Pleading Wizard

Pledge of Allegiance:

MR. CHAIRMAN: This is a regular meeting of the Wanaque Board of Adjustment. Adequate notice has been given by a duly advertised mailing to the Suburban Trends and the Herald News of January 12, 2007. A notice is posted on the bulletin board in Borough of Wanaque and a copy is on file with the Borough Clerk. Can we have a roll call please?

ROLL CALL: Chairman Jack Dunning, Bruce Grygus, Frank Covelli, Peter Hoffman, Don Ludwig, Ed Leonard, Art Koning, Eric Willse, Michael O’Hanlon, Attorney Ralph Faasse, Engineer William Gregor.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Gerri. Okay, first application this evening is 23-06 Reality Associates, 547 Ringwood Avenue. Counselor, I believe we have some communication.

MR. FAASSE: Yes, we have a letter dated November 1st it was faxed to me and I guess mailed to Gerri.

MS. MAROTTA: It was faxed to me.

MR. FAASSE: Okay, Brian Chewcaskie.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Um-hum.

MS. MAROTTA: Yes.

MR. FAASSE: I’ll get that right. Asking for an extension to December 5th because of a scheduling conflict and he also said he would grant us an extension of time to consider this through the meeting of Wednesday, December 5th.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, we need a motion.

MR. GRYGUS: I’ll make a motion to carry to carry to the December meeting.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Second?

MR. LUDWIG: I’ll second that.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, Don Ludwig.

MS. MAROTTA: Okay.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Go ahead.

MOTION TO CARRY APPLICATION #23-06 TO DECEMBER 5TH:

Made by Member Grygus, seconded by Member Ludwig, voting yes were Chairman Dunning, Members Grygus, Covelli, Hoffman, Ludwig, Leonard, Koning, Willse, O’Hanlon.

MR. HOFFMAN: Hey, Jack when is this thing up? Do they need an extension?

MR. CHAIRMAN: They just granted us an extension.

MR. FAASSE: They did, they did to the 5th.

MR. HOFFMAN: Yes, I know but -- all right.

MR. FAASSE: Well he keeps giving us a month extension.

MR. CHAIRMAN: We are good month to month.

MR. FAASSE: We really ought to ask him for like 60 or 90 days, especially if we get closer to the winter -- you know -- it might snow.

MR. HOFFMAN: How long has it been -- when was the last time that we heard testimony from Reality Associates?

MR. GRYGUS: Two months ago.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Reality, a couple of months ago.

MR. GRYGUS: Two months ago.

MR. HOFFMAN: It was in September?

MR. CHAIRMAN: September I think it was, yeah.

MR. GRYGUS: No, August.

MR. HOFFMAN: No, it had to be August, it has been two months, so it is August.

MR. GRYGUS: Yeah, the carried last month.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Right, which was October.

MR. GRYGUS: And then they carried -- no they carried last month.

MR. CHAIRMAN: It was October. I think we heard them in September. I didn’t bring their file, but I am pretty sure it was September. Well, Gerri would know with her file.

MR. HOFFMAN: Gerri knows everything.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, Bill when did you get all your reports out that were dated yesterday to the applicants? Does everyone have them?

MR. GREGOR: Everyone has them.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah, let’s just make sure. Mr. La Sala --

MR. GREGOR: Everyone has got them.

MR. FAASSE: Mr. La Sala you have your report on Santoro.

MR. LA SALA: Yes.

MR. FAASSE: Right, you had that report.

MR. LA SALA: Yes, that came in this afternoon.

MR. FAASSE: Mr. Walker, you have the report on Elwood.

MR. WALKER: I have that report also.

MR. FAASSE: Okay, and Staropoli, Mr. Acquaviva, you have that.

MR. ACQUAVIVA: Yeah. I don’t have a recent report though.

MR. FAASSE: So that is what we are going to do, let you read it while it --

MR. GREGOR: Staropoli didn’t?

