West Milford Zoning Board approves several variances, allows contractor storage behind Macopin Road property

West Milford — The Township of West Milford Zoning Board of Adjustment approved several property-variance requests at its March 24 meeting, granting relief to homeowners seeking porches and garage additions and allowing a use variance to permit contractor equipment storage behind a commercial property on Macopin Road.

Allan Cortiana Jr. asked the board for a use variance to rent a roughly 10,000-square-foot fenced, graveled lot behind 759-763 Macopin Road to a local landscaper. Cortiana said he bought the parcel in 2017, cleared decades of abandoned vehicles and debris and had the site environmentally tested. He told the board, “I would like to rent the fenced area to a local landscaper,” and said there would be no permanent office, no chemical storage and that any tenant would need a zoning permit.

The board approved Cortiana’s request unanimously. The attorney and planner noted the property is already in commercial use and that the fence along Fieldstone Lane appears to encroach into a right-of-way, a condition the board said it could not ratify but which does not, in their view, prevent the requested storage use.

Other approvals at the meeting included:

Votes at a glance: - 759–763 Macopin Road (Allan Cortiana Jr.): Use variance to allow contractor equipment/storage on the fenced lot. Motion to approve: Matthew Conlon; second: Stacy-Ann Webb. Vote: yes 7, no 0. Outcome: approved. (SEG 001–SEG 002) - 2 Hancock Drive (Thomas & Nancy Tamayne): Bulk variance for a small covered porch replacing existing masonry steps; motion to approve: Daniel Jurkovic; second: Stacy-Ann Webb. Vote: yes 7, no 0. Outcome: approved. (SEG 002–SEG 003) - 22 Raymond Blvd (Opal Estates LLC/Douglas Blanco): Bulk variances to allow a second-floor addition, first-floor expansion, porch replacement and gravel driveway on an undersized lot accessed from an unimproved easement road; motion: not specified in the transcript; second: Stacy-Ann Webb. Vote: yes 7, no 0. Outcome: approved. (SEG 003–SEG 004) - 3 Wanaque Road (Christopher Wilm): Bulk variances for a 1½-story attached garage; motion to approve: Matthew Conlon; second: Peter McGuinness. Vote: yes 7, no 0. Outcome: approved. The board noted Engineering may require a lot-development stormwater review. (SEG 005–SEG 006) - 170 Morsetown Road (Timothy Peschl): Bulk variances for an attached 1½-story two-car garage and an upper-level bedroom while retaining the house as a three-bedroom property; motion to approve: Matthew Conlon; second: Peter McGuinness. Vote: yes 7, no 0. Outcome: approved. (SEG 006–SEG 007)

One application was carried to the April 28 meeting for plan revisions: 1108 Macopin Road (Ahmad Jeaidi). The board asked Jeaidi to revise architectural plans to show interior access between the proposed addition and the existing house and to relabel proposed space as storage/family room (not a new bedroom) because septic capacity and bedroom counts affect approvals. The applicant agreed to grant an extension and return with revised plans. (SEG 004–SEG 005)

The board’s attorney reminded applicants that approved matters are subject to a 45-day municipal appeal period and to any conditions specified in approvals.

The meeting concluded with routine votes on the board’s invoices and minutes, and adjourned at 9:41 p.m.

Provenance: reporting in this article is drawn from the meeting transcript entries beginning with SEG 001 (opening and Cortiana application) through SEG 007 (final approvals); specific excerpts supporting each listed action are in the meeting record.