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Planning Board approves flood‑compliant replacement home at 52 Reid Street
Summary
The Borough of South River Planning Board approved variances and a reconstruction plan for a flood‑compliant single‑family home at 52 Reid Street. The replacement dwelling will be built on the existing foundation, meet FEMA and local freeboard requirements, and was approved by a 9–0 roll call vote.
The Borough of South River Planning Board voted unanimously May 12 to approve File PB-2026-04, allowing the reconstruction of a single‑family home at 52 Reid Street (Block 148, Lot 24) after the prior house was damaged by fire in January 2025. Mayor Peter Guindi moved for approval; John Frost seconded. The roll call vote in favor was 9–0.
Engineer and planner Matt Hockenbury of MCH Engineering testified that the proposal would rebuild a three‑story flood‑compliant dwelling on the existing foundation, with two habitable stories on the second and third levels. "The applicant is proposing to reconstruct a 3‑story flood compliant dwelling on the existing foundation," Hockenbury said. The home is described as three bedrooms and 2½ baths with about 2,100 square feet of living space.
The application requests variances for lot area, lot width, lot depth and side yard setbacks. Hockenbury told the Board the lot is nonconforming: the R75 zone requires 7,500 square feet but the existing lot is 4,156 square feet; required lot depth is 75 feet but the existing depth is 31.8 feet. He said the replacement dwelling will maintain the same footprint, setbacks and coverages as the pre‑fire house.
Floodplain compliance was a central focus of testimony. Hockenbury summarized federal and local requirements: a preliminary FEMA base elevation of 14 feet plus the Borough's two‑foot freeboard yields a design elevation of 16 feet, and the basement will be filled to grade to meet flood requirements. He also described a reduced asphalt driveway along the left side to the garage, an 18‑foot turnaround on the right, and three on‑site parking spaces (one in the garage and two in the driveway). Reid Street was noted as a County road.
Hockenbury addressed exhibits submitted as part of the application (A1, aerial; A2, photographs) and presented planning testimony on positive and negative criteria for the requested relief. He noted state flood regulations adopted in January 2026 and explained that the applicant may use a legacy application window to DEP (noted as Feb. 20–July 20, 2026) to pursue permits under prior rules; the design was prepared under those earlier standards.
After board members questioned grading, setbacks and parking, applicant counsel closed testimony. Chairman Robert Bodak opened the public portion; no members of the public spoke. With no further comment, the Board approved the application by roll call: Sandra Adelino, Monica Almeida, Richard Byrne, Christian Eleto, John Frost, Nick Giannakopoulos, Peter Guindi, Jesse Hare and Robert Bodak voted yes. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
