The appellants, Lydia and Yelena Binder, presented their case for installing a second kitchen in their bi-level home, citing religious beliefs and the need to accommodate an elderly family member with health concerns as driving factors. The debate was intricate, with board members parsing the definition of “independent living” and scrutinizing the layout of the Binder residence to determine if the second kitchen would indeed result in the creation of a separate dwelling unit. The zoning officer provided testimony, explaining that the key issue was not the second kitchen itself but the potential transformation into an illegal two-family dwelling – a situation the township has grappled with in the past.

While the Binders argued that their intention was not to create a separate living area but to maintain an open living space, the board remained concerned about the possibility of future changes in occupancy that could lead to the unauthorized division of the property.

Moving on from this central issue, the board addressed another application involving the construction of a balcony and a shed on Lake Shore Drive. The applicants sought a variance for a balcony designed to provide a lake view and a shed that exceeded setback limits. After confirming the applicants’ willingness to relocate the shed to comply with the property line setback requirements, the board recommended granting the variance subject to this condition.

Further discussions included a request from Temple Beth Am for a second sign on the same building as another temple. The board’s recommendation to grant the variance took into account the condition that no lighting would be permitted on the new sign.

Additionally, an amendment to a resolution for a property on Beverwick Road was brought forth due to an error in the originally requested number of parking spaces. The clarification revealed a reduction from 30 to 22 parking spaces, which led to the board recommending granting the variance, acknowledging the updated commercial components and the applicant’s business expansion plans.

The meeting also covered the novel restaurant concept proposed by a food technology startup, Wonder. The company, which partners with renowned restaurants and chefs to offer their cuisines through proprietary technology, presented its business model focusing on delivery and pickup services, and detailed operational aspects like offsite cooking and final food preparation at the restaurant location. The board engaged in a examination of the parking requirements and the impact of this unique business model on parking needs, ultimately granting a variance for parking and signage.

A separate presentation for a proposed restaurant with a drive-through included discussions about the expected volume of take-out orders, particularly at the 46 Corridor location, and the installation of a refrigeration unit at the back of the building. The board addressed potential concerns regarding the visual impact, accessibility, and traffic, and approved the application with conditions after considering the planner’s arguments supporting the suitability of the site and its potential benefits to the area.