City of Suffolk, Virginia

Department of Planning & Community Development

Division of Planning

SUBDIVISION VARIANCE APPLICATION

This application should be used to petition City Council for a variance, exception or waiver of conditions to
the regulations set forth in Article 5 of the Unified Development Ordinance, “Subdivisions.” Where City
Council finds that extraordinary hardships or practical difficulties may result from strict compliance with the
regulations and/or the purposes of the regulations may be served to a greater extent by an alternative
proposal, it can approve variances, exceptions and waiver of conditions to the subdivision regulations so that
substantial justice may be done and the public interest secured, provided that the variance, exception or
waiver conditions shall not have the effect of nullifying the intent and purpose of the regulations. The
following application requirements are consistent with the procedures set for in Section 31-515 “Variances
and Appeals” of the Unified Development Ordinance.

1. APPLICATION FOR:

___ Subdivision Variance

This is a request for a variance, exception or DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE

waiver of conditions to Article 5, Section (For Office Use Only)
____________ of the Unified Development
Ordinance. Application Number: V- _________________
The specific request is to: Submission Date: _______________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________

2. ENGINEER/SURVEYOR INFORMATION 3. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

_______________________________________ Property Address (if any):

(Name)
_______________________________________
(Company)
_______________________________________
(Street Address or P.O. Box)
_______________________________________
(City/State/Zip)
_______________________________________
(Daytime Phone)
_______________________________________
(Daytime Fax)
_______________________________________
(Email)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Name of Subdivision (if applicable):
______________________________________
Section: ______ Block: ______ Lot: ______
Zoning District: ________________________
Tax Assessor’s Map and Parcel(s):
______________________________________
______________________________________
Tax Account Number: ___________________
Taxes: Delinquent _______ Paid ________
4. AUTHORITY FOR APPLICATION

This application must be signed by the owner(s) of the subject property or must have attached to
it written evidence of the owner’s consent, which may be in the form of a binding contract of
sale with the owner’s signature or a letter signed by the owner(s) authorizing the applicant to act
as his or her agent. Signing this application shall constitute the granting of authority of the City
to enter onto the property for the purpose of conducting site analyses.

PROPERTY OWNER(S): APPLICANT:

(Name) (Name)

(Name) (Company)

(Street Address or P.O. Box) (Street Address or P.O. Box)

(City/State/Zip) (City/State/Zip)

(Daytime Phone Number) (Daytime Phone Number)

(Fax Number) (Fax Number)

(Email) (Email)

Applicant’s Status (check appropriate box)

(Signature) ______ Property Owner
______ Property Owner’s Agent
______ Contract Purchaser
__________________________________________
(Signature)

NOTICE: ALL APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ON A CONDITIONAL BASIS. IF,

UPON REVIEW, THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED INCOMPLETE, IT WILL BE
RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT.

Remit Application to: City of Suffolk Planning Department, P.O. Box 1858, Suffolk, VA 23434
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 31-515 OF THE UNIFIED
DEVELOPMENT ORDAINANCE, THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA WILL BE
USED TO CONSIDER PETITIONS FOR A VARIANCE, EXCEPTION OR
WAIVER OF CONDITIONS OF THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS:

1. The granting of the variance, exception or waiver of conditions will not be detrimental to
the public safety, health or welfare or injurious to other property;

2. The conditions upon which the request is based are unique to the property for which the
relief is sought and are not applicable generally to other property;

3. Because of the particular physical surroundings, shape or topographical conditions of the

specific property involved, a particular hardship to the owner would result, as
distinguished from a mere inconvenience, if the strict letter of these regulations is carried
out;

4. The relief sought will not in any manner vary the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance
(Article 4) of the Unified Development Ordinance, the 2018 Comprehensive Plan, or the
Official Zoning Map, except that those documents may be amended in the manner
prescribed by law.

ALL APPLICATIONS FOR VARIANCE APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

1. All petitions must be submitted in writing by the subdivider at the time when a plat is filed
for consideration.

2. The petition shall state fully the grounds for the application and all of the facts relied upon by
the petitioner.

3. If the Planning Director determines that the application does not contain sufficient
information to determine compliance with the criteria set forth in Section 31-515(a) of
Unified Development Ordinance, the application will be returned to the applicant with an
explanation of deficiencies.