Zoning board approves driveway expansion at 891 Manhattan Ave, requires as‑built showing impervious under 35%

The Washington Zoning Board voted unanimously to approve a driveway expansion at 891 Manhattan Avenue on condition that the applicant submit an as‑built plan confirming the site’s impervious coverage is below the township limit and fix a damaged curb apron. Board members also required updated plan dates and revisions to reflect the driveway’s actual 25‑foot width.

The application was presented in public session; Ron Thomas testified under oath for the applicant. “The driveway, to be honest, was an afterthought,” Thomas said, adding that he had not closely reviewed the driveway plans during a long renovation project. Board engineer John Yekimmick told the panel the plan on file calculated proposed impervious coverage as 34.93% and noted, “The code only allows 35%,” urging the applicant to provide a current impervious calculation because the built driveway measured 25 feet in width instead of the 22 feet shown on the submitted plan.

The board’s action came after a detailed review of surveys and plans. Engineers estimated the change added roughly 100 square feet of impervious surface over a lot of about 0.454 acres (approximately 23,000 square feet), which they said would raise the coverage by only a small fraction and keep the total under 35% in their calculation: “So it’s only 34.94%. So you’ll be under the 35%,” Yekimmick said. Members nevertheless required a certified as‑built to verify the actual figure and to document the changes in the zoning file.

Board members also raised the condition that the broken curb apron where the driveway meets the street be repaired and that updated plans for the pool and driveway reflect current dates and the actual driveway width. The board discussed the possibility that, if an as‑built later showed impervious coverage exceeding 35%, the applicant would be required to return for a variance; members emphasized that an over‑limit result would trigger a formal return to the board rather than an administrative fix.

Thomas said construction on the property began in February 2022 and the driveway work was completed in August or September of last year. He told the board he had pulled permits for the various elements and that building‑department records might already contain an as‑built; the board requested the applicant confirm whether an as‑built was filed with the building department and to submit the certified as‑built to zoning.

The board approved the application on a roll call vote: Member Grimaldi — yes; Member Hanna — yes; Member Lagrada — yes; Member Zipkow — yes; Member Rivera — yes; Member Osmond — yes. The approval is conditioned on submission of the as‑built plan showing impervious coverage under 35%, repairs to the curb apron, and updating the pool and driveway plans to reflect the 25‑foot driveway and correct dates.