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Variance Considerations: For a variance to be approved, the applicant needs to demonstrate a hardship or practical difficulty associated with the property that makes a literal interpretation of the Code overly burdensome or restrictive. Minnesota statutes require that the governing body (the Planning Commission, in the case of Mounds View) review a set of specified criteria for each application and make its decision in accordance with these criteria. These criteria are set forth in Section 1125.02, Subdivision 2, of the City Code. The Code clearly states that a hardship exists when all of the criteria are met. The criteria are as follows: a. Exceptional or extraordinary circumstances apply to the property which do not apply generally to other properties in the same zone or vicinity and result from lot size or shape, topography or other circumstances over which the owners of the property since the effective date hereof have had no control. The subject property is a typical rectangular shaped lot with no unusual characteristics or conditions. The only extraordinary condition present at the property is the prevailing setback of 52 feet, 22 feet more than what would otherwise be required. b. The literal interpretation of the provisions of this Title would deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same district under the terms of this Title. The literal interpretation of the provisions of the Zoning Code would not deprive the applicant of rights enjoyed by other properties in the same zone, in that most homes in Mounds View maintain consistent setbacks, whether at 30 feet or 52 feet. Because of this, porch additions or any additions to the front of a home are usually problematic. c. That the special conditions or circumstances do not result from the actions of the applicant. The home, constructed in 1970, was situated on the lot to be of a similar front setback as the home on the opposite end of the block, which was constructed in 1940. The two homes in between are of similar setbacks, which have placed all of them in about the middle of the lots. The homes on this block all have much larger front setbacks than the 30 foot minimum, but they are all setback a similar distance from each other which effectively eliminates the possibility of a front expansion. d. That granting the variance requested would not confer on the applicant any special privilege that is denied by this Title to owners of other lands, structures or buildings in the same district. Granting the variance would not confer upon the property owner a special privilege denied to others in the same district in that the Commission has granted front setback variances for additions in the past. e. That the variance requested is the minimum variance which would alleviate the hardship. Economic conditions alone shall not be considered a hardship. A ten foot front entry and 4 foot porch which encroaches nine feet into the front setback would be the minimum variance necessary to alleviate the Okoros perceived hardship.