One of the main things that took so long was just how the State handles these. Their process involves review by committees and all that. This can take up to like 75 days if they stay on schedule. Then if they have questions about your submitted plan, you resubmit updates and that adds on time. Thats on top of someone like me who has never written one of these before looking for examples, doing research and making it our own...
Here is the State's policy for Indiana:
(b) A request for a variance under this policy shall contain at least the following information:
1. name, mailing information, electronic mail address and telephone number of the individual submitting the request;
2. name and address of the person or organization seeking the variance;
3. a complete listing of food establishments for which the variance is sought, including physical locations, (if different than the mailing address in #2 above), mailing addresses, telephone numbers and name of the person most responsible for supervising the food establishments;
4. a statement of the proposed variance from the rule requirement citing relevant rule section numbers;
5. an explanation of how the potential public health hazards and/or nuisances will be alternatively addressed by the proposal including supporting studies from accredited laboratories, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan, standard sanitation operating procedures, or other evidence. The explanation must be based on generally accepted scientific principles;
6. the request must demonstrate the following:
how the proposal differs from what is common and usual in similar industry situations;
how the proposal may be unique in dealing with a situation not addressed in existing rules or law;
how the proposal does not diminish the protection of public health;
if the proposal is based on new science and technology; and
how implementation of the variance would be practical.
7. an explanation as to how the request will assure that all provisions of the variance, if granted, will be enacted at each of the establishments for which a variance has been granted;
8. a list of all affected parties known by the requester; and
9. copies of any related variances, waivers, denials or opinions issued by other governmental agencies.