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HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA CITIES New time limit requirements S Minn.Stat.§ 15.99. Local government agencies are required to issue or deny zoning permits and to approve or deny other land use related applications within 60 days or they will be deemed approved. The time period will not begin until the application is complete,but the determination that an application is incomplete must be made within 10 days of its submission or the 60-day time period will begin regardless of the application's completeness.Within the 60-day period,an automatic extension of no more than 60 days can be obtained by providing the applicant written notice containing the reason for the extension,and specifying how much additional time is needed. Other extensions are available only with the applicant's approval. Variances A variance is a use that is not generally permitted by the Lugar v.City of Burnsville,295 zoning ordinances,but which is allowed in special cases only. N.W.2d 609(Minn. 1980). A request for a variance from the zoning ordinances will be Minn.Stat.§462.357,subd.6. granted upon a showing of undue hardship to a landowner who is in a unique situation. "Undue hardship"means that the Rowell v.Bd.of Adjustment, property cannot be put to a reasonable use if the conditions of • 446 N.W.2d 917(Minn.App. the zoning ordinances are followed,the landowner's particular 1989). circumstances are unique and not self-created,and granting a Hedlund v.City of Maple- variance will not alter the essential character of the locality. wood,366 N.W.2d 624(Minn. Economic hardship alone will not constitute undue hardship if App. 1985). some reasonable use exists under the terms of the zoning ordinance. However,practical difficulties may justify a variance,and functional and aesthetic considerations may be taken into account. If the landowner purchased the property knowing that the zoning ordinances prohibited the use,the landowner's circumstances are self-created and no variance should be granted.The board of adjustments and appeals or the council may impose conditions on variances in their discretion. 388 •