Long Beach hearing on proposed two‑family at 328 East Chester draws neighborhood opposition; vote postponed

A hearing on an application to build a new two‑family house at 328 East Chester Street, Long Beach, was left open for further information after more than an hour of testimony from neighbors and the applicant’s attorney.

Kenneth Apple, attorney for the applicant, said the owners intend to construct a FEMA‑compliant two‑family dwelling on a lot recorded as 40 by 85 feet and that the requested variances are driven in part by a 15‑foot strip behind the lot tied to a former trolley right‑of‑way. Apple said the owners would consider purchasing the strip if the city made it available but that such a purchase could take months.

The variance requests named in the application were for side‑yard (zoning code reference cited in the hearing as 9‑105.d), rear‑yard (9‑105.7.e) and minimum lot size (9‑105.7.i) to allow the proposed footprint and setbacks. Apple said two of the requested variances would not be necessary if the applicant could acquire the 15‑foot strip…