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Zoning Board grants variances for vet office, dormer and decks; renewal approved
Summary
The Long Beach Zoning Board granted several variance applications, including a two‑year conditional permit for a home‑based veterinary office, a 1.2‑foot height variance for a dormer, a front‑deck side‑yard variance and a renewal of an off‑street parking variance.
The Long Beach Zoning Board voted to grant multiple variance requests during its meeting, approving continued home‑based veterinary operations at 401 West Beach Street, a partial third‑story dormer at 76 Arizona Avenue, a front‑yard deck at 723 Westchester Street and an off‑street parking renewal at 205 Blackheath Road.
Case 1891: Veterinarian’s home office renewed
The board granted Case 1891, an application on behalf of Dr. Hal Waldman to renew a conditional two‑year variance allowing a veterinary office to operate from his residence at 401 West Beach Street. Dennis Kelly, attorney for the applicant, told the board Dr. Waldman has operated the clinic from the lower floor of his residence since 2006 and contracts for medical‑waste removal and cremation services. A commissioner disclosed a personal relationship with Dr. Waldman and recused themself from the vote; the motion to grant was introduced by Commissioner Markowitz and seconded by Commissioner Alvarado. The board recorded votes in favor from Commissioners Markowitz, Lease, Brooks (granting a conditional temporary variance), Alvarado and DePasquale; the application was granted.
Case 3444: Small height variance for dormer approved
The board voted to grant Case 3444, an application for a 1.2‑foot height variance for a partial third‑story dormer at 76 Arizona Avenue. Kenneth Apple represented the applicant and said the request had been reduced after concerns at a prior hearing; the board’s motion to grant was introduced by Commissioner Lease and seconded by Commissioner Brooks. Commissioners voted to grant the variance and the application was approved.
Case 3446: Front‑deck side‑yard variance approved for 723 Westchester Street
Patrick and Mary O'Donnell received approval for Case 3446, a side‑yard variance to add a 10‑by‑15‑foot front/side deck at 723 Westchester Street. The board heard supportive testimony from neighbors and community members, including Greg Quinn and VFW commander Adan McPhee, who described the applicants as active community members. Chairman Morelli moved to grant, with Commissioner DePasquale seconding; votes in favor were recorded and the application was granted.
Case 3382: Renewal of off‑street parking variance granted
The board approved Case 3382, a renewal of a previously granted off‑street parking standards variance for construction of a new house at 205 Blackheath Road. The applicant indicated the earlier approval had expired before construction started and that plans are unchanged; the motion to grant was introduced by Michelle Verrado and seconded by Commissioner Markowitz. The board voted to extend the variance.
Votes at a glance (recorded at the meeting): - Case 1891 (401 West Beach St.) — Motion to grant introduced by Commissioner Markowitz; seconded by Commissioner Alvarado. Vote recorded: Markowitz (yes), Lease (yes), Brooks (yes, conditional temporary variance), Alvarado (yes), DePasquale (yes). One commissioner recused and did not vote. Outcome: granted. - Case 3444 (76 Arizona Ave.) — Motion to grant introduced by Commissioner Lease; seconded by Commissioner Brooks. Votes recorded: Markowitz (yes), Lease (yes), Brooks (yes), Michelle Dorado (yes), DePasquale (yes), Chairman Morelli (yes). Outcome: granted. - Case 3446 (723 Westchester St.) — Motion to grant introduced by Chairman Morelli; seconded by Commissioner DePasquale. Votes recorded: Markowitz (yes), Elise/Lease (yes), Brooks (yes), Michelle Barado (yes), DePasquale (yes), Chairman Morelli (yes). Outcome: granted. - Case 3382 (205 Blackheath Rd.) — Motion to grant introduced by Michelle Verrado; seconded by Commissioner Markowitz. Votes recorded: Markowitz (yes), Lease (yes), Brooks (yes), Alvarado (yes), DePasquale (yes), Chairman Morelli (yes). Outcome: granted.
Ending: Several items were approved by the Zoning Board; a separate, contested application for a new two‑family house at 328 East Chester (Case 3445) received extended public comment and was left open for additional records and plan revisions.
