The Memory Care Facility project, a focal point of the meeting, was met with questions about its impact on the community, particularly concerning school traffic and construction routes. The board debated whether the original plans would remain intact and explored stipulations on construction hours to minimize disruption.

Another major topic was the variance request for 15 Lindy Place, which involved a D4 variance for additional floor area ratio (FAR). The property, undersized at approximately 7,000 square feet compared to the 10,000 square feet standard for the zone, sought approval for an extra 278 square feet, increasing its total floor area to 2,364 square feet. The applicant and a planner presented testimony arguing that the changes would not alter the visual appearance, as the modifications are confined to the property’s rear.

The board’s discussion centered on the technicalities of FAR calculations, particularly the areas of the second floor with ceilings under seven feet, as these should not count towards livable space. The applicant proposed an FAR of 33.6%, but when excluding the non-compliant areas, the actual figure might be closer to 29.6%. The board debated the necessity of including all areas over seven feet to comply with building regulations, ultimately approving the variance with the condition that the construction official verify the calculations during the building permit process.

The board also addressed an application for 5 Parker Place, which had been discussed in a previous meeting. Revisions to the proposed plans, including the elimination of a shed and adjustments to the garage size, were presented to align with community standards and board recommendations.

In addition to the applications discussed, the meeting included a presentation by an acoustical engineer regarding the Old Tappan Manor, focusing on noise management for outdoor events. The proposal included constructing sound barriers to mitigate noise impacts on neighboring residential areas. The engineer highlighted that the proposed sound system would limit output to 75 dBA. The board appreciated the noise mitigation efforts and approved the application.

The meeting also featured discussions on landscaping plans presented by Paul Keys, a landscape architect, for an unspecified property. Keys described enhancements to the driveway area with native and non-invasive plantings to buffer vehicle lights. However, the absence of visual aids led to public frustration, with some questioning the effectiveness of the proposed landscaping in conjunction with sound barriers.