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Residents and experts debate proposed FAR rule; basement living area to be counted
Summary
Public commenters raised detailed objections to proposed floor-area-ratio (FAR) zoning changes, warning of nonconforming homes and tax impacts; T&M Associates clarified that only basement space usable as living area would be counted under the updated definition.
During public comment, resident Abe Seruya (18 Ridge Rd) thanked the Council and then laid out a string of objections to proposed floor-area-ratio (FAR) restrictions. Seruya argued the changes could "lead to tax increases, create variance inconsistencies, and place many existing homes into non-conforming status," said few towns in Monmouth County use FAR, and recommended considering bulk zoning instead.
Councilman Bray encouraged Seruya to review the updated basement definition. Mike MacFarlane of T&M Associates, who was present, clarified that "only basement space usable as living area would be counted," a technical detail intended to limit how basement area affects FAR calculations. Another commenter, Steve Schulz, supported FAR limits to prevent oversized homes and asked about the removal of a "minor subdivision" phrase; Bray said that language had not been finalized and would be clarified during the Council meeting.
