Board approves demolition and replacement at 95 Taylortown Rd., but requires plan revisions and safeguards

The Montville Township Zoning Board on July 1 approved application ZC/SOIL11-25 for 95 Taylortown Road to remove the existing dwelling and construct a larger single-family home on an undersized lot, subject to conditions. Attorney Paul Bouno described the project as the "modernization of an aging residence," and the record shows the lot is 30,075 square feet where the ordinance requires 80,000 square feet, resulting in requested variances for front and rear setbacks, an elevated courtyard, and increases to building and impervious coverages. The motion to approve was made by Rebecca Gomilla and seconded by Ibrahim Coklar; the roll-call vote was recorded in the minutes as yes — Gomilla, Shamsudin, Coklar, Daskaloski, Pisano, Kovalcik.

Architect Joaquin Bouzas described proposed site features including a courtyard pool, elevated courtyard with retaining walls, revised driveway alignment and two stormwater systems; engineer Jamie Giurintano flagged items to be addressed in revised plans: a fall-protection detail, silt fence installed around the limit of disturbance measured by a surveyor, and confirmation on installation of seepage pits and drywells. Applicant Steven Alen told the board he "intend[s] to use this as my home" and said, "I want to raise my children in this town." The board conditioned approval on correcting a retaining-wall height typo, adding fall-protection details, submission of a landscape plan, measured sediment controls, and health-department review for septic.