MR. FAASSE: Staropoli didn’t the have the --

MR. LUDWIG: I happen to have printed one out.

MR. GRYGUS: I happen to have an extra one if you don’t have one Bill.

MR. FAASSE: Do you? Just for the record what is the date on that one here? We also had November the 6th.

MR. LUDWIG: I got November the 6th right here.

MR. FAASSE: Right, okay.

MR. ACQUAVIVA: The last one I have is prior to the last meeting.

MR. FAASSE: Okay, so we will give that to him. Did you also, I think in that one we also received a County.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Something from the County.

MR. GREGOR: You have a County review.

MR. FAASSE: Right, you have the county letter; I mean there was a recent one.

MR. GREGOR: October 10th, so it was about a week after our last meeting.

MR. FAASSE: Okay. And then we had a --

MR. CHAIRMAN: State.

MR. FAASSE: -- letter here from the State on that one, correct?

MR. CHAIRMAN: Um-hum.

MR. FAASSE: Well actually it was a copy sent to your --

MR. LUDWIG: There was a letter from the county from November 5th.

MR. GREGOR: There was a letter from the State on the wetlands.

MR. FAASSE: From the wetlands.

MR. CHAIRMAN: This one.

MR. FAASSE: It was from Mr. Darmstatter.

MR. CHAIRMAN: November 5th on Staropoli.

MR. FAASSE: November 6th, okay.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Well Don is saying the county letter; I know there is a new county letter.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah, there is a county letter.

MR. CHAIRMAN: What is the date on it?

MR. GREGOR: The letter from the State is dated September 20th.

MR. FAASSE: Oh, you want everything.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Don is saying it is November? The State is September.

MR. GREGOR: September 20th, the County is October 10th.

MR. FAASSE: There you go, October 10th.

MR. GREGOR: The County is October 10th.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Yeah, October 10th. What one are you looking at Don?

MR. LUDWIG: No, this is --

MR. FAASSE: That is Bill’s letter, that is what he needs.

MR. LUDWIG: Yeah, this is a different one.

MR. FAASSE: Okay.

MR. GREGOR: Do you need an extra copy or does somebody have one?

MR. FAASSE: No, Don has one.

MR. GREGOR: He has one, okay.

MR. FAASSE: All right, so everybody should have their reports.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Everybody is up to speed. All right, the next application we are dealing with is 08-07, which is the Mazar application, 12 Beam Avenue; it is on a bulk variance. Is someone here on that application? Please step forward.

MR. FAASSE: Wow, I can’t count this high. Who is going to be testifying in this group, everybody? Let’s try to get this thing organized here a little. The applicants are Steven and Maryanne Mazar. And you people are?

MS. MAZAR: I am their daughter-in-law.

MR. FAASSE: You are the daughter-in-law.

MS. MAZAR: Yes.

MR. FAASSE: And is that their --

MS. MAZAR: This is our contractor.

MR. FAASSE: Everybody is going to testify?

MS. MAZAR: Whatever you need from us.

MR. FAASSE: Stand up please. Everybody raise their right hand.

ALL WITNESSES FOR THE MAZAR APPLICATION SWORN

MR. FAASSE: Okay, let’s go. That is Steven Mazar, one of the applicants.

MR MAZAR: Yes.

MR. FAASSE: Maryanne Mazar, one of the applicants, correct?

MR. MAZAR: Yes.

MR. FAASSE: Now would you identify yourself, give us a spelling -- don’t jump ahead. Spell your last name and give us your address.

MS. MAZAR: It is Susan Mazar M-A-Z-A-R and I am at 17 Eastside Avenue in Wanaque.

MR. FAASSE: In Wanaque?

MS. MAZAR: Yes.

MR. FAASSE: Okay.

MR. FAASSE: And Sir?

MR. HOLM: Jeff Holm, 99 Meadowbrook Avenue. I would be the competent person in charge.

