Board of Adjustment/Zoning Board

FORT LEE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT July 8, 2025 Present: H. Liapes, J. Nitti, L. Pacheco, J. Luppino, D. Sugarman Absent: D. Conway, H. Joh, S. Tropea, E. Hong Present: J. Mariniello, Jr., Esq., D. Juzmeski, Neglia Eng. Chairman Sugarman called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. NOTICE OF MEETING: The Chairman states: Let the minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner: All members of this Body have been advised in writing at least 48 hours prior to this meeting of the time, place, and proposed Agenda of this meeting. A written notice of the time, place, and proposed Agenda was posted on the bulletin board of Municipal Building, 309 Main Street, Fort Lee, New Jersey. On the same date, a copy of said written notice was mailed to the Record, Jersey Journal, Time Warner Cable and Fort Lee Online. A copy was filed with the Borough Clerk and, on the same date, copies were mailed to all persons who have requested copies of such notices and have prepaid the fee fixed for the year 2024. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Mr. Liapes, seconded by Mr. Nitti and passed on a vote of 4-0 by members Liapes, Nitti, Luppino and Sugarman to approve the minutes of the meeting of June 24, 2025. MEMORIALIZATIONS Docket #30-22, 2365 Hud Terr, LLC, 2365 Hudson Terrace, Block 7160, Lot 3, Extension of Time – Preliminary & Final Major Site Plan – 78 Unit Residential Building It was moved by Mr. Liapes, seconded by Mr. Nitti and passed on a vote of 4-0 by members Liapes, Niti, Luppino and Sugarman to grant the applicant Extension of Time approval for Preliminary & Final Major Site Plan. Docket #22-24, Deniz FL, LLC, 1555 Center Avenue, Block 3854, Lot 23, Signage It was moved by Mr. Nitti, seconded by Mr. Liapes and passed on a vote of 4-0 by members Liapes, Nitti, Luppino and Sugarman to grant the applicant Signage approval. Docket #13-25, Eye Level (Daekyo American Inc. d/b/a Eye Level), 1310 Palisade Avenue, Block 2054, Lot 14, Signage It was moved by Mr. Nitti, seconded by Mr. Luppino and passed on a vote of 4-0 by members Liapes, Nitti, Luppino and Sugarman to grant the applicant Signage approval. Docket #18-25, Rock Solid Built, LLC, 2138 Mackay Avenue, Block 5951, Lot 4, Two Unit Dwelling Page 2-ZBA Minutes-July 8, 2025 It was moved by Mr. Nitti, seconded by Mr. Liapes and passed on a vote of 4-0 by members Liapes, Nitti, Luppino and Sugarman to grant the applicant approval to construct a Two Unit Dwelling. Docket #23-25, Rock Solid Built, LLC, 1471 Anderson Avenue, Block 3051, Lot 9, Two Unit Dwelling Chairman Sugarman stated this Resolution will be memorialized at the meeting of July 22, 2025. ACCEPTANCE/COMPLETENESS Docket #25-25, 439 Catherine, LLC, 439-441 Catherine Street, Block 4054, Lots 5 & 6, Preliminary & Final Major Site Plan – Three Unit Dwelling It was moved by Mr. Luppino, seconded by Mr. Liapes and passed on a vote of 5-0 by members Liapes, Nitti, Pacheco, Luppino and Sugarman to deem the application complete. Mr. Macri will call the Board Secretary for a hearing date. PUBLIC HEARINGS Docket #11-25, W & R Home Builders, LLC, 2045 & 2049 Ellery Avenue, Block 4452, Lots 13 & 14, Minor Subdivision & Preliminary & Final Major Site Plan – Three Unit Dwelling & Two Unit Dwelling (continued from the public hearing of June 10, 2025) Chairman Sugarman stated this application is carried the meeting of July 22, 2025. Docket #15-25, Lily Pan, 820 Glen Road, Block 351, Lot 7, Two Unit Dwelling Chairman Sugarman stated this application is carried the meeting of August 12, 2025. Docket #16-25, Yong Hyun Gim, 2035 Ellery Avenue, Block 4452, Lot 18, Single Family Dwelling Mr. Macri stated the applicant plans to demolish the existing structure and construct a new single family dwelling. Exhibit A1-David Spatz report Mr. Steven Collazuol, Engineer, 1610 Center Avenue, Fort Lee was sworn in and his credentials accepted by Chairman Sugarman. The cover sheet shows the 200 foot radius. The property is 40 feet wide and 10 feet deep. The lots vary in this area. The site drops 10 feet. The proposal is to demolish the existing dwelling and construct a one family home. A two car garage is