The application concerning 1 Cobblestone Court was a focal point of the meeting. The property owner sought to legitimize a deck that had been constructed without the necessary permits and did not conform to the required standards. The deck’s current position was found to be 10.8 feet from the side property line and 13.1 feet from the rear property line, both of which required variances due to the property being built under R5 alternate design standards in an R20 zone.

During the proceedings, the owner explained that the deck was initially discovered to be non-compliant when they attempted to rent out the property. The board was informed of the deck’s practical importance, given the yard’s significant slope, which rendered much of the outdoor space unusable for activities like children playing. The owner described the slope as descending sharply from front to rear, posing challenges in leveling the area due to potential costs and permitting hurdles.

The board’s professional advisor clarified that had the property adhered to R20 standards initially, the variance wouldn’t have been necessary. With no public opposition, the board unanimously approved the variance, allowing the deck to remain as constructed. The owner was advised that formal resolution documents would be provided at the next meeting, scheduled for December 5th, with no requirement for the owner to attend.

In addition to the deck variance discussion, the board addressed several resolutions. Among these were approvals for design waivers and bulk variance reliefs. Particularly notable was resolution 08-2024 Z for Brickmore Oldbridge LLC, which involved converting space in the Gateway Shopping Center into a salon suite operation. This application aimed to retenant a 7,724 square foot area into 46 individual suites, and it was adopted without opposition.

Another decision was the denial of a D1 bulk variance relief for a proposed mini warehouse project by Enh Management LLC on Pleasant Valley Road. The rejection followed careful consideration, with board members unanimously agreeing on the decision.

The meeting also included discussions on future applications, with several being adjourned pending confirmation of the 2025 meeting schedule. Among these was Vision Oldbridge LLC’s proposal to demolish an existing garden center to make way for a multifamily building with 68 apartments, including affordable units.