20220809 - Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Meeting Minutes

August 9, 2022

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:  Greg Brown, Matthew Bandelt, Gary Negrycz, Diana Ruhl, Jonathan Papietro, Michael Pickholz and Harold Maxwell. Also present were Bruce Whitaker, Esq., Board Attorney and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary.

Absent:            Isaac Lebow and Jason Curreri

Minutes:          The minutes from June 14, 2022 and June 28, 2022 were adopted.

Non-agenda items:

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

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

Public hearings

The Ohrel, 444 Eastgate Road, application was carried to September 13, 2022 without further notice.

New Business:

MATTHEW & NICOLE AQUINO – An application to permit the construction of a one story and second story addition which will result in a front yard setback to the second story addition of 32.5 feet, where 48.5 feet is required at 420 Van Dyke Street, Block 1701, Lot 4, in an R-110 Zone.

James Delia, Esq., entered his appearance and made opening remarks, acknowledging that an additional variance for improvement coverage was being requested. Mr. Delia referred to the previous Van Dyke Street application stating that this was the house that Mrs. Van Dyke grew up in and the cottage in the rear of the property is not part of the application.

Anthony Vandermark was sworn and his credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Mr. Vandermark testified in regards to the photos submitted, which were marked as Exhibit A-1, and described the existing conditions on the property and identified the hardships as insufficient street width and no sidewalks. Mr. Vandermark testified regarding the plans, describing the floor plans and the elevations and identifying the variances. A rendering, marked as Exhibit A-2, was shown.

Mr. Whitaker clarified the setbacks.

Board members asked about the proposed height, which is increasing to 28 feet. Board members asked about drainage, Mr. Vandermark said that that permeable pavers would be used for the front driveway. Board members were concerned about the impervious coverage and Mr. Delia said they will make reductions and remove the coverage variance. Board members asked about the gross building area and it was determined a variance would be needed for the gross building area within 140 feet of the front lot line.

There were no questions or comments from the public.

Following Board deliberation Mr. Bandelt made a motion to approve with the condition that revised plans are submitted showing the correct zoning table and with the reduction in impervious coverage. Mr. Negrycz seconded and the application was approved.

MARIO & JANINE LANZISERA -  An application to permit the construction of a second story addition which will result in a front yard setback, on Kenilworth Road, of 21.1 feet where 40 feet is the minimum required; and a side yard setback of 8.5 feet where 10 feet is the minimum required at 808 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Block 4203, Lot 1, in an R-2 Zone.

Mario and Janine Lanzisera, homeowners, were sworn.

Roger Schlicht was sworn and his credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Mr. Schlicht distributed photos, marked as Exhibit A-1, and testified regarding the existing conditions on the property. Mr. Schlicht testified regarding the floor plans and the elevations and identified the variances. Mr.  Schlicht noted that the property is a corner lot and deficient in lot width. There are no coverage variances being sought and there is existing mature shrubbery. Mr. Schlicht stipulated that the porch will always remain open.

Board members asked why the front porch wasn’t extended from peak to peak. Mr. Schlicht said the homeowner wanted to open the existing structure, not to extend it.

There were no questions from the public.

Rebecca Spencer, 818 E. Ridgewood Avenue, spoke in support of the application.

Following Board deliberation, Mr. Pickholz made a motion to approve, Ms. Ruhl seconded and the application was approved.

THERESA & RICHARD HORNBY -  An application to permit the construction of an addition which would result in total coverage by above grade structures of 24.06%, where 20% is the maximum permitted; coverage by above grade structure within 140 feet of the front lot line of 23.59%, where 20% is the maximum permitted; and total coverage by improvements of 46.59%, where 45% is the maximum permitted; and coverage by improvement within 140 feet of the front lot line of 48.18%, where 45% is the maximum permitted at 36 Richmond Avenue, Block 2307, Lot 2, in an R-2 Zone.

Theresa and Richard Hornby, homeowners, were sworn.

Xiomara Paredes was sworn and her credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Ms. Paredes testified regarding the existing conditions and described the variances being requested. Ms. Paredes said the property is deficient in width and lot area. The proposed improvements meet the setback requirements. Ms. Paredes distributed an aerial photograph, marked as Exhibit A-1.

Ms. Paredes stated that there would be nothing done at the front of the house and described the elevations.

Board members asked if any portion of the attic would have a height of 7 feet. Ms. Paredes said that the highest portion of the attic is 6.5 feet. Board members were concerned about the overages and the hardship, as personal hardships cannot be considered by the Board.

Following a discussion regarding making reductions to the proposed addition the hearing was carried to August 30, 2022 without further notice.

Resolution memorialization:            The following resolutions were memorialized:

-        Pilosio, 438 Van Dyke Street

-        Taliercio, 448 Cambridge Road

-        Kupiec, 112 North Walnut Street

The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:  Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary

Date Approved: August 23, 2022