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Board approves variance for rear addition at 15 Lindy Place with lot-coverage check
Summary
The Borough of Old Tappan planning board approved a variance for a rear addition at 15 Lindy Place after hearing testimony about floor-area calculations, lot size and stormwater; the approval includes a condition requiring verification of lot coverage at time of building permit.
The Borough of Old Tappan Planning Board voted to approve a variance allowing a rear addition at 15 Lindy Place after testimony from the applicants and board professionals.
The applicants explained they will remove an existing deck and enclosed porch, rebuild a foundation and add a small second-floor area. The applicant said that because portions of the proposed second floor will have ceilings under 7 feet, that space should not count toward the town's calculation of livable floor area; using that method they estimated a resulting floor-area ratio (FAR) of about 29.6 percent rather than the higher number printed on the plans. "So 1 thing I want to highlight... if you take out 286 [square feet]... it brings us down to about 2,078 square feet of livable space," the applicant said during the presentation.
A town planning consultant and the board's professionals reviewed zoning criteria and told members the reduction in proposed bulk and the elimination of certain projected elements made the proposal more consistent with the pre-fire condition of the property. The board opened the application to public comment and heard none.
A motion to approve the application as submitted, with a stipulation to verify lot coverage and impervious calculations at the time of building permit, carried. The board noted only six members were eligible to vote on the application that evening; the roll call returned a majority in favor and the chair instructed staff to prepare a resolution for a formal vote at the next meeting. The board also directed that any lot-coverage calculations be confirmed by the building inspector when a permit is sought.
Why it matters: The variance allows the homeowners to rebuild and modestly enlarge their home after a fire while the board seeks to ensure the town's lot-coverage and stormwater controls are respected.
What comes next: The board indicated it will prepare a written resolution reflecting the approval and the conditions; the applicants were told they will not need to return unless differences emerge in the building-permit review.
