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other design features of all buildings and other improvements to be constructed, erected, or reconstructed in the D-1 and D-2 districts. Section 40-195. Variances; hardship or difficulty required. Where exceptional conditions make strict application of this chapter result in peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties to, or exceptional and undue hardship upon, the owner of the affected property, the board of zoning appeals is authorized, upon appeal or original application to the board, to grant such variance from the strict application of this chapter as will not be contrary to the public interest in order to relieve such hardship or difficulties: (a) When a property owner can show that his property was acquired in good faith and where by reason of the exceptional narrowness, shallowness, size or shape of a specific piece of property at the time of the effective date of the zoning ordinance, or where by reason of exceptional topographic conditions or other extraordinary situation or condition of such piece of property, or of the use or development of property immediately adjacent thereto, the strict application of the terms of the zoning ordinance would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the use of the property; or (b) Where the board is satisfied, upon the evidence heard by it, that the granting of such variance will alleviate a clearly demonstrable hardship approaching confiscation, as distinguished from a special privilege or convenience sought by the applicant; provided that all variances shall be in harmony with the intended spirit and purpose of the zoning ordinance. Section 40-196. Requirements for a special exception. (a) CHURCH PARKING LOTS. Upon application of churches and places of worship situated in areas zoned RM-60, an exception to the off-street parking requirements of Section 40-45 may be granted, provided that it is established that the church or place of worship was in existence on April 25, 1961 on the zone lot for which an exception is sought and that the abutting area is densely occupied to an extent of no less than five thousand (5,000) persons per gross square mile.