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Council approves basement-excavation permit for Weiss property
Summary
Somerset’s council approved a building permit allowing homeowners Morgan and Derek Weiss to excavate roughly 610 sq ft to create a basement and add two window wells; staff said no stormwater plan was required and council heard details about underpinning and interior waterproofing.
The Somerset Town Council approved a building-permit application May 4 from homeowners Morgan and Derek Weiss to excavate and finish basement space under the first floor of their house (roughly 610 square feet) and to add two small window wells.
Town staff said the work amounts to excavation under the existing envelope with less than five square feet of new impervious surface associated with the two window wells; because the exterior envelope is essentially unchanged, staff concluded no stormwater-management plan was required and no variances were requested. The town manager explained the underpinning approach and noted the project is sequenced and supervised by structural engineers.
Applicant Derek Weiss and a Four Brothers Design Build representative described underpinning, interior waterproofing (dimple board, interior French drain and sump pump), and confirmed a portion of the basement perimeter had already been underpinned. Council members asked about flood risk, drainage of excavated soil and whether town notice had been received by neighbors. One neighbor said they had not received town notice; the town attorney advised that if a neighbor did not receive notice but raised no objection the absence of notice generally is not a legal impediment to moving forward.
A motion to approve the permit passed on a voice vote. The town manager will issue the permit if no formal opposition triggers the 30-day appeal period.
