Opinion ID: 1953729
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Peculiar and Exceptional Practical Difficulties

Text: A clear definition of what constitutes practical difficulties has not been found. [33] Where substandard lots (those having a smaller size or lesser frontage than the minimum) are involved the practical difficulty is perforce of an extreme nature  an inability to put the lot to any conforming use. In these instances the concepts of practical difficulty and undue hardship overlap so that the courts often tend to speak of them synonymously. The statute, however, does not require the owner to make such a stringent showing with respect to area variances. Generally it must be shown that compliance with the area restriction would be unnecessarily burdensome. [34] The nature and extent of the burden which will warrant an area variance is best left to the facts and circumstances of each particular case. But it is certain that a variance cannot be granted where property conforming to the regulations will produce a reasonable income but, if put to another use, will yield a greater return. [35] The tenant's financial problems in operating a restaurant-record shop are immaterial. At issue are the difficulties of the owner. The record is manifestly devoid of evidence bearing on the difficulties of the owner, financial or otherwise. It cannot be said that the tenant's financial distress has caused the owner any difficulties whatsoever. We wish to stress that the discretion of the Board is not challenged by our decision herein. The objectives and aspirations of the youthful members who founded Emergency go unquestioned and the grant of a variance perhaps would not result in appreciable harm to the community. However, the issue here is not the reasonableness or feasibility of the Board's decision but rather compliance with the statutory requisites. On the basis of the foregoing the decision of the Board is Reversed.