Zoning Board Meeting

WALDWICK ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FORMAL SESSION July 24, 2024 The Formal Session of the Waldwick Zoning Board of Adjustment was held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. and was called to order by Chairman, Brian Walsh, who made the announcement of adequate notice of all meetings. ROLL CALL: Mr. Mones present Mr. Nieman absent Mr. Walsh present Ms. Luppino present Mr. Wekarski present Mr. Gurian absent Mr. Centineo present Mr. Sanzo present Mr. Cericola present Also Present: Joe Pajonowski, Esq., Board Attorney Joe Mysliwiec, Zoning Officer Joyce Sinclair, Board Secretary GREETINGS TO THE PUBLIC: No one appeared. APROVAL OF MINUTES: A motion was made for the approval of the Minutes of June 26, 2024 by Mr. Sanzo and seconded by Mr. Cericola. A unanimous vote was taken. The Minutes were approved as submitted. RESOLUTIONS: CARTAGENA 17 Dow Avenue 24-I Block 119, Lot 10 Gazebo RESOLUTION A Motion for approval of the Resolution was made by Mr. Sanzo and seconded by Mr. Cericola. A unanimous vote was taken. The Resolution was approved. APPLICATIONS: SAVARY 74 W. Saddle River Road 24-L Block 72.02, Lot 1 Convert garage to living space NEW APPLICATION 1 Clemit Savary, 74 W. Saddle River Road, appeared before the Board. Mr. Savary submitted a drawing and picture of the wall. The Application was marked as Exhibit 1, Proof of Service Marked as Exhibit 2 and the pictures marked as Exhibit 3. Mr. Savary noted that in order to better care for his elderly mother he had removed the wall within his home not knowing it would create a problem. Exhibit #3 was noted which is a picture of his mother’s room. Picture #4 is of the wall and Picture #5 showed the room and the wall. Mr. Mysliwiec noted that Mr. Savary is seeking a variance to eliminate one parking space. During an inspection for a certificate of compliance for the sale of the home, Mr. Mysliwiec noticed that the garage had been converted, which is not allowed. Mr. Savary then applied for the permits and is here for a waiver from the ordinance to not have the one garage space. Mr. Wekarksi questioned whether the garage is needed as a room It was noted that it is not listed as a bedroom. The final inspections will be made after this application. The work was done late last year, it now does have ac and heat. It looks like a garage from the street. There was no one in the audience to address this Application. Mr. Mysliwiec noted that the ordinance states that one parking space has to be an enclosed garage. We have had residents come before the Board requesting elimination of the garage. The Applicant is seeking to eliminate the garage. The driveway has sufficient parking. The Board had no issues with this Application. A motion to approve the Application was made by Mr. Sanzo and seconded by Ms. Luppino. A unanimous vote was taken. The Application was approved. CARTER 36 Salrit Avenue 24-M Block 120.01, Lot 23 Install 6’ fence on corner property NEW APPLICATION Preston and Caitlyn Carter, 36 Salrit Avenue, appeared before the Board. The Applicant noted that their property is on a corner lot. They would like to install a six ft. fence where the ordinance sates it should be 4 ft. Mr. Mysliwiec noted the specific ordinance for corner lots. The Applicants primary front is Salrit Avenue. The next door neighbor’s front is on Barnes. The six foot fence will not create any sight issues. The fence would start ten feet in from the street. There is currently a wood fence, four feet high. Both neighbors would benefit from the fence. The application would be replacing the wood fence with a white vinyl fence. The Board had no issues with this Application. There was no one in the audience to address this Application. A motion to approve the Application was made by Mr. Sanzo and seconded by Ms. Luppino. A unanimous vote was taken. The Application was approved. 2  ENE-BIRLEANU 78 Dora Avenue 24-N Block 41, Lot 5 Ed Sherman, Architect Add-a-Level, Remove Garage NEW APPLICATION Georgiana Ene-Birleanu, 78 Dora Avenue, and Ed Sherman, Architect appeared before the Board. Mr. Sherman noted the property is in an R-2 zone and they are seeking a C-1 variance. It is an undersized lot and the narrowness of the site brings the existing and proposed variances. The right side of the house is 9.9 ft., and required is 10’. Total of both sides required is 25’ with existing and proposed are 24’. A variance for the rear yard setback is needed as 35 ft. is required and existing is 38.77’. The Applicant proposes a two story addition to the rear. Existing on the site is a 1-1/2 Cape Cod style home. They are proposing an addition to the back and extra bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. They would like to extend their kitchen to the rear by going out ten feet. The siding will match the house. There was no one in the audience to address this application. Mr. Sherman noted that the variance for Misc. Code Section 97-123.7.a (1a) is no longer needed as the existing garage is less than 20 ft. The Application will be amended to eliminate the Misc. variance of removing the garage, and changed to a variance from Code Section 97.121,.2 C., the distance from an accessory structure to the existing garage being less than 10’. A 7’ distance is proposed. The Board noted the hardship of the undersized lot and were in favor of the Application. A motion for approval as amended was made by Mr. Walsh and seconded by Mr. Sanzo. A unanimous vote was taken. The Application was approved. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Mones brought to the attention of the Board Members the importance of being mindful of being on groups on social media which may become a conflict. He noted an article in the Planner newsletter of the Planning Board in Sparta Township where a member was part of a social media group and had to be replaced on the Board because of a conflict being a part of the group on social media. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 with a motion made by Mr. Sanzo and seconded by Mr. Walsh. Joyce C. Sinclair, Secretary 3