THE HADDON TOWNSHIP PLANNING/ZONING BOARD
MINUTES
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2012
Minutes of the regular meeting of the township of Haddon Planning/Zoning Board held on Thursday November 1, 2012 in the Municipal Building, 135 Haddon Avenue in said Township. Compliance with Public Law 1975 was confirmed and was reported that the secretary had sent notice of meeting, along with copies of the agenda to the courier-Post and the Retrospect newspapers, and two copies were posted on the bulletin boards in the Municipal Building.
Flag Salute ** Confirmation of Sunshine Law
Roll call
Richard RotzExcused
Joseph IacovinoPresent
Suzanne DischerPresent
Linda RohrerPresent
Frank MonzoPresent
Marguerite DownhamAbsent
Wayne ChangPresent
Commissioner John FoleyExcused
James StevensonExcused
Nicholas MinkAbsent
Charles PusaterePresent
William WambachExcused
Also Present
Donald Cofsky – Solicitor
Lee Palo – Zoning Officer
Greg Fusco – Township Engineer
Meeting was called to order by vice chair Joseph Iacovino at 7:30 P.M.
A motion by Linda Rohrer to approve the minutes from September 6, 2012 Seconded by Suzanne Discher. 5 members present voted in the affirmation, one (1) abstention (Joseph Iacovino) Motion carried.
Old Business: None
New Business: Application 12-016 – Block 8.08 Lot 15 Zone R-2 689 Johnson Avenue. Richard Schoomaker. Applicant is seeking relief from front yard parking, they is pre-existing right side and rear setbacks of 2.1 feet. Pre-existing front street setback of 17.5 feet and to convert detached building to living space and convert breezeway too (or add sunroom) sunroom by connection to primary residence. And any and all other variances deemed necessary to approve this application.
Mr. Schoomaker had an updated survey and architectural drawings, and original floor plans presented pictures of the area and his property. Mr. Schoomaker stated he went over everything with Mr. Palo. Mr. Schoomaker went over every page on the drawing. Showing floor plans, elevations. Mr. Schoomaker stated that he is going to remove the cedar shakes and replace with stucco, stated that it has a gutter system that will pipe underground to street.
Board members commented that the new pictures looks much better not so chopped up and has a nice flow to the property now.
Another board member asked how many bedroom it has? Mr. Schoomaker replied 3 bedrooms, also that this is a corner property and the parking is an issue for front yard parking. The property has two front yards duke to being a corner. Back in 1950 was garage was built always parked in front of garage. Also the garage was never used as a garage. The roof lines will stay in line with the main roof.
A motion by Frank Monzo to open this portion up to the public, seconded by Linda Rohrer. All members present voted in the affirmative. Motion carried.
Hearing no statements or comments from the public.
A motion by Frank Monzo to close the public portion, Seconded by Linda Rohrer. All members present voted in the affirmative. Motion carried.
A motion by Frank Monzo to approve application 12-016 as presented with condition that kitchen be removed and it is a single family and remove cedar shake and replace with stucco. Seconded by Charles Pusatere. All members present voted in the affirmative (6) Motion carried.
Application 12-018 – 401 Addison Avenue, Block 28.06 Lot 14 Zone R-2 Stewart Rosenberg. Applicant is seeking front yard parking relief to be able to convert garage into living space.
Mr. Rosenberg was sworn in.
Mr. Rosenberg stated that he would like to convert his garage into living space; almost the entire neighborhood has done this, so it will not change the look at the area. The garage is never used as a garage.
Board members asked why he cannot use the side yard to park his car or cars.
Mr. Rosenberg stated that the property is an odd shapeand that he could possible park one car on the side.
Some discussion with board members about if one car is parked in side or rear does he need a variance to park the second car?
A motion by Suzanne Discher to open the meeting to the public for this application only, seconded by Linda Rohrer.
Hearing none a motion by Suzanne Discher to close the public portion. Seconded by Linda Rohrer. All members present voted in the affirmative. Motion carried.
A motion by Suzanne Discher to approve application 12-012 401 Addison Avenue, Mr. Stewart Rosenberg, as presented with the condition that one car will be parked on side of property.
All members present (6) voted in the affirmative. Motion carried.
Application 12-020 -413 Crystal Lake Ave Block 17.06 Lot 3 Zone C-2, Emil’s Family Restaurant. Applicant is seeking relief for a sign. Asking relief of total square footage for sign where 40 square feet is allowed applicant is proposing 64.33 square feet. Seeking relief of 24.33 square feet. Also relief for the height of the letters for the sign, where 12 inches is allowed the applicant is asking form 29.5 inches needing relief of 17.50 inches. And any and all other variance deemed necessary to approve this application.
