STATE OF NEW JERSEY
						COUNTY OF BERGEN
						BOROUGH OF ELMWOOD PARK
						ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

IN RE:

MATTERS AND DECISIONS RENDERED

ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

						FEBRUARY 22, 2017
						Municipal Building
						Elmwood Park, New Jersey 07407
						Commencing at 7:30 pm

B E F O R E:

		THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE BOROUGH OF ELMWOOD PARK.

PRESENT:

			JAMES GOLEMBISKI, Chairman
			DEBORAH ALVAREZ, Member
			ANGELO PANETTA, Member
			DONALD INGRASSELINO, Member
			JEFFREY FREITAG, Member
			FRANK DELLIGATTI, Member
			NICOLE OGROSSO, Bd. Engineer
			MATTHEW DE MARIA, ESQ., Bd. Atty.

JOSEPH NATALE, C.S.R.
30 Cedar Island Drive
Brick, New Jersey 08723
(732)477‑6710
I N D E X

APPLICANT			DISPOSITION				PAGE

AGENDA:

THE ARC OF BERGEN
AND PASSAIC COUNTIES,
INC. (A17‑001)		CARRIED					3

WOJCIECH LAPINSKI
(A17‑002)		 	GRANTED					5

SLAWOMIR and
AGATA PUZIO
(A17‑003)			GRANTED					5

		THE CHAIRMAN: Good evening, this is the regularly scheduled meeting of the Elmwood Park Zoning Board of Adjustment called to order.
		Roll call vote: Present were Members Panetta, Ingrasselino, Freitag, Alvarez, Delligatti, Golembiski;
Members Beniamini and Baglieri were absent.  

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		Mr. Panetta made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 25, 2017 meeting, seconded by Mr. Ingrasselino.
		Roll call vote: All voted in favor.  

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THE ARC OF BERGEN AND
PASSAIC COUNTIES, INC.
(A17‑001)						CARRIED
PREMISES AFFECTED: 67 Echo Place, Block 1802, Lot 28.
PURPOSE: Variance for deck setback, side yard setback, combined side yard setback and lot coverage.

		RICHARD JON CONTANT, ESQ. Appeared on behalf of the applicant.

		Mr. Contant indicated The Arc is a not‑for‑profit corporation engaged in providing services to mentally and physically disabled persons and their application is to provide improvements to an existing group home at 67 Echo Place.

		ALICE SIEGEL, 223 Moore Street, Hackensack, New Jersey, sworn.
		Ms. Siegel testified she is the Senior Vice President for The Arc and they are a not‑for‑profit organization in their 70th year, which provides support to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and their families.  They also provide day services on Wallace Street and other services they provide in Elmwood Park.
		The subject premises has been under their supervision since 1990 and presently houses 6 individuals with intellectual disabilities. She testified she is hands‑on as residential services reports to her. She has been engaged in these activities for 33 years and is intimately familiar with its operations.
		She testified she has previously appeared before the Board seeking a variance to allow the garage to be converted into a bedroom. She testified that funds have become available from the State of New Jersey and they have had discussions with the State's architect and their architect regarding ideas and suggestions as to the least expensive and least disruptive to the neighbors so to accommodate accessibility.
		At this time, A‑1 (packet of photographs) is received and marked.
		Ms. Siegel testified she took the photographs depicted in A‑1 and described same for the Board. She further testified that in her opinion, the proposed improvements will not effect the surrounding area and if the improvements were not made, some occupants of the home may have to leave. She testified that if approved the number of occupants will not increase. She further testified that the garage has already been converted into a bedroom.
		At this time, A‑2 (Survey), A‑3 (main level site plan, and A‑4 (Elevation drawings) were received and marked.
		
