Cranford Planning Board OKs amended subdivision and three additional variances for 41 Meeker Avenue

Cranford — The Cranford Planning Board on Dec. 18 approved an amended minor subdivision for property at 41 Meeker Avenue (Block 559, Lot 4), granting three additional bulk variances the applicant said were inadvertently omitted from a prior approval.

Attorney Michael Piramalli, representing property owner JDA Homes LLC and applicant Liberty Assets LLC, told the board the application amends the board's August approval to split Lot 4 into Lots 4.01 and 4.02, convert the existing single-family dwelling to a two-family dwelling on Lot 4.01, and construct a new two-family building on Lot 4.02.

The board heard testimony from three witnesses presented by the applicant. Architect Ali Qureshi described the floor plans, noting the attic was revised to a half story with a 6-foot perimeter plate and a 7-foot midpoint, and said the drawings were last revised on Oct. 22, 2024. Owner Guillermo Argoete confirmed he purchased the property in September and said the project aims to match the neighborhood's character. Engineer and planner Chester DiLorenzo explained the subdivision layout and acknowledged that previously omitted numeric measurements created the need for additional C variances.

DiLorenzo told the board Lot 4.01 has a lot depth of 57.3 feet where 100 feet is required and cited a conservative lot-width figure of 33.6 feet on the plan for Lot 4.01 where an 80-foot minimum is required. He also identified a parallel-width measurement of 73.7 feet that would still fall short of the 80-foot requirement. "I missed 2 variances in August, and I I did not realize it, but I, again, I apologize," DiLorenzo said during his testimony.

Board professionals discussed measurement conventions for corner lots and advised that any relief granted be tied to the numbers shown on the official plan to ensure zoning and construction permits can be issued without further ambiguity. The engineer and the board's planner confirmed an alternate, less-conservative measurement method would show larger widths and might eliminate the need for some relief, but the applicant requested the conservative numbers be granted to avoid future permitting issues.

The applicant also proposed consolidating two driveways on the Quinn Street side into a single combined apron to improve on-street parking availability; DiLorenzo said the change would create two additional legal on-site parking spaces and help relieve parking pressure near a nearby senior housing building. Counsel and the planner agreed that conditions tied to prior resolution compliance (adopted Aug. 21, 2024) should be revisited and that the applicant should supply a memo comparing current plans with the prior resolution so satisfied conditions may be removed.

Board counsel recommended the board grant amended minor subdivision approval to reflect the plan changes and to include the variances previously granted plus the three additional variances on the record; he also proposed a condition requiring effectuation of the subdivision (filing a subdivision deed) within 190 days of the resolution. Applicant counsel accepted that proposed wording.

After brief deliberations and supportive comments from multiple board members about the completeness of the record, the board made a motion to approve the amended subdivision and associated variances with the conditions discussed. A roll call produced affirmative votes recorded in sequence for: Ms. Sen; Commissioner Prunty; Miss Peta; Deputy Mayor Curran; Mister Nordello; and Mister Callahan. The motion passed.

The board asked the applicant to provide plan notes tying any grant of relief to the specific numbers shown on the approved plan and requested a memorandum from the applicant's team identifying which prior resolution conditions remain to be satisfied. The board also noted that several prior conditions (change of full bath to half bath, attic slope revisions) already are reflected on the revised drawings.

The Planning Board closed the hearing, reminded members that the reorganization meeting is Jan. 15 at 7 p.m., and adjourned. "On the basis of testimony presented here tonight, I believe the application should be approved," counsel Michael Piramalli said at the close.

What's next: The applicant must effectuate the subdivision and supply the requested compliance memo; any permit issuance will reference the plan numbers and the conditions adopted in the board's resolution.