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Fort Lee Planning Board approves four‑unit townhouse at 1639 Kaufer Lane
Summary
The Fort Lee Planning Board voted 6–0 on March 9, 2026 to approve a three‑story, four‑unit townhouse development at 1639 Kaufer Lane after the applicant reduced an earlier 15‑unit proposal. Approval included a lot‑coverage variance and a design waiver for driveway spacing; several construction and drainage conditions were placed on the approval.
The Fort Lee Planning Board on March 9 approved a Preliminary & Final Major Site Plan for a three‑story, four‑unit townhouse at 1639 Kaufer Lane. Vice‑Chairman Armand Pohan moved for approval and the motion passed 6‑0, with members Pohan, Ferris, Suh, Calabrese, Sargenti and Chairwoman Janet Cooney voting in favor.
Benjamin T.F. Wine, counsel for the applicant Fort Lee Dev, LLC, told the board the current plan is a significant reduction from an earlier filing: "We went from fifteen units and thirty spaces down to four units and twelve spaces." The applicant will construct a building with three‑car garages on the ground floor (two 6‑car bays in total), living space on the second floor and bedrooms on the third, producing 12 bedrooms overall and a planned 11–12 parking stalls. The developer also pledged one EV charging stall per unit.
Board testimony and plan sheets presented by the applicant's engineer described the lot as follows: "This is Block 4355, Lot 2, addressed as 1639 Kaufer Lane... It is 7,938 sq. feet and has a unique and challenging shape. It is 34 feet deep but 430 feet wide." The applicant requested relief to increase lot coverage to 69 percent where 40 percent is allowed in the R‑5A zone, and a design waiver for driveway separation (51.2 feet proposed where 60 feet is required). Planner testimony framed the proposal as a permitted residential use that fits the surrounding multi‑family context and noted the reduction in scale from the prior 15‑unit application.
Conditions recorded on the approval include: milling and repaving most of Kaufer Lane and milling/overlay of Cedar Lane where utility work is proposed; submission of structural drawings for two retaining walls and any pump/lift station; tree‑removal compliance or payment into the Borough tree fund; one ADA accessible stall/aisle to be striped; and compliance with the Borough and board professionals' outstanding review comments (including a March 6, 2026 review letter from the Borough's engineer). The applicant also agreed to the neighbors' construction protections on the record (hours, blasting notice and review, neighbor liaison and pre/post construction photos).
The plan received final approval after the conditions were agreed on the record; the board recorded the motion and vote and adjourned at 8:58 p.m. This approval moves the site from a single‑family house to a four‑unit condominium or rental development depending on final deed decisions and the applicant's filing. The recording secretary's stenographic transcript accompanies the minutes.