MR. FAASSE: The competent person in charge. You are not a relative.

MR. HOLM: No, not a relative.

MR. FAASSE: Oh, okay.

MR. GREGOR: I have to use that one of these days.

MR. HOLM: I am actually here for technical testimony if need be.

MR. FAASSE: Okay. All right. And what would be your area of expertise?

MR. HOLM: Construction.

MR. FAASSE: Construction.

MR. HOLM: If there is any construction, added construction questions.

MR. FAASSE: Okay. Do you have a construction code number, license number?

MR. HOLM: No, not with me.

MS. MAROTTA: I have one in the office probably.

MR. FAASSE: All right. Well I mean we always do that with the engineers and surveyors, we will have to start getting it from contractors now. We are ready Mr. Chairman, I think.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay.

MR. FAASSE: The files are in order, the notice was given.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Let’s get the right documents. We have two variance plan surveys. Mr. Gregor?

MR. GREGOR: Yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Which one are we following, the one with the revision date of what?

MR. GREGOR: The revision date of 10/23/07.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. All right, it is signed by the engineer on the 24th, right?

MR. GREGOR: That is correct.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Does everyone have that document?

MR. FAASSE: This is the one that came in the packet this month.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The latest packet. Well actually two came in the packet, one is obsolete. Right?

MR. FAASSE: Yeah.

MR. HOFFMAN: Mine came separately.

MR. CHAIRMAN: No, I got one on the 19th and one on the 26th. Is this no good?

MS. MAROTTA: This is the reprint.

MR. GREGOR: I should number them for you.

MS. MAROTTA: The one dated the 26th.

MR. GREGOR: Open that up and look at the review part.

MR. CHAIRMAN: No, this one supersedes this one.

MR. GREGOR: Yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, just so we all have the same.

MR. KONING: It is all on the 26th, Bill -- Jack?

MR. CHAIRMAN: 23 - 24, is signed.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah, revised --

MR. CHAIRMAN: Borough stamped October 26th.

MR. KONING: Okay, got it.

MR. GRYGUS: Borough stamped October 26th, okay.

MR. FAASSE: Okay, is that correct? You got that agreement.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, now, you are going to do this without paper work.

MR. HOLM: Yeah.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay.

MS. MAZAR: You guys have all of our copies.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. We all have the right papers now?

MR. FAASSE: All right and we also have a letter from Mr. Gregor dated October 31st.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The 31st, right.

MR. FAASSE: You have a copy of that right?

MR. HOLM: Yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Why don’t you explain your application to us, what you are seeking to do?

MS. MAZAR: Well I moved up here about nine years ago and for the last nine years I have been trying to find a home located close to where I live so that my in-laws can relocate here. A few months ago a house went on the market around the corner and we purchased it. It is a very small house on a large piece of property but the rooms are very small. So to accommodate their furniture and themselves we just want to expand the kitchen a little bit and the bedroom a little bit so that you can actually fit a bed in it.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Now you have supplied us with a couple of documents. One is a construction detail Bill, it is really -- this one doesn’t mean much to us. The floor plan, which means something, is not labeled.

MS. MAZAR: It was a home drawing, I apologize.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Right, except it runs off the paper.

MS. MAZAR: No, it goes -- well, there is a front porch out there.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Right, out here somewhere.

MS. MAZAR: Yeah.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Basically, what you are showing us in the back is the proposed additions?

MS. MAZAR: Yes, off to the side a little and to square it. Basically, we are going to square off the back of the house.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Right.

MS. MAZAR: And go off two feet on the one side.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Right, a porch just out, you are going to expand the left and right of the porch and wrap around on the north side of the house.

MS. MAZAR: Yes.

MR. GREGOR: Let’s go right to the proposed conditions.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Bill have you checked the lot coverage on this?

MR. GREGOR: Yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, we are okay with that?

MR. GREGOR: Yes, we are.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. The driveway, Bill.

