17.35.060 Decision criteria.
Strict application of this code or amendment thereto must be found to result in a practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship upon the owner of said property, provided:
(1) That such variance can be granted without substantial impairment of the intent, purpose, and integrity of this title and of the Comprehensive Plan of Stanwood; and
(2) That this variance shall not permit a use of land not authorized within the zoning district, increase in the volume of a building or structure, or increase the density of development beyond that permitted, as established by this code; and
(3) That the granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the property or improvements in the vicinity and zoning district in which subject property is situated; and
(4) That the reasons set forth in the application justify the granting of the variance, and that the variance is the minimum variance that will make possible the reasonable use of the land; and
(5) That there must be a finding that all of the following conditions exist:
(a) That, if the owner or lessor complied with the provisions of this code, he or she would not be able to make reasonable use of his or her property;
(b) That the difficulties or hardships are peculiar to the property in question in contrast with those of other properties in the same district;
(c) That the hardship was not the result of the applicant’s own action (applicant’s own action shall not include the purchase of the property); and
(d) That the hardship is not merely financial or pecuniary.
(6) The fact that property may be utilized more profitably will not be an element of consideration. (Ord. 1499 § 3 (Exh. C), 2021).