20210824 - Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting Minutes

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Meeting Minutes

August 24, 2021

 

Opening:

 

The public meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Village of Ridgewood was called to order at 7:45 p.m.

 

Present:         Present:  Greg Brown, Matthew Bandelt, Gary Negrycz and Jonathan Papietro. Also present were Bruce Whitaker, Board Attorney; and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary. 

 

Absent:          Diana Ruhl, Isaac Lebow, Michael Pickholz

 

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:

 

Chairman Brown announced that the Morgan, 323 Franklin Avenue, application, was carried to September 14, 2021, without further notice; and the McCann, 236 Walthery Avenue, application was carried to October 12, 2021 without further notice.

 

New Business:

 

DOUGLAS LEVENTHAL & JESSICA GORGO – An application to permit the construction of a rear covered open porch which will result in coverage by above-grade structures of 23.2 %, where 20 % is permitted and coverage by improvements of 45.6%, where 40 % is permitted at 143 Brookside Avenue, Block 4010, Lot 14, in an R-1 Zone. Roger Schlicht, the applicant’s architect, said they wished to carry the hearing to the next available meeting as there were only 4 Board members. The application was carried to September 28, 2021 without further notice.

 

JOSEPH CARLONE – An application to permit the construction of a patio which would result in a side yard setback of ±4 feet, where 10 feet is the minimum required at 897 Best Court, Block 5003, Lot 18, in an R-1 Zone.

 

Joseph Carlone was sworn. Andrew Lala was sworn and his credentials as a landscape architect accepted. Mr. Lala described the proposed patio which will be located behind the existing garage within the existing wall.

 

Board members asked if the patio would extend past the wall. Mr. Lala said it would not.

 

Board members asked about the resolution the applicant has with the Ridgewood Water Department. The resolution was marked as Exhibit A-1. Mr. Whitaker asked if there was an acknowledgement from the Water Department in regards to the proposed patio. Mr. Carlone said the terms of the agreement were that if there was a need to disturb the patio, the Village would not be responsible.

 

Board members asked if there would be any work on the wall. Mr. Carlone said he was going to improve the wall on both sides with stucco.

 

David Feigner, 903 Best Court, said the paint was chipping on the side that faces his property and asked if anything would be done about that. Mr. Carlone said he was going to paint stucco on both sides of the wall.

 

There were no comments from the public.

 

Following Board deliberation, Mr. Negrycz made a motion to approve, Mr. Papietro seconded, and the application was approved.

 

JAMES & KRISTEN BOYAN – An application to permit the construction of a second story addition which would result in a front yard setback of 35 feet to the addition, 35.5 feet to the cantilever, and 33.25 feet to the roof overhang, where 40 feet is the minimum required; a rear yard setback of 25.5 feet, where 30 feet is the minimum required; coverage by above-grade structures of 22.76%, where 20% is the maximum permitted; and the addition would result to be 9.5 feet to the garage, where 12 feet is the minimum required at 323 Steilen Avenue, Block 3301, Lot 28, in an R-2 Zone.

 

James and Kristen Boyan were sworn. Xiomara Paredes was sworn and her credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Ms. Paredes testified as to the existing conditions on the property and described the proposed addition. Ms. Paredes explained the property hardships as the existing location of the house and the existing nonconformities, the irregular shape of the lot and the substandard size of the lot. Ms. Paredes showed an aerial photo of the property and said the neighbors to the rear would not be impacted by the addition. Ms. Paredes described the floor plan, explaining that the addition is to make the second floor functional. Ms. Paredes described the elevations.

 

Board members asked if there were any other setback variances other than the cantilever. Ms. Paredes said there were not. Board members asked about the existing overage of above grade structures. Mr. Whitaker said it pre-dated zoning. Board members asked about the attic. Ms. Paredes said it was all under 7 feet and it was accessible only pull-down stairs.

 

There were no questions from the public.

 

Public comment:

Meghan Tozzi, 319 Steilen Avenue and Samantha Ferraro, 314 Steilen Avenue, were sworn and both spoke in support of the application.

 

Following Board deliberation, Mr. Bandelt made a motion to approve, Mr. Papietro seconded, and the application was approved.

Resolution memorialization:          The following resolutions were memorialized:

• Fedorov, 440 Cambridge Road
• Ahlborn, 313 Bedford Road
• Jackson, 169 Melrose Place

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

 

 

Minutes submitted by:  Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary

 

Date Approved: