Pawn 1st LLC v. City of Phoenix/jachimek

JUSTICE LOPEZ,

opinion of the Court:

¶ 1 This case concerns the standards a municipal zoning board applies in considering an application for a zoning variance. We hold that to obtain an area variance, an applicant must show that strictly applying a zoning ordinance will cause “peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties” that deprive a property of privileges enjoyed by other similarly zoned properties. We also clarify that the applicant’s desire to use the property for purposes allowed on other similarly zoned properties does not in itself constitute a self-imposed special circumstance…