff report and make a recommendation to the Board of Zoning Appeals.  

Step 4. Public Notice
Public Notice is required for Variance requests. Further details can be found in the Town's Zoning Ordinance.

Step 5. Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - Final Action
The Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a public hearing and take final action on the Variance request as the approving body.

Following the vote, staff shall provide a form for the applicant and the Chair to sign which documents the action taken at the meeting.

Step 6. Next Steps
When the variance is granted, the applicant may proceed with a building permit, Plat or Site Plan, as applicable.  If moving forward with a Site Plan or Plat submittal the applicant would include documentation of the action taken by the Board of Zoning Appeals with the application.