APPLYING FOR A VARIANCE

Appeals to the Board of Adjustment are considered monthly at a public hearing.  In order to be considered at the next meeting, applications must be received in the Zoning, Planning and Land Information Office no later than NOON on: 

(SEE SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS)

ALL applications must include:

1.      Application forms, signed and dated, which are available at the Zoning, Planning and Land Information Office;

2.      A legal description of the property;

3.      Filing Fee: (See Schedule 17.87)

4.      A site sketch, drawn to scale if possible, indicating the location of all existing structures and the proposed construction.

Incomplete applications will not be placed on the meeting agenda.

Applicants should be prepared to answer the following questions:

§         What hardship is created by the application of the Zoning Ordinance to this property?

 Is reasonable use of the property denied by zoning regulations?  In other words, is there an

alternative plan that would comply with the ordinance?

§         Is there a unique physical characteristic of the property which prevents development in

compliance with the Zoning Ordinance?

§         Would granting of the variance harm the public interest in any way?  For example, would public

safety be compromised?  What aesthetic impact would the project have?  Would the proposal

interfere with protected shorelands?  What other impacts would the project have on the public

interest?

A notice of the date and time of the hearing and a site plan will be mailed to all property owners within 150 feet of your property.  Notice of the hearing is sent to the Town Board.  It is important that you discuss your proposal with town representatives, prior to the public hearing, as the Town Board acts in an advisory capacity to the Board of Adjustment.

Depending on the location of your property, notice of the hearing will be sent to the County Highway Commissioner and the Land Conservation Department, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation and the La Crosse Municipal Airport.

The property owner or his representative shall be present at the public hearing to present his request to the Board and answer any questions it may have.  Should an appearance not be made, or should insufficient information be presented, the appeal will not be considered and will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.  The appellant will be required to pay the additional expense that is incurred because of the postponement of the hearing.