engulfed like it was a bird nest. Conny's got a powerful hand. Everybody stop. Okay. Okay. The Maple Shade Township Zoning Board of Adjustment May 14, 2025 meeting will now come to order. Please rise for
the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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.
This meeting has been advertised in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Roll call, please. Frank Lisa, present. Mike Stevens, Beth Reeves, present. Daniel
Macdonald, Laura Kosiri, present. Bill Jerga, present. Joan Martyr, present. Mariam Babage, present. Lou Valentino, present. Karen Ratty, present. Chairman G, present. Okay, one item on the agenda,
new business. 61 North Cedar Avenue, block 83, lot 31, Karen Henry. Application ZBA2-03 zone business development BD existing use single family residential dwelling everyone proposed use
continuation of a single family residential use application D2 variance approval for bedroom addition expansion of non-conforming use Karen how are you nervous sit down relaxer
sit down relax you are going to have to Raise your hand. Everybody raise your hand. You swear or affirm that testimony you give tonight will be the truth. All truth. Nothing with the truth. Up to God. Yes, sir. I do. Please sit down. Relax. It's easy. Okay.
Okay. So, why don't you tell us what you would like to do? Although it's very self-evident. Go ahead. Yeah. Put in a a bathroom. Move that microphone closer to you, please. Okay. Um I wanted to put a back room on my house. A small back room. Um there it was a fire and a
rebuild and I never had enough space in my previous years before the fire. So I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to put another room on the back. Okay. And Fred, you want to explain why they're here? Just to put a bedroom on a back of a residential
property. Absolutely. Uh reasons we're here. First, we'll go through completeness. The application obviously is complete to be heard this evening. Uh what I'm going to do if the board's okay just go back and forth with you guys and uh they are here because I think there
was a potential zoning issue in the day. Um they are in the business development zone, the only house on the street. So it looks like they cut the line for the R2 zone maybe one lot too soon. That's something we can recommend at the end of
the year, but right now uh Karen is not conforming. So, she's a non-conforming use in the business development zone, which is the same zone that's across the street where we just heard 14 Mars Avenue. So, what that means Oh, you have
those. Okay. Yes, you have those. Sure. If you'd like to hand them out, that'd be wonderful. Just to identify. Thank you. I have the last house on a dead end, right? And then it drops down to Eastern Le. So, I'm thinking that's why
I was zoning. I had no clue and it did not come up when I purchased my own. I'm thinking it's a mistake. So, so in going through this as a non-conforming, unfortunately, the resident is here this evening and we have to go through a little bit of testimony to put on the
record. Um, so I think we're going to do that now. In addition to that, when I go through the variances that are required, I am going to compare this to the R2 zone just so you can kind of get more of a flavor of what she would have been confronting with or confronted with had
she been properly zoned as I see it. So, I'm going to refer to our letter. If you don't mind, I'll just go through this, Mr. Chairman. Okay. So, in our letter on sheet two, the first paragraph really summarizes why we're here. It's a residential use is obviously not permitted in the business development
zone. Um, and this is the expansion of a non-conforming. Obviously, you're proposing, I think, to put a 15 by 16 expansion, bedroom, bathroom situation. Just a bedroom. Just a bedroom. Okay. A bedroom expansion out the back of the
home. The rear yard is a very uh deep lot, so there are no rear yard issues. Uh the only issue being created is that there is a sideyard variance that is just being again extended. The home is not going to extend any further towards the sideyard than the existing home is
already. So the applicant has to provide us with testimony and we're going to walk through that together uh of what the positive and a negative criteria is. So, as far as the burden of proof for
why you're going to be granted or not granted the variances, is there a hardship? Is there could you just go through why you want to do this addition and explain what the benefit is to you? Second part of that is how does this affect your
neighborhood? Uh, