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Brielle Planning/Zoning Board approves three residential projects, sets conditions on drainage and setbacks
Summary
At its May 12 meeting the Brielle Planning/Zoning Board approved a rear-porch setback variance at 821 Rathjen Road, a second-story addition with multiple variances at 614 Borrie Avenue, and a four-lot major subdivision at 917 Riverview Drive, each with engineering and revised-plan conditions.
The Brielle Planning/Zoning Board voted on May 12 to approve three separate residential land‑use applications, attaching engineering and plan‑revision conditions to address drainage, privacy and property encroachments.
The board granted a C-1 variance for 821 Rathjen Road, allowing William Morris to build a covered rear porch over an existing brick patio that reduces the rear yard setback from the 40‑foot requirement to 35.7 feet. Architect Marc Nemergut testified the open porch would be about 15 by 17 feet, set on existing grade and that drainage would flow beneath the structure north to south toward the street. Mayor Frank Garruzzo, who moved the motion, said "no neighbors have shown up to say it is a detriment to the neighborhood" and the board approved the application unanimously among eligible voters. Conditions include that the porch remain unenclosed, installation of a four‑foot lattice screen for the side yard neighbor, and confirmation that runoff will be directed to the street rather than adjacent properties.
The board also approved a project at 614 Borrie Avenue for Aaron and Kellie Maas that includes a second‑story addition and a new front porch. The property is an undersized lot (5,000 sq. ft. where 7,500 sq. ft. is required), and the application sought multiple variances including front and side yard setbacks and higher lot coverage (proposed 29.1%). Aaron Maas told the board the half‑story would be attic storage only and that he would preserve two driveway parking spaces; he agreed to move an existing shed that encroached on a neighbor’s property and to install a drywell for rear‑yard drainage. The board’s approval (with conditions) requires revised, detailed plans showing the drywell and amended downspout arrangement, and that the relocated shed be at least one foot inside the rear property line.
Separately, the board approved a major subdivision application for 917 Riverview Drive, filed by Arya Properties at Brielle Bristol, LLC, to create four conforming lots from an oversized parcel. Engineer Matthew Wilder said the existing parcel is "over 88,800 square feet, almost 6 times the required area," and that demolition of existing improvements would remove roughly 23,000 sq. ft. of impervious surface. Wilder described a stormwater plan using porous pavers and two subsurface infiltration systems per lot to reduce runoff. The approval carries conditions: replacement of existing railroad ties with curbing, a detailed tree inventory and tree‑preservation easement, berming and stormwater measures as approved by the Board Engineer, and recorded deed restrictions for maintenance of conservation areas.
Legal and procedural notes: the board referenced N.J.S.A. 40:55D‑70 standards in granting variance relief in multiple cases, and required that applicants submit revised, engineered plans within the timeframes spelled out in the resolutions. No member voted against any of the three approvals; a small number of alternates were recorded as "not eligible to vote" on particular matters.
The board closed the meeting at 8:45 p.m.; the approvals are subject to the conditions set out in each resolution and to any additional outside approvals required by other governmental bodies.
