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Granting a Variance <br /> Further Supreme Judicial Court language on point; <br /> A variance may be granted if, among other things, the board of appeals finds as"to particular land . . <br /> that owing to circumstances relating to the soil conditions, shape, or topography of such land . . . <br /> but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located, a literal enforcement of the <br /> provisions of the . . . by-law would involve substantial hardship"to the landowner. G. L. c. 40A, § 10 <br /> (1990 ed.). We focus on the words "circumstances relating to the soil conditions, shape, or <br /> topography of such land"which must be the reason for any substantial hardship to the owner. <br /> Unless circumstances relating to the soil conditions of the land, the shape (***5] of the land, or <br /> topography of the land cause the hardship, no variance may be granted lawfully. <br /> Tsagronis v. Bd. of Ap eals, 415 Mass. 329, 331, 613 N.E.2d 893, 894 (1993 <br /> The ZBA must find: <br /> 1) that a substantial hardship,financial or otherwise, exists due to circumstances relating to the <br /> soil conditions, shape, or topography of the subject land or structures (one, not all of these <br /> circumstances must be established),which affects the subject land or structures but doesn't <br /> affect,generally, the zoning district in which the land is located, <br /> 2) A literal enforcement of the Bylaw provisions would involve substantial hardship,financial or <br /> otherwise,to the variance applicant, and <br /> 3) The requested variance may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and <br /> without substantially derogating from the purpose or intent of the Bylaw. <br />