MR. GREGOR: It is a gravel driveway.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Gravel, will it accommodate two cars?

MR. GREGOR: Yes, it will.

MR. CHAIRMAN: It is big enough?

MR. GREGOR: It needs more gravel but yes.

MS. MAZAR: You can put in four.

MR. GRYGUS: Does it say a -- I thought it said a macadam driveway.

MR. GREGOR: No, it is gravel.

MS. MAZAR: It is just gravel.

MR. GRYGUS: I thought it said macadam on this.

MR. GREGOR: Well it is mainly dirt but it is gravel and dirt.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The driveway to the north and south on the other properties is macadam.

MR. GREGOR: Well, one of them is partially on this property.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The one for the south yeah runs onto your property.

MR. GREGOR: Yeah.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Do you intend to pave over that driveway; improve the driveway?

MR. HOLM: Yes.

MR. GREGOR: The driveway is going to be paved?

MR. CHAIRMAN: Um-hum.

MS. MAZAR: Not immediately.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay.

MS. MAZAR: Eventually yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. The addition you are putting on is just going to blend into the roofline of the house, the existing house?

MR. HOLM: Yes. Except on the north side where they are bumping out two feet. That will be raised up.

MR. GREGOR: That will be new raftering from the ridge over?

MR. HOLM: Yes.

MR. GREGOR: One of the things that we don’t have is the dimension of the length of that bump out and the -- we have some dimensions but we don’t have some details. I think I requested that in here.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The only place that it shows Bill is on this sketch.

MR. GREGOR: I know it shows on the sketch but there are only very sketchy pieces of information on that.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Right.

MR. GREGOR: We don’t know how long that runs along the side of the building.

MR. HOLM: I believe it is approximately 20 feet.

MR. GREGOR: Okay, well if that could be added to the drawings --

MR. HOLM: Absolutely.

MR. GREGOR: -- for corrective purposes, that is the type of information that we need.

MS. MAZAR: Um-hum, sure.

MR. GREGOR: We need that put onto the site plan, that information, the dimensions. You say it is approximately 20 feet.

MR. HOLM: Yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN: All right, this says 24.

MR. GREGOR: 24.

MS. MAZAR: Okay, well he doesn’t have any --

MR. GRYGUS: Who is right?

MS. MAZAR: Whatever that paper is exactly correct.

MR. GRYGUS: Okay.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Are you following this?

MR. FAASSE: Yeah, but that is going beyond the existing, this is the existing structure here?

MR. GREGOR: Well the existing structure stops here, juts out here and goes back here.

MR. FAASSE: Right.

MR. GREGOR: This isn’t dimensioned either, so we don’t know.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah but the question was how long does it go along the side of the house.

MR. GREGOR: Right.

MR. FAASSE: So it is not that whole 24; that is what is going to go all the way to the back.

MR. GREGOR: It goes further beyond the house but we don’t know how large that bump out is.

MR. FAASSE: I understand.

MR. GREGOR: So we don’t know --

MR. FAASSE: But it can’t be 20 feet if this is drawn to scale.

MR. GREGOR: Right.

MR. FAASSE: Right?

MR. GREGOR: That is what the young lady said.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Right.

MS. MAZAR: Well this is the paper work that I gave the surveyor to show him what we wanted to do.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Um-hum.

MS. MAZAR: And that is how he did the survey.

MR. GREGOR: Well he has got to do a little bit more.

MS. MAZAR: Okay.

MR. GREGOR: On the additions here on the new pieces --

MS. MAZAR: Yes.

MR. GREGOR: This little area where it says 8 by 6, that is new and then the 12 by 24, this other little wrap around, is new but is this part new the part in the center where the door are?

MS. MAZAR: This section here --

MR. GREGOR: Is new.

MS. MAZAR: Is new.

MR. GREGOR: Okay.

MS. MAZAR: Right now it is currently -- this is just like a hallway and we just want to square of the back of this and then, obviously, the back wall end here.

