20210525 - Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting Minutes

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Meeting Minutes

May 25, 2021

 

Opening:

 

The virtual public meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Village of Ridgewood was called to order at 7:32 p.m.

 

Present:  Greg Brown, Gary Negrycz, Diana Ruhl, Isaac Brown, Jonathan Papietro, Matthew Bandelt, Daniel Perlman and Michael Pickholz. Also present were Bruce Whitaker, Board Attorney; and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary. 

 

Absent: Sergio Alegre

 

Approval of Minutes: The minutes from April 27, 2021 were adopted.

 

Non-agenda items:

 

Members of the public comments: There were no comments at this time. 

 

Board member comments: There were no comments at this time.

 

Public Hearings:

 

Mr. Brown announced that the Katzevich, 244 Ackerman Avenue, application was carried to June 8, 2021 without further notice.

 

New Business:

 

KELLY & DANIEL MORGAN – An application to permit the construction of a one story addition which would result in a front yard setback of 28.4 feet where 45 feet is required and coverage by improvements of 46.9%, for the entire lot, where 45% is permitted and coverage by improvements of 50.8%, within 140 feet of the front lot line, where 45% is the maximum permitted at 323 Franklin Avenue, Block 3611, Lot 17, in an R-2 Zone.

 

Daniel and Kelly Morgan, homeowners, were sworn and Ms. Morgan made opening remarks regarding the proposed changes to the home which was previously owned by her grandparents.

 

Douglas Battersby was sworn and his credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Mr. Battersby testified regarding the existing conditions at the home and the front porch which was added to the house in the 1960s. Mr. Battersby explained that when the driveway was paved, the steps to the side door were removed and what is proposed will move the entrance to the front and enhance the aesthetics of the house. A front walkway is also proposed.

Board members asked about the driveway and if it was reviewed by the zoning officer. Board members asked about a discrepancy in regards to the survey and the zoning table. Mr. Battersby stated that the numbers on the drawings and zoning chart are correct.

 

There were no questions from the public.

 

The hearing was carried to July 13, without further notice. The applicant was instructed to have an updated survey completed, have the zoning calculations updated, and show that the driveway was approved.

 

FARHAN RASHEED & RUMANA SULTANA – An application to permit the installation of an above ground pool and extension of existing deck which would result coverage by above grade structures of 20.37%, where 20% is permitted and coverage by above grade structures within 140 feet of the front lot line, of 21.36%, where 20% is permitted at 1090 Hillcrest Road, Block 1104, Lot 2, in an R-1 Zone.

 

Farhan Rasheed, homeowner, was sworn.

 

Jacob Solomon was sworn and his credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Mr. Solomon testified as to the existing conditions and the irregular shape of the lot. Mr. Solomon described the proposed extension of the deck and the location of the pool.

 

Board members asked if the lot was undersized. Mr. Solomon said it was oversized, but irregular in shape. Board members asked about the necessity of the amount of coverage being proposed.

 

There were no questions from the public.

 

The hearing was carried to July 13, 2021 without further notice.

 

IRVING BAUM – An application to permit the construction of a front porch which would result in a front yard setback on Spring Avenue, of 27.27 feet where 40 feet is required and a front yard setback on Circle Avenue, of 11 feet where 45 feet is required; a side yard setback of 8.82 feet, where 10 feet is required; and coverage by above grade structures of 27.6%, where 20% is the permitted at 532 Spring Avenue, Block 4301, Lot 6, in an R-2 Zone.

 

Irving Baum, homeowner, was sworn and made opening comments explaining that when they were doing work to the home, it was apparent that the home used to have a porch and he would like to restore that. Mr. Baum testified that the home is on an undersized, narrow, corner lot. The house encroaches into the front yard setback on both streets, but Mr. Baum stated that the porch and the setbacks are in keeping with what exists in the neighborhood.

 

Board members asked about the Sanborn maps submitted with the application and said they showed the property as being larger, meaning that the property had been subdivided at some point. Board members were concerned that the shrubs would need to be removed to construct the porch. Mr. Baum said the shrubs were old and overgrown and they would be replaced with something smaller.

 

Board members asked if the homeowner would consider a front porch instead of a wrap-around porch. Mr. Baum said he had considered it, but it wouldn’t be right for the house. Board members had questions about what and where there could be plantings.

 

There were no questions or comments from the public.

 

Mr. Baum made closing remarks.

 

Following Board deliberation, Mr. Brown made a motion to deny the application, Mr. Negrycz seconded, and the application was denied with 6 votes to one vote.

 

Discussion:

• Annual Report – Maryann Bucci-Carter, Village Planner, was present and explained that the memo distributed to Board members outlined the most recent annual reports and provided an analysis of the cases from 2020. Ms. Bucci-Carter said the Board could discuss further recommendations and that she could write them up as an annual report. Ms. Bucci-Carter explained that the Planning Board was preparing to review the Land Use Element of the Master Plan and this would be a good time to make recommendations. Mr. Whitaker suggested that the Board might consider extending variance approval from 1 year to 2 years.

 

• Devins, 79 Park Slope – Request for Extension of variance approval to May 2022 – The Board discussed the request and approved the extension of variance approval to May 27, 2022.

 

Resolution memorialization:  The following resolutions were memorialized:

• Rackow/Catanzaro, 640 Shelton Road
• Brown, 386 Berkshire Road

           

The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 p.m.

 

Minutes submitted by:  Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary

 

Date Approved: June 8, 2021