Frank Faulkenstein, Esquire is representing the applicant.
Mr. Faulkenstein stated that the new sign will be smaller than the existing sign. It is a strip store needs to be seen. The applicant had pictures of the sign and the sizes.
Board members had questions about the size of the sign and it not showing on the drawings, and a final drawing of what the sign would look like with the correct size.
At this point a 10 minute breaks as taken.
Meeting continued at 8:46 P.M.
The board suggested that the applicant put up a banner for 30 days so he can take down old sign with old name. Get new drawing with correct dimensions and return to the December meeting.
The applicant asked for permission to table the application so he get property information and return to the December meeting.
Application 12-021 – 130 Virginia Avenue Block 21.07 Lot 5, Zone R-2 Susan Gamble. Applicant is seeking relief for a 5.8 foot fence in rear yard.
Susan Gamble –Sworn In
MS. Gamble stated that the neighbor’s Garage is only 2 feet from her fence. She has a deck application pending with the construction department and the 5.8 foot fence would help with privacy in her yard.
Mr. Cofsky stated that years ago the board looked at the fence ordinance and many hours of discussion the board recommended to the Governing body to allow only 5 foot fences in a rear yard, except where residences abuts a commercial property, also a variance can be granted for topographies where land is much higher for the neighbor. If it is just because of a dog that is not a good reason. You need to show hardship to the land or why this is a better plan.
Ms. Gamble asked why fences in the neighborhood are 6 foot and allowed to stay.
Mr. Cofsky stated that they could have a variance or they are illegal.
A motion by Frank Monzo to open the meeting to the public on this application only. Seconded by Charles Pusatere. All members present voted in the affirmative. Motion carried.
Kelly Schiers – Sworn In
25 Center Street
Haddon Township, N.J. 08108
Ms. Gamble is trying to approve her property but feels she has failed to show hardship for the property. I had to get a permit and permission from zoning officer when I put my fence up.
I do not feel that this application should be approved.
John Celino – Sworn In
132 Virginia Avenue
Haddon Township, New Jersey 08108
Mr. Celino had pictures with him
This fence should not be allowed. I have to go out my back door to see that every day. There was a chain link fence up for 10 years.
Bernadette Celino – Sworn In
132 Virginia Avenue
Haddon Township, NJ 08108
Do not like going out my back door and seeing that fence.
I disagree with the fence. Should not be allowed
Matt Madden, Esquire
Mr. Madden is representing Mr. Conal and Ms. McNulty of 128 Virginia Avenue.
The board must follow the Municipal Land Us. The applicant admits to knowing she needed a permit and did not get one. Eight (8) inches will not hold up for a dog issue?The cost impact is not allowed to be justified by the board. This is a self-created hardship. The petition is not allowed to be considered. There is a very special criterion to be allowed to grant this variance. There is no support to grant this application.
Mr. Celino
132 Virginia Avenue
Haddon Township, NJ 08108
The fence is too close to the property line
Kelly Schiers – still sworn in
If the rules are followed then we have to live with what is allowed. 5 feet not 5.8 feet.
Mr. Madden, Esquire – The applicant has not supported the application.
JoAnn McNulty – Sworn In
128 Virginia Ave
Haddon Township, N.J. 08108
We were granted a permit for a 4 foot fence in the rear yard.
Barbara Mayock – Sworn In
203 Virginia Avenue
Haddon Township, N.J. 08108
The issue is 5 feet verse 5.8 feet, she has the right to put up a fence. The application has made the neighborhood nicer. As a neighbor in the next block .8 feet is not that much higher. Should not be a issue.
Hearing no other comments.A Motion by Linda Rohrer to close the public portion, seconded by Suzanne Discher. All members voted in the affirmation. Motion carried.
The had some more discussion and can’t find a hardship for this application.
A motion by Joseph Iacovino to denied application 12-021 to allow for a 5.8 foot fence in rear yard. Seconded by Charles Pusatere. All members present voted in the affirmative. Motion carried.
Mr. Cofsky stated that eh board needs to address the fence ordinance.
Resolution:
A motion by Suzanne Discher to approve resolution 12-015 413 Crystal Lake Ave. Seconded by Charles Pusatere. All members present (6) voted in the affirmative. Motion carried.
Next meeting will be a work session on Monday November 19, 2012 and regular will be Monday December 6, 2012.
With no further business for the board tonight a motion by Charles Pusatere to adjourn. Seconded by Frank Monzo. All members voted in the affirmative. Motion adjourned
Meeting adjourned 10:10 p.m.
Cd of this meeting is available upon request.
Respectfully
Bonnie Richards
Secretary