Board approves small second‑floor addition at 40 Midland Drive, citing hardship from undersized lot

The Morris Township Board of Adjustment on March 24 approved an application (BA‑05‑25) to build a small second‑floor addition at 40 Midland Drive, granting variances for side yard, combined side yard and front yard setbacks after finding practical difficulties from an undersized lot.

The board granted the application for a 125‑square‑foot second‑floor addition located above an existing sunroom. Architect testimony and the applicant’s statements said the lot is narrow (approximately 50 feet wide, about 9,741 square feet) and the existing house—built in 1928—already sits closer to property lines than current ordinance standards. The applicant sought to maintain existing setbacks (7.1 feet on one side, combined side yard 14.2 feet, front yard 24.4 feet) while adding the modest second‑floor space.

The board’s discussion cited the property’s lot size, the slope of the lot and the position of the existing dwelling as the basis for hardship. The architect testified the addition was placed over an existing sunroom to minimize disturbance and cost and to reduce visible impact from the street. A neighbor who attended spoke in support of the proposal.

A motion to approve the application with the board’s standard conditions carried on a roll call vote in which board members present voted yes. The board recorded an additional technical correction to the zone chart setbacks in the resolution and said the applicant must apply for and receive a grading permit before construction and relocate a shed to a conforming location as required in the memorializing resolution.

The board chair said a memorializing resolution would be prepared for a future meeting to formalize the vote and conditions.

Votes at the meeting were recorded by roll call and the approval was unanimous among members voting.