Natrona County Development Department
200 North Center Street, Room 202
Casper, WY 82601
Phone: (307) 235-9435
Fax: (307) 235-9439
"The purpose of the Natrona County Development Department is to provide necessary services to implement
sound land use planning and economic development polices to protect and enhance the quality of life for
present and future inhabitants of Natrona County"
Zone Variance
Adopted by Natrona County Board of County Commissioners
Rev. 9/30/2008
Print Form
Natrona County Development Department
200 North Center Street, Room 202, Casper, WY 82601
ZONING VARIANCE
General Information, Instructions and Application Form
(Ref. Chapter XI, 2000 Zoning Resolution)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Zoning involves the application of land use control measures to an entire community through the designation
of zoning districts and the imposition of various uses, density, bulk and other restrictions (see Chapter VII,
Design Criteria and Procedures). This broad approach of controlling development may create hardships for
individual landowners, whose private interests will often conflict with the public policies mandated by state
and local governments. In an effort to relieve this conflict, a landowner who feels unduly injured by the
application of the regulations of this Resolution may apply for a variance.
A variance is authorization for a property owner to depart from the literal requirements of this Resolution as it
applies to his land.
Unless otherwise specified, a variance runs with the land and does not terminate when the property is sold. A
new owner succeeds to the benefits enjoyed by the former owner under the variance issued to him. However,
the successor in interest is subject to the limitations specified in the variance and can assert no greater rights
than those formerly granted.
REVIEW AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATION
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
An application for variance is first reviewed by the County Development Department. The Department
meets with the applicant, conducts an on-site inspection on the property, gathers information from various
sources, and submits a report and recommendation to the Natrona County Planning and Zoning
Commission , including reasons why a particular recommendation is being made and a set of contingencies
should approval be recommended.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
The Planning and Zoning Commission is a five-member volunteer board, appointed by the Board of County
Commissioners. The Planning and Zoning Commission holds a public hearing on the variance application,
considers the report from the County Development Department, and receives public testimony regarding the
application. After considering this information, the Planning and Zoning Commission takes the following
action:
* Recommend approval of the application as submitted to the Board of County Commissioners,
* Recommend approval of the application, subject to such modifications or conditions as it deems
necessary, to the Board of County Commissioners,
* Table the application to a date specific, or
Rev. 9/30/2008
* Recommend denial of the application to the Board of County Commissioners. In these cases the
Planning and Zoning Commission specifies the reasons for its action. With the applicant's express
permission, the Commission may table the application indefinitely or dismiss the application.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of County Commissioners is a five-member elected board, representing the citizens of Natrona
County and setting forth the policies of the Natrona County government. The Board of County
Commissioners holds a public hearing on the variance application, considers the report from the County
Development Department and action of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and receives public
testimony regarding the application. After considering this information, the Board of County Commissioners
takes the following action:
* Approve the application as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission,
* Approve the application as submitted,
* Approve the application on its own conditions
* Deny the application,
* Remand the application to the Planning and Zoning Commission for reconsideration, or
* Table the application to a date specific. With the express consent of the applicant, the Commission
may table the application indefinitely or dismiss the application.
GUIDELINES FOR REVIEW
When acting upon variances, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of County
Commissioners shall be guided by the Intent and Purpose, and Goals and Policies provisions of the Zoning
Resolution. In addition, the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of County Commissioners shall
require showings concerning all of the following:
1) The owner of record and the contract purchaser has signed the application.
2) There are exceptional or extraordinary circumstances and conditions applicable to the property
involved and literal application of this Resolution to the applicant's property will result in
"unnecessary hardship".
3) The hardship is due to unique circumstances. (This proof is considered crucial to the validity of the
variance because it insures that the Board does not rezone the area under the guise of the variance
procedure. Since the purpose of a variance is to bring the applicant into substantial parity with other
landowners in the same zone, the applicant has the burden of demonstrating that the difficulties
facing him are different from those of his neighbors.)
4) The variance will not authorize a use other than those uses specifically listed as permitted or
conditional uses in the zoning district in which the variance is sought.
5) The variance will not result in a gain in use, service or income for the applicant to a greater extent than
available to other landowners in the vicinity.
6) Granting the variance will not merely serve as a convenience for the applicant but is necessary to
alleviate a proven hardship.
7) Granting the variance will not impair the use of adjacent property or alter the characteristic of the
neighborhood.
8) Granting the variance will not detrimentally affect the public health, safety and welfare or nullify the
intent and purpose of the Land Use Plan or this Resolution.
Rev. 9/30/2008
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
This is an application for a variance on the parcel of land described hereon. By completing the application form
and providing the other requested information, your application will be acted upon in the fastest, fairest manner
prescribed by law. Citizens are encouraged to discuss their application with an appropriate member of the
Development Department. All applications must be complete.
PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:
1) A completed application form. Answer all portions and type or print your answers. Attach additional
pages, if needed.
2) A site plan drawn at an appropriate scale with the following information:
a) The perimeter and dimensions of the property.
b) The names and locations of all streets, roads or highways on or contiguous to the property.
c) The locations of all easements or right-of-way on the property.
d) The names and locations of all rivers, streams or waterways on or contiguous to the property.
e) The use, location and dimension of all structures on the property. Please include the distance from
all proposed structures to the property lines.
f) A scale.
g) A north arrow.
3) The names and mailing addresses of all adjacent property owners. You may submit a letter from the
adjacent property owners indicating their support of your request.
4) Proof of ownership-copy of recorded deed. The owner of record must sign this application for the
application to be valid.
5) Please attach a completed Erosion Control Plan.
6) Any other information or materials relevant to the application or as requested by the Development
Department.
Please plan on attending the public hearing and/or having a representative present. The Natrona County
Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are held at 5:30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at
200 North Center Street, District Courtroom #1, Casper, WY.
If you wish to have this request considered by ____________________, you must have the completed
application filed in the County Planning Office no later than 4:30 pm on ______________________.
Rev. 9/30/2008
VARIANCE APPLICATION
Applicant Name:
Applicant Address:
Applicant Phone:
Owner Name:
(Please read GENERAL INFORMATION AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS before filling out.)
I (We), the undersigned, do hereby petition the Board of County Commissioners of Natrona County, Wyoming,
for a Variance, as provided in Chapter 11, 2000 Natrona Zoning Resolution.
Owner Address:
Owner Phone:
Explain why you are requesting this variance and detail the proposed use:
Legal Description and size of property (If within a platted subdivision, give subdivision name, block and lot
number. If not within a platted subdivision, give quarter-section, section, township and range).
Current zoning of property:
Type of sewage disposal: Public Septic Holding Tank Other
Source of Water:
This property was purchased from:
The date this property was purchased:
Rev. 9/30/2008
* Please explain the unique circumstances of your hardship, and how these difficulties are different from
your neighbors.
* Will the variance authorize a use other than those uses specifically listed as permitted or conditional
uses in your zoning district?
* Will the variance result in a gain in use, service or income to a greater extent than available to other
landowners in the vicinity?
* Please explain how the variance is necessary to alleviate a proven hardship, rather than merely a
convenience.
* Will the variance impair the use of adjacent property or alter the character of the neighborhood?
Applicant:__________________________________________________ Date:_________________________
Print Applicant Name:___________________________________________________________________________
Owner:____________________________________________________ Date:_________________________
Print Owner Name:_____________________________________________________________________________
(Signature)
(Signature)
Rev. 9/30/2008
On a separate sheet of paper, please respond to the following questions and provide explanations for your
answers:
* What are the exceptional circumstances and conditions applicable to your property such that a literal
application of the zoning regulations would cause you an "unnecessary hardship"?