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Velmeir Variance November 5, 2003 Page 3 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. As the applicant states in the attached letter, there are other similarly zoned properties in the community with the same reduced front setback. Granting the variance would not appear to be a special privilege. e. That the variance requested is the minimum variance which would alleviate the hardship. Economic conditions alone shall not be considered a hardship. The five-foot front setback results in a 25-foot variance from what is required by the Zoning Code. While 25 feet represents a large variance in terms of percentage, it is the minimum necessary to allow for two rows of parking with a 24-foot drive aisle. The two-foot rear setback is necessary to allow adequate room for vehicular movements. f. The variance would not be materially detrimental to the purpose of this Title or to other property in the same zone. One of the prevailing goals of the zoning code is to promote positive development and redevelopment within the community. Granting a variance to allow for the utilization of the front and rear setback would open the door to a much-needed redevelopment at this important corner in the City’s commercial corridor, eliminating a blighted, vacant building and significantly improving the corner’s appearance. g. The proposed variance will not impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property or substantially increase the congestion of the public streets or increase the danger of fire or endanger the public safety or substantially diminish or impair property values within the neighborhood. The proposed variance would not result in any of the above-cited adverse effects. Summary: All of the criteria, as indicated above, need to be satisfied to justify the granting the variance. Staff believes that all of the criteria can be supported and that the proposed variance would allow for a beneficial and much needed redevelopment at this prominent corner. The Planning Commission needs to review the criteria and determine whether the variance should be supported.