Board approves lot-frontage variance for Spring Mill Road property after discovering illegal subdivision

The Westfield board approved a variance to modify the minimum lot frontage for a six-acre property at 19010 Spring Mill Road, allowing the parcel’s frontage requirement to be recorded as 0 feet so that the new owners may proceed with a building addition.

Dane Crabtree of the Community Development Department said the parcel had been illegally subdivided in February 2003 and that no permits could be issued until the noncompliance was rectified. The property’s current access is across a separate 0.55-acre parcel; Crabtree said the issue surfaced when the new owners submitted an improvement location permit for a building addition.

Neighbor Michael Hoagberg, who lives at 624 Cowley Drive directly south of the parcel, told the board the new owners were good neighbors and urged approval, saying the property had previously been used as an event venue and a short-term rental but that the new owners planned a private residence and renovations. Owner Jeffrey Brown told the board he and his wife intend to renovate and live on the property and had no plans to resume commercial event use.

Board members moved and seconded a motion to approve variance 2505-VS-07. The roll call vote was recorded in the transcript as unanimous: Mister Buller — yes; Mister Clarino — yes; Mister Plummer — yes; Mister Bunkafist — yes; Doctor Keane — yes. The board also approved the findings of fact for the item by the same recorded vote. Crabtree said the item had been properly noticed and no public comments were received prior to the meeting other than those presented live.

With approval recorded, the property owners may proceed with the building-permit process once required documentation is filed to resolve the frontage noncompliance.