		CASPER HUIZENGA, Architect, 21 Skytop Road, Long Valley, New Jersey, sworn.
		Mr. Huizenga was qualified and testified as a licensed architect in the State of New Jersey. He testified he's created plans which are before the Board. He reviewed the site plan for the Board. He also reviewed A‑3 before the Board.
		Mr. Huizenga described the addition in the rear and described the ramps on either side. He described renovations to the bathroom and raising the two floors on both sides, which presently have a step down.
		Mr. Huizenga testified via A‑4 and described the exterior improvements. He testified the plans have been reviewed by the State of New Jersey and further testified these improvements will provide greater accessibility to and from the premises.
		Mr. Huizenga testified this design will crate a benefit for the occupants and will not have an adverse impact on the neighborhood.
		After further discussion and questioning by the Board, the Chairman opened the meeting to the public. Hearing no one, the Chairman closed the public portion.
		Mr. Panetta made a motion to deny.
		After further discussion and questioning by the Board, the applicant agreed to adjourn this matter to confirm the State approves the proposed changes, and entertain the suggestions made by the Board.
		Mr. Panetta made a motion to carry this matter, seconded by Mr. Ingrasselino. Mr. Panetta withdrew his motion to deny.
		Roll call vote: All voted in favor.

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WOJCIECH LAPINSKI (A17‑002)		(GRANTED)
PREMISES AFFECTED: 16 Stone Avenue, Block 1813, Lot 5.
PURPOSE: Variance for front yard setback.

		HENRY C. WALENTOWICZ, ESQ. Appeared on behalf of the applicants.
		Mr. Walentowicz stated this application involves an upgrade to the existing house.  This is a single‑family house and his client could not get a permit to perform these renovations since if he expands on an existing setback, he needs a variance.
		There is no expansion of the footprint. He does not to expand the second floor with a total of three bedrooms.
		Mr. Walentowicz reviewed Boswell's letter for the Board. He stated it's an improvement to the neighborhood.

		WOJCIECH LAPINSKI, 16 Stone Avenue, Elmwood Park, New Jersey, sworn.
		Mr. Lapinski testified he presently lives in New York and intends to live at the subject premises. He testified there will be no change to the building footprint. He testified it will remain a one‑family.
		After further discussion and questioning by the Board, the Chairman opened the meeting to the public. Hearing no one, the Chairman closed the public portion.  		Mr. Ingrasselino made a motion to approve, seconded by Mr. Freitag.
		Roll call vote: All voted in favor.

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SLAWOMIR AND AGATA
PUZIO (A17‑003)					(GRANTED)
PREMISES AFFECTED: 159 Miller Avenue, Block 704, Lot 23.
PURPOSE: Variance for height.

		HENRY C. WALENTOWICZ, ESQ., appeared on behalf of the applicant.

		Mr. Walentowicz stated this is a renovation of an existing home. He further noted a correction in Boswell's report and noted this is in fact a one‑family and will remain a one‑family. He testified the maximum height is 26.8 feet, noting the front setback is 25 feet, and they are at 24.5 feet.
		Mr. Walentowicz reviewed the plans before the Board and noted this will add value to the existing neighborhood.
		The detached garage will be attached to the existing house.

		SLAWOMIR PUZIO, 159 Miller Avenue, Elmwood Park, New Jersey, sworn.
		Mr. Puzio testified the house is on a hill and that is the problem with the height. He testified the second floor has to be under 6 feet.
		Mr. Walentowicz stated they will create a new retaining wall and they will address any run‑off. Mr. Puzio will comply with all engineering standards.				After further discussion and questioning by the Board, the Chairman opened the meeting to the public. 

		ANTON AYVAS, 165 Miller Avenue, Elmwood Park, New Jersey, sworn.
		Mr. Ayvas testified the retaining wall is on his side. He further testified there is two walls. He also expressed concerns for the moving of the garage, as the property is 3 feet lower.

		Hearing no one further, the Chairman closed the public portion. 
		Mr. Freitag made a motion to approve, seconded by Mr. Ingrasselino.
		Roll call vote: All voted in favor.				

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		There being no further business, all voted in favor of adjournment.

						BOARD SECRETARY