MR. GREGOR: That is the existing house.

MS. MAZAR: Yes. This is existing all here and we want to square off the back and bump it out because this room right now is less than 10 by 10. If you have a 6 by 6 bed in a 10 by 10 room --

MR. GREGOR: That is going to be a bedroom.

MR. CHAIRMAN: That is going to be a bedroom.

MS. MAZAR: That is going to be a back bedroom.

MR. GREGOR: That is going to be the bedroom and the other part on the left hand side is going to be the kitchen?

MS. MAZAR: Yes.

MR. GREGOR: Okay.

MS. MAZAR: That is all we are looking to do. We want to maintain the integrity of the house on the street. We are not looking to put a mansion up or anything crazy.

MR. GREGOR: And this room in the front is another bedroom?

MS. MAZAR: Yes, that is a bedroom in the front, right in front of the bathroom.

MR. GRYGUS: Bill, I didn’t get a copy of this report.

MR. GREGOR: You didn’t?

MR. KONING: No, I didn’t either.

MR. CHAIRMAN: It was in the packet.

MS. MAROTTA: The one I handed out tonight.

MR. GRYGUS: Nobody has it.

MR. FAASSE: No.

MR. GREGOR: It was e-mailed.

MR. CHAIRMAN: This was e-mailed on Halloween that is where I got it.

MR. GREGOR: Okay, I don’t print; I haven’t been printing those because Gerri prints those copies here.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay.

MR. GREGOR: Do you have any extra copies; I didn’t bring any extra with me. The only extra I had I gave to Ralph.

MR. FAASSE: He said he faxed it to me, but he never did.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The second page is here somewhere.

MR. FAASSE: I have another one. Hey, you want to look at mine?

MR. GRYGUS: The four of us can share it over here if you got one.

MR. HOFFMAN: I have one here.

MR. GRYGUS: You printed it Pete?

MR. HOFFMAN: Yeah, I printed it out if you want to look at it.

MR. KONING: All right, we got one. Can we have that one?

MS. MAROTTA: I don’t have one.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Oh, you don’t it

MS. MAROTTA: It is probably in the file.

MR. CHAIRMAN: You got one Ralph?

MR. FAASSE: Yes, I just got one tonight.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, let them look at it for a minute.

MR. FAASSE: Sure. Basically they are looking for two variances according to Bill.

MS. MAZAR: The size here.

MR. FAASSE: And the total I think?

MS. MAZAR: It is approximately 105 square feet. It is approximately 105 square feet.

MR. FAASSE: What is?

MS. MAZAR: The total addition.

MR. CHAIRMAN: That addition.

MR. FAASSE: No.

MS. MAZAR: Yeah.

MR. GRYGUS: Total new.

MR. FAASSE: No.

MS. MAZAR: Am I wrong?

MR. FAASSE: Mr. Builder, what do you have for the total square footage?

MR. GRYGUS: Looks like about 170.

MR. GREGOR: He has got 96 in one spot right here.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah.

MR. GRYGUS: Yeah, it is about 170.

MR. GREGOR: 96 and then you have 6 times 8 is 42.

MR. KONING: It is the Bergen County map.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, don’t pick on Bergen County.

MR. FAASSE: Why not, they always pick on us.

UNIDENTFIED MALE: That is why I won’t move to Passaic County. I want to get out of Bergen County.

MR. GREGOR: A side yard setback of 8.7 feet, two side yard setbacks. Can you read that?

MR. KONING: Oh yeah.

MR. FAASSE: Right now you have how many -- how many bedrooms do you have in the house now?

MR. MAZAR: Two.

MR. FAASSE: And how many bedrooms are you going to have after?

MS. MAZAR: Two.

MR. FAASSE: Two, still two.

MR. GREGOR: Still two.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah, still two too.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Just expanding it.

MS. MAZAR: We are just expanding the one bedroom and the kitchen.

