Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Residential Addition 6 Arbor Way topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves expansion at 6 Arbor Way, finding lot’s undersized conditions support variances
Summary
The board approved a two-story addition over an existing garage and a rear one-story expansion for the house at 6 Arbor Way (VA-16-24), finding the undersized lot and existing nonconforming setbacks formed the basis for variance relief; conditions and final lot-grading requirements were discussed.
The Morris Township Board of Adjustment granted variance relief to the applicant at 6 Arbor Way (VA-16-24) to permit a second-story addition over an existing one-story garage and a one-story rear addition that maintain existing nonconforming side-yard and combined side-yard setbacks.
Applicant Todd Goldberg and engineer Thomas Matias of H2M Associates explained the project and the property’s zoning context. The lot is in the R-A-15 single-family detached residential zone and measures 14,922 square feet, slightly undersized for the RA-15 15,000-square-foot minimum. The existing side-yard setback is nonconforming (14.74 feet where 20 feet is required) and combined side-yard is 29.91 feet where 50 feet is required. The project proposes to keep those setbacks essentially as they are and not further encroach. Proposed building coverage would remain below the 20% limit (existing 14%, proposed 16%) and total impervious coverage would remain below the 45% limit (existing 33%, proposed 37%).
Board members discussed minor survey tolerances and agreed the applicant could use slight conservativ e dimensions (for example 14.5 feet rather than 14.74) to accommodate field conditions; the board noted an as-built will be required prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The engineer described drainage measures: because groundwater is high in the area the township engineering office waived a seepage-pit requirement and accepted diversion of driveway runoff to street inlets, subject to the township engineering office’s final lot-grading approval. The applicant confirmed the garage footprint is not being enlarged; the garage door would be replaced by a single double door and there would be no direct access from the garage to the new second floor.
Neighbors were invited to ask questions; one neighbor, Steve Mussolino of 8 Arbor Way, confirmed the plan to remove a proposed dry well and direct leaders to the driveway with curbting to the street. After discussion the board moved, seconded and approved the application by roll call. The memorializing resolution will record the variances and the site-specific conditions discussed.
