The meeting kicked off with an unusual practice: the attorney had prepared the memorialization in advance instead of the following month. The board then moved onto the first case presented by Emily Gambeski, who sought approval for a porch addition and expansion of her house. Gambeski’s proposal included the creation of a dining room, additional bedrooms, and a request for variances in front yard setback, side yard setback, and building lot coverage. The board members, including Thomas Kuczynski, Anthony Esposito, Ronald Green, Phil Emma, Dominick Castlegrant, Joanne Gottstine, and Anthony Bella, scrutinized the application. Following a discussion, the board approved Gambeski’s application, requesting a resolution to be prepared for the final vote.

The second application presented by John and Amanda Townland sparked a more complex discussion due to discrepancies in the numbers on the proposed plans. The Townlands aimed to expand their garage, add a walk-in closet above it, and construct a covered patio and a two-post car lift for personal use. The board clarified the details of the proposed expansion, ensuring that the project wouldn’t affect the single-family nature of the property. After having ironed out all concerns, the board approved the Townlands’ application.

The last application of the evening was presented by David Kuo, who requested a six-foot variance fence around the backyard of his property on Washington Road. The board questioned the necessity of the fence, prompting Kuo to explain the disrepair of the existing fence and the maintenance cost of the trees. The board members inquired about the type and location of the fence, expressing concerns about the site triangle, which was later confirmed to be sufficient. The board voted in favor of Kuo’s application.

Following the application discussions, the board approved the minutes from the previous meeting and discussed the annual report summarizing the board’s activities in 2022. The report highlighted 19 applications heard over 11 meetings, including various use variance applications and the prevalence of applications related to the size of accessory structures. The board expressed a preference to maintain the current restrictions and oversight on such applications.