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Allendale board approves two homeowner additions after brief public comment
Summary
The board approved a deck replacement at 246 Park Ave and a rear‑setback addition at 415 Canterbury Drive, both with conditions requiring engineer sign‑offs, landscaping preservation and required permits; a neighbor supported the Canterbury project during public comment.
The Allendale Land Use Board approved two homeowner projects at the public hearing portion of Wednesday’s meeting, imposing standard post‑approval conditions and directing staff and the municipal engineer to complete outstanding technical reviews.
At application 2025‑12, Michael of 246 Park Ave (the applicant) said he sought to replace an existing deck with a slightly larger attached deck and that the change relative to the previous plan was minor. He described the work as “just basically replacing a deck that is already pre‑existing” and acknowledged the new footprint would increase a nonconformity only marginally; in the hearing he estimated the change at about “three and a half inches.” The board and engineer discussed site drainage, equipment locations and code official review of footings; engineers indicated the project did not trigger soil‑movement or major plot‑plan thresholds but would still require standard code inspections. The board voted to approve the deck replacement, subject to engineer and code review and the previously noted conditions.
At application 2025‑13, the homeowner James (with architect Barry Scros) presented a revised, smaller plan for additions on a curved, irregular lot at 415 Canterbury Drive that would reduce the originally proposed scope. The applicant seeks a rear‑yard setback of 36.9 feet where 45.5 is required; the plan adds 604 square feet (total house projected at about 3,404 sq ft) and remains below allowable floor‑area ratio. The municipal engineer asked that materials and color renderings be followed in the field and requested consideration of downspout/runoff measures; the applicant agreed to maintain existing landscaping and to provide supplemental landscaping where appropriate. Neighbor Tom Fritz spoke in support during public comment, saying the project would “beautify the neighborhood.” The board approved the application with conditions that prior approvals’ conditions carry forward, engineer sign‑off be obtained and any required permits be secured.
Both approvals were unanimous. Applicants must submit required permits and secure final engineering sign‑offs before work begins.
