Zoning board denies impervious-coverage variance for proposed Sailfish Drive residence

The Silver Spring Township Zoning Hearing Board voted unanimously Dec. 9 to deny a variance requested by Hightrim on behalf of owners Havish and Radha Bhalani for 21 Sailfish Drive in Glendale Estates. The applicant sought relief from maximum impervious surface limits under Section 232.F and the Glendale Estates Land Development Plan (Plan No. 2021-26730) to build a residence with a garage, pool and associated paving.

Representatives Grant Marshall of Marshall Engineering and Chris Huber of Hightrim presented plans and testified that the neighborhood homeowners association and neighbors had no objection. Chelsea Leiby confirmed that required legal notices were published. After the board heard testimony and adjourned to an executive session for quasi-judicial deliberations, Chairman Donald Franklin moved to deny the variance; Board Member Ryan Siney seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous (4–0).

The board record cites a lack of demonstrated hardship sufficient to grant the requested relief; the transcript does not record a detailed finding of specific code sections that failed to support the variance beyond the referenced impervious coverage standard. The transcript includes no public comment on the application.

Because the denial was unanimous, the applicants must either revise the plan to comply with the township's impervious coverage limits or pursue other lawful remedies; the transcript does not specify follow-up steps or appeals.