Heat. Heat. Good evening. >> Basic, can we get an opening statement, please? >> Uh, the zoning board of adjustment meeting, Monday, December 8th, 2025. I hereby declare this meeting of the How Township Zoning Board to be open
adequate notice having been given pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Meeting Act in the following manner. First, on January 2nd, 2025, a copy of said notice was emailed to the Asbury Park Press and the Star Ledger. Second, on January 2nd, 2025, a copy of said
notice was hand delivered to the clerk of the township of Powell. Third, on January 2nd, 2025, said notice was posted in the office of the planning board, uh, excuse me, the zoning board, and on the bulletin board in the How Township Municipal Building, 4567, Route
9, Howell Township, New Jersey. In accordance with the fire prevention code, and for your safety, please be advised that this facility is designed with two emergency exits at the front and rear of the meeting room. Furthermore, smoking is not permitted in the municipal building. Please take note
that this meeting is being videotaped for possible future broadcast on Howell Township TV77. This meeting is a judicial proceeding. Any questions or comments must be limited to the issues of what the board may legally consider in reaching a decision and a decorum appropriate to a judicial hearing must be maintained at
all times. Thank you. >> Thank you, Lisa. Can we have a roll call? >> Mr. Barillo, >> here. >> Here. >> Mr. Caner, >> here. >> Mr. Hughes >> here. Mr. O'Donnell >> here. >> Mr. Arosco >> here.
>> Mr. Ryan >> present. >> Miss Scottson is excused. Mr. Cabarakis >> here. >> And Chairman Mertens, >> I'm here. >> You have a quorum. >> Thank you. Could everybody rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Annie, could you swear in our professionals? >> You swear the testimony you give will be
the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, the help of God. >> I do. Please state your names for the record. Charles Conliff >> Jennifer me >> professionals are sworn Mr. Chairman. >> Okay. Thank you, Andy. >> Um, Liz, uh, Lisa, I'm sorry. We have
any minutes? >> No, there are no minutes to approve tonight. >> Correspondence. >> Uh, we've received an email from Richard Scott, attorney for Mid-Atlantic Offshore Development LLC, case BA2421, that their application was originally carried that was originally carried to tonight's agenda, be rescheduled in the
new year, and they will renotice. >> Okay. So, we do not have a rescheduled date at this time. No, >> ma'am. Okay. Uh, we also received an email from Sal Alfieri, attorney for case BA2503, the Hamigroup ABL LLC, which was scheduled for public hearing tonight, asking for their application to
be rescheduled, and they will renotice. Mr. Alier, uh, also granted an extension of time through February 2026. >> February, what was the date of February? >> Just February 2026. I don't think we have a date. >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay. So, anybody I don't think
it's in the public for the either of these cases, but they will be carried >> with no other further notice at this time. >> Okay. >> The f Well, she had one other thing um about the meeting dates for 2026. She said you guys all were emailed a draft
copy of the meeting dates with the only dates in question being May 18th and October 5th due to the holiday. Um, did you want to take a vote on the meeting dates tonight? >> Yeah, I mean, is everybody seen it? I think it's good. >> Hard to tell this far out, but it looks good.
>> Yeah, it's, you know, so let's uh let's get that on record. Do I have a motion for 2026 schedule? Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve our 2026 schedule dates. >> Motion by Mr. Hughes. I have a second.
>> Second by Mr. Arasco. Roll call. >> Mr. Burillo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Caner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hughes? >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. O'Donnell. >> Yes. >> Mr. Orosco, >> yes. >> Mr. Ryan, >> yes. >> Um, Chairman Mertens,
>> yes. >> My motion passes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Our one and only case tonight. Case number BA25-15. Gary Endinger. Type both variance description applicant
of Gary and Valerie Endinger as applicants and Gary and Valerie Endinger lots one two and three NG and V realy lots 3.01 and four as owner seeking
approval for a front porch addition with front yard setback on premise known as block 193 lots 123 3.01 01 and four >> and it's on five lakeside drive in how
good >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Nope. Keep going >> Mr. Kaplan. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman. >> Good to see you. >> Good to see you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. My name is Alan Kaplan, capital here in How in my office. I'm
representing the applicant, uh, Mr. Etinger, who's sitting besides me. So that little prism thing on the table in front of you is a mic. Okay. >> So sitting is probably better than standing so we can hear you better. >> Old habits. Sorry.
>> So Mr. Chair, this application is for a front porch in the front yard setback um along what is it along Lakeside Drive. >> Lakeside Drive. Yeah. So
we understand that the setback requirement is 25 ft. They're asking for a reduction of that to a little like a little less than 19 ft to allow for a front porch. The front facade is very I mean you guys have pictures in front of you which maybe
Andy we should enter as uh >> Oh, we have them. Okay. >> So it's a very flat front facade. I take no exception to the addition of um a front porch to make the front facade, you know, a little bit more I don't want
to use the word interesting, but a little bit more exciting, let's just say. >> So, let me ask you a question. >> The encroachment into the front yard setback on Lakeside Drive, do you consider that does that create any
negative impacts to the surrounding lane uses? None at all. >> And >> Hold on, Jen. I'm sorry. >> Can Can I'm >> Do you swear or affirm the testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, the help you got? >> I do.
