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Hopatcong board carries Sonia Reynoso’s after-the-fact permit requests to June 16, asks for cleanup and permit drawings
Summary
Sonia Reynoso asked for variances to legalize a closed-in sunken patio, a pool, sheds and other accessory work; the board required removal of damaged items, engineering/architectural drawings and building permits and carried the application to June 16, 2026 without further notice.
Sonia Reynoso told the Hopatcong Land Use Board she has endured chronic flooding that led her family to partially enclose a sunken patio and place a hot tub and other accessory structures in her backyard. Reynoso said repeated rains flood her basement and garage and that the temporary work was intended to mitigate those conditions.
"Since I moved here, I've been having nightmare every time it rains because my house get flood," Reynoso said while explaining why she enclosed part of the patio and added backyard features.
Board members reviewed aerial photos from 2021 and 2025 and noted a difference: what was a relatively clear yard in 2021 shows substantial additions and structures in 2025. The board and staff told Reynoso much of that work appeared to have been done without the required permits and that several items — including a damaged hot tub and accumulated refuse along the fence line — should be removed or remedied before final approval.
Professionals on the record recommended steps to reduce flooding risk and bring the property into compliance: obtain professional plans for the closed-in area, submit those drawings to the building department, and address impervious-surface/lot-coverage limits. The board also discussed whether a pool could be moved or whether it was simpler to grant a small variance for the setback.
Real estate agent and neighbor Amani Ramsey urged the board to be sympathetic and suggested a modest period to complete cleanup, noting Reynoso has three children and a spouse who travels for work. Ramsey recommended the board prioritize the pool issue and allow time for a bulk pickup of debris.
After discussion the board voted to carry the application without further notice to the June 16, 2026 meeting and required the applicant to submit full drawings at least ten days before that meeting. The board requested that the damaged hot tub and visible refuse along the fence be removed as an act of good faith prior to return.
What happens next: the application is carried to 06/16/2026; the applicant must submit full construction drawings to the board secretary by June 6, 2026 for distribution to members and must clean up the identified debris and damaged equipment prior to that date. The board emphasized that any future approvals will be conditioned on building-department and health-department sign-offs.