proposed. The stairs and entry will be on the left side. There is a deck in the rear. One tree is to be removed. There will be 3 drain systems in the front, under the driveway and in the rear yard. A wall will be built to the property Page 3-ZBA Minutes-July 8, 2025 line. The shed will be removed and replaced with landscaping. Plantings will be on the left, front and rear. The pine tree will be removed and replaced in the SW corner and a Japanese maple will be planted. The applicant will make a contribution to the Borough Tree Fund. We will comply with the Neglia report dated May 7, 2025. Chairman Sugarman asked for questions from the Board. Mr. Juzmeski stated on the plan the FAR is noted as 1.03 but now it states 1.25. I need a copy of this. Mr. Mariniello asked about the setbacks. Mr. Collazuol stated they are 17.9 to Summit, 25.2 in the rear and 22.7 to the 2nd story overhang. Mr. Luppino asked if the driveway is on Ellery? Mr. Collazuol stated yes. Mr. Luppino asked if it is 14 feet? Mr. Collazuol stated the garage door is setback. Two cars can fit in the garage and it complies. Mr. Luppino asked if we can push the garage doors back so you can park in the driveway? Mr. Collazuol stated no, because of the depth of the property. Chairman Sugarman asked for questions from the public. Mrs. Memetzis, 2037 Ellery Avenue, Fort Lee stated the sewer pipe is broken – our drain runs into this. Are you aware? Also, our fence is against the property, can I take down the fence? Mr. Macri stated yes. Mr. Anthony Zampolin, Architect, 187 Fairview Avenue, Westwood was sworn in and his credentials accepted by Chairman Sugarman. Exhibit A2 – color rendering looking from Ellery Avenue. The basement has a two car garage, living room, dining room, kitchen, great room and deck in the rear. The second floor proposal is for the bedrooms – the primary bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, 3 additional bedrooms along the front, towards Summit, one ensuite bedroom, one hall bathroom and a laundry closet. The third floor has a roof terrace, family room, and wetbar. The FAR is 1.25 on the first and second floors which is 66% of the FAR. The home is contemporary – brown brick, composite siding, panels, metal roofing, black railings and a stone veneer wall. The surrounding homes are similar. Page 4-ZBA Minutes-July 8, 2025 Mr. Mariniello asked why is there a 3 foot overhang in the back? Mr. Zampolin stated it is bumped out so the bedrooms are larger. Chairman Sugarman asked for questions from the Board. Chairman Sugarman asked for questions from the public. Chairman Sugarman asked if any member of the public would like to come up, be sworn and testify on the application. It was moved by Mr. Liapes, seconded by Mr. Luppino and passed on a vote of 5-0 by members Liapes, Nitti, Pacheco, Luppino and Sugarman to grant the applicant approval to construct a Single Family Dwelling. Docket #19-25, Pablo Perrone, 1067 Briar Way, Block 854, Lot 10, Single Family Dwelling Chairman Sugarman stated this application is carried the meeting of August 12, 2025. Docket #20-25, Mr. & Mrs. Allahyari, 2202 Mackay Avenue, Block 5951, Lot 14, Amendment to Two Unit Dwelling – Basement Bathroom of One Unit Mrs. Carol Allahyari was sworn in stated I am the owner and my husband. Mr. Macri stated the application is to install a stand up shower in the basement. It’s in the same location as the half bath. We were before this Board previously and the shower was not part of the application. We both have health issues and it would be helpful to have a shower in this location. Chairman Sugarman asked for questions from the Board. Chairman Sugarman asked for questions from the public. Chairman Sugarman asked if any member of the public would like to come up, be sworn and testify on the application. It was moved by Mr. Liapes, seconded by Mr. Luppino and passed on a vote of 5-0 by members Liapes, Nitti, Pacheco, Luppino and Sugarman to grant the applicant approval to make an Amendment to a Two Unit Dwelling – Basement Bathroom of One Unit. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Mr. Liapes, seconded by Mr. Luppino to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Linda Garofalo Linda Garofalo Recording Secretary