Zoning Board of Adjustment March 26, 2019 Minutes

VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

Meeting Minutes

MARCH 26, 2019

Opening:

The regular public meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Village of Ridgewood was called to order at 7:40 p.m.

Present:       Sergio Alegre, Diana Ruhl, Ines Bunza, Jonathan Papietro and Isaac Lebow. Also present were Bruce Whitaker, Esq., Board Attorney and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary.

Absent:        Greg Brown, Gary Negrycz, Alyssa Matthews and Matthew Bandelt

Approval of Minutes:       The minutes from October 30, 2018 and February 26, 2019, were adopted as presented.

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

Chairman Alegre announced the following:

-        The Warren, 208 Kenilworth Road, application was carried to April 9, 2019 without further notice.

-        The 309 Westgate Associates, LLC, application was carried to May 28, 2019 without further notice.

Chairman Alegre gave applicants the opportunity to have their hearing carried to a later date due to the absence of 4 Board members. No one opted to carry.

Old Business:

ROBIN OELKERS – An application to permit the construction of a one story addition which will result in coverage by above-grade structures of 27.9%, where 25% is permitted and gross building area of 37.9%/2,258 square feet, where 35%/2,083 square feet is permitted at 42 Ethelbert Place, Block 2209, Lot 5, in the R-3 Zone. (Continued from February 11, 2019)(Carried from February 11, 2019 without further notice) Rocco Orlando, architect, and Mr. Oelkers were present. Mr. Orlando, previously sworn, testified regarding the updated information submitted to the Board. The survey showing lot coverage was marked as Exhibit A-1; the GB Engineering, LLC document was marked as Exhibit A-2 and the chart comparing zoning information was marked as Exhibit A-3. Mr. Orlando testified regarding the drawings he prepared, revised to 2/28/19, explaining the revisions and describing the floor plans. Board members had questions about the coverages and asked for more detail. There was discussion regarding the coverage by above-grade structure and what was included. There were no questions or comments from the public. Following Board deliberation, Mr. Papietro made a motion to approve the application with the condition that the chart is corrected and that the landscaping is to be maintained, Mr. Lebow seconded and all eligible members voted yes to approve the applications.

New Business:

DANIEL & DIANE CALKINS – An application to construct a second floor addition to the rear of the house which will result in a side yard setback of 21.27 feet, where 21.67 feet is required and gross building area of within 140 feet of the front lot line of 42.72%, where 34% is permitted at 80 Crest Road, Block 2107, Lot 4, in an R-1 Zone. (Carried from March 12, 2019 without further notice) Douglas Battersby was sworn and his credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Daniel Calkins, homeowner, was sworn. Mr. Battersby testified regarding the drawings he prepared. Board members clarified that the increase in gross building area was 64 square feet. There were no questions or comments from the public. Following Board deliberation, Chairman Alegre made a motion to approve the application as presented, Mr. Papietro seconded and all members voted yes.

LISA LAI – An application to permit the construction of an addition which will result in a front yard setback of 30.6 feet, where 40 feet is required; side yard setback on the left of 8.92 feet and on the right of 8.23 feet, where 10 feet is required; coverage by above grade structures of 21.32%, where 20% is required at 643 Wall Street, Block 3403, Lot 20, in an R-2 Zone. (Carried from March 12, 2019 without further notice) David Rutherford, Esq., entered his appearance on behalf of the applicant and made introductory comments. Jordan Rosenberg was sworn and his credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Mr. Rutherford marked the architectural plans as Exhibit A-1, the survey as Exhibit A-2 and a photo board, prepared by Mr. Rosenberg, as Exhibit A-3. Mr. Rosenberg testified regarding the existing conditions and what is being proposed. There was discussion regarding the gross building area. Mr. Rosenberg displayed the photo board to show the existing conditions on the property as well as a couple of the neighbors’ homes. Board members asked Mr. Rosenberg to explain the coverage by above-grade structures numbers. Board members had questions and concerns about the massing of the addition and the pitch of the roof. After some discussion, the applicant was agreeable to reducing the ceiling height on the second floor. There were no questions or comments from the public. The hearing was carried to April 9, 2019 without further notice.

CONNER & SARAJILL HARTLEY – An application to permit the construction of a one story addition which will result in a side yard setback of 2.69 feet, where 15 feet is required at 396 Godwin Avenue, Block 2501, Lot 4, in an R-1 Zone. Sarajill Hartley, homeowner, was sworn. Cesar Padilla was sworn and his credentials as a licensed architect accepted. Mr. Padilla testified as to the existing conditions and the hardship due to the odd shaped lot. Ms. Hartley testified as to the fence along the property where the addition is proposed. Board members had questions about the fence and the dimensions of the addition. There were no questions or comments from the public. Following Board deliberation Ms .Ruhl made a motion to approve the application as presented with the condition that it remains one-story, Mr. Papietro seconded, and all members voted yes to approve.

JOZSEF TASKO – An application to permit the construction of a detached two-car garage which will result in a side yard setback of 1.3 feet and a rear yard setback of 1.7 feet, where 5 feet is required for both and will be located 8.5 feet from the principal building a distance of 8.5 feet, where 12 feet is required at 296 Woodside Avenue, Block 3914, Lot 3, in an R-1 Zone. David Rutherford, Esq., entered his appearance on behalf of the applicant and made opening comments, explaining that the previous garage was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. Bruce Rigg was sworn and his credentials as a professional engineer accepted. A property survey, dated September 13, 2018 was marked as Exhibit A-1, and a plan prepared by Rigg Associates dated 11/28/18 and revised to January 10, 2019 was marked as Exhibit A-2. Mr. Rigg testified as to the plans to rebuild a garage on the existing slab. Architectural drawings prepared by Mark Braithwaite were submitted as Exhibit A-3. The Board members asked if there was anywhere on the property to put a conforming garage. Mr. Rigg said there was not. There were no questions or comments from the public. Mr. Rutherford made closing comments. Following Board deliberation Ms. Ruhl made a motion to approve the application as presented, Mr. Lebow seconded, and all members voted yes to approve.

LISBI & KAREN ABRAHAM – An application to enclose an existing covered front porch which will result in a gross building area within 140 feet of the front lot line of 32.46%/4,090 square feet, where 32%/4,032 square feet is permitted at 415 Red Birch Court, Block 3003, Lot 20, in an R-1 Zone. Karen Abraham, homeowner, was sworn and testified as to the proposed plans to close in the existing front porch. Board members clarified the numbers, and asked about the hardship. They are using the existing structure and not increasing the footprint. There was discussion regarding the existing building coverage being over 20%. There were no questions or comments from the public. Following Board deliberation Mr. Papietro made a motion to approve, Ms. Bunza seconded, and all members voted yes to approve.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:  Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary

Date Approved:       April 9, 2019