>> And state your name for the record. >> Gary Edinger. >> Okay. Now, Mr. Edinger, feel free to answer it. >> Okay. >> So, do you want me to redo it or are we good? No. Okay. >> No, because he's on he this was the you you're fine. >> Okay. So the second question is is that do you feel that the addition of a porch
which would require a variance for the front yard setback creates a desirable visual environment? >> Absolutely. >> And do you create do you feel like it creates a negative impact to the zone planning and zoning ordinance? >> No. No, I do not. >> So Mr. Chair, I would take no exception to the relief that the applicant is
requesting. I do think that it adds some visual and architectural interest in the front facade. I mean, if you could see the the photo, there's a big tree there. you know, so like it's not encroaching in an exorbitant way. I feel like it adds a little architectural interest to the
front of the building. It's a very sleepy area. So clearly it's not creating any, you know, hysteria in the neighborhood since there's nobody here. Um, so I would submit to the board that I take no exception for the relief that they're asking for and I would
respectfully submit that the board act in the affirmative. Well said. >> Yes. And just to add on to that, right, so you could see the picture they provided, there's it's not like the front of the house is completely cleared. They're replacing some pretty substantial shrubs that are almost up to
the top of the windows in the doorway there where where it's going to go. So, as far as like impacting sight lines and things like that, it's pretty obstructed by the bushes right now if you're looking down south lakeside right there. So, uh it's not that much of a change. And then just for the record, so uh we
had cited um that the setback was 18.53 ft. That's that's to the stairs for the porch. Uh the actual porch itself is at about 20 and 1/2 ft. And then there's I think like an 18 inch or up to a two foot overhang for the for the porch
that's at 19.3 ft. So it's not anything that's like grossly we've seen people come in maybe with a eight or a 10 foot porch or something like that. This is pretty modest uh as far as how far it comes out from the front of the structure. And then I would also just note that uh Louise Terrace, which is a
paper street, is unimproved. I think folks are maybe informally using that as like a driveway parking. So like I don't know how how much this is impacting sight lines when people are parking there and kind of utilizing it as a parking area anyway. So I have no issues with it. And just for the record, the R
zones in town don't have any restriction on building coverage or impervious coverage. So there's no impact from that regard as well. >> What is the about the size of the lot? >> Just a um I did look at the lot but
>> yeah it's approximately four lots alto together. >> Okay. >> Along Lewis it looks like it's 180 ft looking at the okay at the map. >> In in total it's it's a little less than an acre. >> Okay. That's the only question I had. Uh,
anybody else from the board? >> Seeing none, um, I'd like to make a motion to open the public. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second, >> Mr. Hughes, Mr. Pill on the second. All in favor? >> I >> Yes. >> Got to read something.
>> That's his son. My client. >> That's my moral support. Thank. >> All in favor? >> I >> Okay. Uh, nothing else from anybody else. Mr. Kaplan, I guess your summary
is going to be short and sweet, right? >> Short, sweet. I submit that uh this would be a benefit to the uh community. Oh, I'm talking to this. Sorry. It'll be a benefit. It'll beautify the area and have no adverse impacts. I think should
be approved. >> Okay. At this time, I'd like to entertain a motion this application. >> Well, Mr. Chair, I'm uh quite familiar with the area and I think this is going to be a wonderful uh upgrade. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah, >> John, you got something? >> I do.
>> Oh, I'm sorry, John. >> So, really quick, um I'll bring it up on the screen. Um the shed that's uh in the paper street and the concrete patio with the pavers,
do those belong to you? the one kind of floating out there. >> Yes. >> Uh yes. >> All right. So, uh as uh a condition of the approval, we would just ask that uh those items be removed because technically it is an unimproved roadway. >> Okay.
>> Off the rightway. >> Okay. >> That's it. That's all I have. >> The patio, is that actually like a concrete slab? >> Pardon me. >> The concrete patio, is that like a a poured slab? >> Uh yes. When I when I bought the house 40ome years ago, there was a broken
driveway there and then I just had it replaced. >> Okay. So, it serves as a driveway. So, it's an apron. >> It doesn't anymore. >> Okay. I I would say the shed should obviously be relocated on your property. I would just say an acknowledgement maybe in the resolution of approval that if the township ever improves Louise
Terrace, it's the owner's property owner's responsibility at their cost to relocate the patio outside of the townships right away if there if it needs to at time of improvement in the future. Just so that way everyone's covered. >> Good were you, John? >> That's fine with
Charlie. That's just the patio, not the shed. Uh the shed definitely needs to be on it's not on this one floating out there. >> It's right in the street. >> The street is
>> is in the street is there. Okay. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that's >> you got that Andy? >> I do. Thank you. >> All right. Well, to continue, I just would like to go ahead and make a motion to approve. >> I'll second that motion to approve. >> Mr. Hughes with the motion. Mr. Burillo
with the second. >> Mr. >> Could I have a roll call? >> Mr. Burillo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Caner. >> With the condition stated by the professionals. Yes. >> Mr. Hughes. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Donnell.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Orosco. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ryan. >> Yes. >> And Chairman Mertens. >> Yes. And I agree. It's going to make make a big difference to the improvement. Thank you. >> Motion carries. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome.
>> I don't know if I want to keep it or not. >> No good. That's We're all We're all got our eyes going. That's perfect. Perfect. >> Good night. >> Good night. >> That That was good. We'll get that out of that. Y beautiful.
>> Okay. Before we close, I just wanted to announce that our next meeting tentatively is the 22nd. Um I did send out to everybody that we need to have seven. We do have seven and hopefully we don't have anybody sick.
But we will just let me know as soon as I don't you know you can't anticipate it but I this is unusual applicant because they're coming from out of state. So I just assume we uh hopefully this will be postponed. So if any of you do get sick,
but I'm not going to >> car wash, right? >> Anyway, >> well, God willing. >> Yeah. >> Uh we did have a rules meeting uh with our professionals last Monday. It went very well. We will get the uh Andy will
be working on that, but we will hold off voting on till I guess the first meeting at the reorg. So other than that, um is there any other further business? Anybody? No. Okay. Do we have a motion to close?
>> Make a motion to close. >> Mr. Caner with the >> second. >> Second by Mr. O'Donnell. All in favor? >> I >> I Yes.