<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>zoning controls and ordinances;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>394.27, subdivision 7; 462.357, subdivision 6.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 394.27, subdivision 7, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>    Subd. 7. <b>Variances; </b><b>hardship</b><b> practical difficulties</b><b>.</b> The board of adjustment shall <br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>have the exclusive power to order the issuance of variances from the terms requirements <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>of any official control including restrictions placed on nonconformities. Variances shall <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>only be permitted when they are in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>official control in cases when there are practical difficulties or particular hardship in <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>the way of carrying out the strict letter of any official control, and when the terms of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>the variance variances are consistent with the comprehensive plan. "Hardship" as used <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>in connection with the granting of a variance means the property in question cannot be <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>put to a reasonable use if used under the conditions allowed by the official controls; the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>landowner; and the variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the locality. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>Variances may be granted when the applicant for the variance establishes that there <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>are practical difficulties in complying with the official control. "Practical difficulties," <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>as used in connection with the granting of a variance, means that the property owner <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by an official control; <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>the plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created by <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>the landowner; and the variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character of the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>locality. Economic considerations alone shall do not constitute a hardship if a reasonable <br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>use for the property exists under the terms of the ordinance practical difficulties. Practical <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>difficulties include, but are not limited to, inadequate access to direct sunlight for solar <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>energy systems. Variances shall be granted for earth sheltered construction as defined in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>section 
         <statute_ref>216C.06, subdivision 14</statute_ref>, when in harmony with the official controls. No variance <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>may be granted that would allow any use that is prohibited not allowed in the zoning <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>district in which the subject property is located. The board of adjustment may impose <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>conditions in the granting of variances to. A condition must be directly related to and must <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>bear a rough proportionality to the impact created by the variance insure compliance <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>and to protect adjacent properties and the public interest. The board of adjustment may <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>consider the inability to use solar energy systems a "hardship" in the granting of variances.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br/>
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<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 462.357, subdivision 6, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>    Subd. 6. <b>Appeals and adjustments.</b> Appeals to the board of appeals and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>adjustments may be taken by any affected person upon compliance with any reasonable <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>conditions imposed by the zoning ordinance. The board of appeals and adjustments has <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>the following powers with respect to the zoning ordinance:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>(1) To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative officer in the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>enforcement of the zoning ordinance.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>(2) To hear requests for variances from the literal provisions of the ordinance <br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>in instances where their strict enforcement would cause undue hardship because of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>circumstances unique to the individual property under consideration, and to grant such <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>variances only when it is demonstrated that such actions will be in keeping with the spirit <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>and intent of the ordinance. "Undue hardship" as used in connection with the granting of a <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>variance means the property in question cannot be put to a reasonable use if used under <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>conditions allowed by the official controls, requirements of the zoning ordinance including <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>restrictions placed on nonconformities. Variances shall only be permitted when they are in <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>harmony with the general purposes and intent of the ordinance and when the variances are <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>consistent with the comprehensive plan. Variances may be granted when the applicant for <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>the variance establishes that there are practical difficulties in complying with the zoning <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>ordinance. "Practical difficulties," as used in connection with the granting of a variance, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>means that the property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>permitted by the zoning ordinance; the plight of the landowner is due to circumstances <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>unique to the property not created by the landowner,; and the variance, if granted, will not <br/>
<a id="pl.2.35"></a><var>2.35</var>alter the essential character of the locality. Economic considerations alone shall do not <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>constitute an undue hardship if reasonable use for the property exists under the terms of <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>the ordinance. Undue hardship also includes practical difficulties. Practical difficulties <br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>include, but is are not limited to, inadequate access to direct sunlight for solar energy <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>systems. Variances shall be granted for earth sheltered construction as defined in section <br/>
<statute_ref><a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>216C.06, subdivision 14
         </statute_ref>, when in harmony with the ordinance. The board of appeals and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>adjustments or the governing body as the case may be, may not permit as a variance any <br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>use that is not permitted allowed under the zoning ordinance for property in the zone <br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>where the affected person's land is located. The board or governing body as the case <br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>may be, may permit as a variance the temporary use of a one family dwelling as a two <br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>family dwelling. The board or governing body as the case may be may impose conditions <br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>in the granting of variances to insure compliance and to protect adjacent properties.. A <br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>condition must be directly related to and must bear a rough proportionality to the impact <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>created by the variance. <br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br/>