§ 18-41. Variances and appeals.

(a)

The parish commission shall hear and render judgment on requests for variances from the requirements of this chapter.

(b)

The parish commission shall hear and render judgment on an appeal only when it is alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision or determination made by the director of public works in the enforcement or administration of this chapter.

(c)

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the parish commission may appeal such decision to the First Judicial District Court by filing a petition for that purpose with the court within 30 days of the date the decision is rendered.

(d)

The director of public works shall maintain a record of all actions involving an appeal and shall report variances to the Federal Emergency Management Agency upon request.

(e)

Variances may be issued for the reconstruction, rehabilitation or restoration of structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the state inventory of historic places, without regard to the procedures set forth in the remainder of this section.

(f)

Generally, variances may be issued for new construction and substantial improvements to be erected on a lot of one-half acre or less in size contiguous to and surrounded by lots with existing structures constructed below the base flood level, providing the relevant factors in section 18-40(c) have been fully considered. As the lot size increases beyond the one-half acre, the technical justification required for issuing the variance increases.

(g)

Upon consideration of the factors noted in subsection (f) of this section and the intent of this chapter, the parish may attach such conditions to the granting of variances as it deems necessary to further the purposes and objectives of this chapter.

(h)

Variances shall not be issued within any designated floodway if any increase in flood levels during the base flood discharge would result.

(i)

Variances may be issued for the repair or rehabilitation of historic structures upon a determination that the proposed repair or rehabilitation will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure and the variance is the minimum necessary to preserve the historic character and design of the structure.

(j)

Variances shall only be issued upon:

(1)

A determination that the variance is the minimum necessary, considering the flood hazard, to afford relief;

(2)

A showing of good and sufficient cause;

(3)

A determination that failure to grant the variance would not result in exceptional hardship to the applicant; and

(4)

A determination that the granting of a variance will not result in increased flood heights, additional threats to public safety or extraordinary public expense, or create nuisances or cause fraud on or victimization of the public, or conflict with existing local laws or ordinances.

(k)

Any applicant to whom a variance is granted shall be given written notice that the structure will be permitted to be built with a lowest floor elevation below the base flood elevation, and that the cost of flood insurance will be commensurate with the increased risk resulting from the reduced lowest floor elevation.

(l)

Variances may be issued for new construction and substantial improvements, and for other development necessary for the conduct of a functionally dependent use, provided that:

(1)

The criteria set forth in this section are met; and

(2)

The structure or other development is protected by methods that minimize flood damages during the base flood and create no additional threats to public safety.

(Code 1976, § 6.5-16; Code 1985, § 9-28; Ord. No. 2728, 8-8-1990; Ord. No. 2735, 9-12-1990; Ord. No. 2736, 10-26-1990; Ord. No. 3403, 4-10-1997)