Board backs front-yard setback variance to allow houses to match Grover neighborhood build-to line

The City of Wildwood Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a variance allowing a front-yard setback of 10 feet from Manchester Road for a proposed single-family dwelling at 2601 East Avenue, permitting the house to align with the town center’s neighborhood-edge build-to line rather than the 20-foot setback called for in the property’s R-3 zoning.

Planner Robin Keefe told the board the 16,617-square-foot corner lot was created by a 2024 two-lot plat in the historic Grover neighborhood and is located within the town center’s neighborhood edge district, whose design guidelines permit build-to lines as close as 10 feet. The underlying R-3 zoning, which has a 20-foot front setback, had been applied to the property without the overlay that would have allowed the smaller build-to line. The department recommended approval, saying the town center plan’s pattern on East Avenue provided the applicable design standard.

Kyle Brown of Blue Onyx LLC / Capstone Homes, the developer and builder, said the requested variance would allow two appropriately sized ranch-type homes to be built on the lots and better match the character of neighboring houses. Angela Dillman, a local real-estate agent speaking for nearby residents, said neighbors prefer finished homes that match existing streetscape patterns and that the requested change of 10 feet would provide “consistency and harmony” with adjacent properties. “We’re just 10 foot short,” she said, describing the need to fit homes that align with the neighborhood build-to line.

Keefe told the board the department supports using the town center plan’s build-to standard rather than the underlying R-3 setback because the petitioner retained the 20-foot setback from the edge of pavement on East Avenue and because the proposed siting mirrors the prevailing pattern on East Avenue. The department also noted a letter of support from many surrounding neighbors had been emailed to the board.

After brief discussion the board voted unanimously to approve the variance: members Lee, Bertolino, Reiner and Chair Kevin Lux each voted yes. The approval allows the single-family dwelling to be sited at the 10-foot build-to line on Manchester Road per the town center neighborhood-edge design guidelines; the developer said the houses will be approximately 2,000–2,700 square feet depending on the lot and design choices.