Zoning board OKs variances at 65 Evergreen Drive to regrade garage and improve sight lines

The North Caldwell Zoning Board of Adjustment on March 18 approved variances for Matthew Whitford’s property at 65 Evergreen Drive to regrade a basement-level garage and alter the driveway to improve sight lines for children walking to the nearby grammar school.

Julie Ann Cecere, representing the Whitfords, told the board the application sought four variances: "The four (4) variances sought include: front yard setback of 46.4 feet where 50 feet is required, side yard setback of 15.11 where 25 feet is required, maximum lot coverage of 32.3% where 30% is required, and maximum building coverage of 18.6% where 15% is required." She said the lot is substandard in area and width, and that the existing garage sits at basement level, creating steep driveway slope and poor sight lines when drivers back onto the street.

Cecere presented plans to bring the garage to natural grade, remove a retaining wall, and install a circular driveway. The applicant proposed a drywell to capture runoff and directed leaders to retain stormwater on site; the attorney argued these measures would achieve a net-zero change in runoff despite the coverage variances. Board Engineer Candice Davis flagged calculation and plan revisions in review letters dated Feb. 13 and March 10, 2026; Cecere acknowledged that the plans handed out at the meeting did not reflect every written revision but said the in-person plans addressed the engineer’s concerns.

After questions from board members about driveway dimensions and impervious area, Board Member Roxana Demel moved to approve the application with conditions requiring correction of the seepage pit calculations, obtaining permits noted in the engineer’s letter, and compliance with Boswell Engineering memos. The motion passed with five affirmative votes. The board’s approval was conditioned on the corrected drainage calculations and required permitting before work commenced.