37:09The meeting’s most notable development was the announcement of the retirement of a prominent board member who had been instrumental in shaping the community over several decades. He expressed gratitude towards fellow officials and staff, reflecting on his contributions to major projects such as the public safety building and the enhancements along Kinderkamack Road. His departure was met with appreciation from the mayor and other board members, who praised his dedication and efforts in safeguarding River Edge from exploitative development practices. The retiring member’s ability to ask critical questions and navigate issues was highlighted as an invaluable asset to the board. The mayor acknowledged his impact by stating, “Your contribution has really safeguarded River Edge from exploitive development in so many ways.”

19:32In addition to this personnel change, the board addressed a range of development applications, focusing heavily on a proposed expansion to a single-family home on Elm Avenue. This application required front yard and rear yard setback relief due to the property’s undersized nature for a corner lot. The applicant, along with their architect, presented plans to expand their home, citing the need for more space for their family. A notable aspect of the proposal was ensuring that the addition would not require the demolition of the existing structure, a typical Center Hall Colonial.

The proposed addition faced several zoning challenges, notably due to the property’s size of 6,910 square feet, which is below the minimum requirement of 7,500 square feet for corner lots. The home already had non-conforming front yard setbacks, and the plans included maintaining compliance with the front yard setback along Manchester Road while encroaching on the rear yard setback. The planned expansion would bring the house approximately 14 feet from the property line, below the required 25 feet. During discussions, board members scrutinized modifications to the site plan, particularly zoning table changes, and clarified building and lot coverage calculations. The current building coverage was noted as 845 square feet, with the addition bringing it to 1172 square feet.

37:09Public concerns during the meeting were primarily focused on environmental impacts, particularly regarding an existing large tree that might be affected by the construction. A resident raised questions about the potential removal of the tree and emphasized its significance to the local landscape. The board’s engineer assured that any tree removal would require a permit and compliance with local regulations, while stormwater management would be addressed through the soil movement permitting process.

The approval process for the application included ensuring compliance with various borough codes and securing additional approvals for any coverage that exceeded local limits. Despite technical difficulties during the meeting, including audio issues, the board voted unanimously to grant approval for the application, provided the applicant submitted revised plans.