MR. FAASSE: People have gotten bigger since the house was built.

MS. MAZAR: The what?

MR. FAASSE: People got bigger since the house was built.

MS. MAZAR: Yes, I don’t know how anyone lived in there to be honest with you. The refrigerator was in front of the window.

MR. FAASSE: All right, so did we correct how many square feet Mr. Contractor?

MR. HOLM: Approximately about 196.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah, yeah, that sounds a little bit more --

MR. CHAIRMAN: 200 square feet.

MR. GREGOR: Actually she was closer than he was.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Yeah, let’s call it 200.

MR. GREGOR: You were closer than he was.

MS. MAZAR: You see.

MR. CHAIRMAN: All right, so Bill what we are looking at is the side yard and the total side yard, that’s it.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah.

MR. GREGOR: That is correct.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. The other question that we are going to deal with is storm water management.

MR. GRYGUS: Yeah.

MR. FAASSE: I’m sorry.

MR. GRYGUS: Storm water.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Storm water management, which is Item 10 in the engineer’s report.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Have you made any provisions or given any thought.

MS. MAZAR: Well I did address it to our surveyor.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Um-hum.

MS. MAZAR: And I asked him that there may be a possibility that we may need to have it done and he advised me that in the State of New Jersey for new construction it is not required or additions that it is not required unless you are adding 600 square feet. And he did not feel because we are not putting a full basement that it would be required for us.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay. Is that acceptable, Bill?

MR. GREGOR: Well let me address that.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay.

MS. MAZAR: Okay.

MR. GREGOR: First of all the State of New Jersey for new construction does require a zero net increase for anything over 600 square feet. However, Wanaque, the Borough, requires that you provide zero net increase so that you don’t negatively impact the neighbors for any new construction, especially on existing lots and infill lots. As we have discussed, you are going to add a small addition on to the house --

MS. MAZAR: Um-hum.

MR. GREGOR: -- and improving it you are going to pave the driveway, which is now a requirement under current ordinances, that is going to add significant impervious surface to the existing property. So it is our recommendation to this Board that a storm water management method --

MR. FAASSE: Plan.

MR. GREGOR: -- plan be put in place so that you don’t negatively impact by adding additional runoff to the neighborhood. Just like if your neighbor did the same thing we would recommend it so that it doesn’t negatively impact you.

MS. MAZAR: Okay.

MR. GREGOR: So our recommendation is that we do add storm water management.

MS. MAZAR: Okay.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay, so do you intend to address that, storm water management?

MR. HOLM: Yes.

MS. MAZAR: Yes.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Okay.

MR. GREGOR: Mr. Chairman, if the Board wishes they can make that a condition of any action by the Board or they could require that be done before the Board acts, whichever is their preference.

MR. COVELLI: The area of the addition is so small that at best you are probably talking a small pit.

MR. GREGOR: Yeah, your typical pit is the 1,000 gallon pit.

MR. COVELLI: Right.

MR. GREGOR: I mean that is basically the smallest that is available and it is usually what is required for situations such as this.

MR. COVELLI: You just put downspouts into it.

MR. HOLM: Okay.

MS. MAZAR: Okay.

MR. COVELLI: That’s all, that is all you are really talking about.

MS. MAZAR: Okay.

MR. GREGOR: You take the roof water and you put it into a seepage pit and you have satisfied the requirements and you neighbors are happy and you are happy.

MS. MAZAR: Okay.

MR. FAASSE: How does one describe this addition? I am having problems with Bill’s description.

MR. CHAIRMAN: What do you mean?

MR. FAASSE: 8 to the rear, 2 to the side and for a length of 24.

MR. GREGOR: That is all the information I had because they didn’t have the details on the site plan.

MR. CHAIRMAN: It is 2 feet, Ralph it is 2 feet this way.

MR. FAASSE: Yeah, 2 feet over there, I see that.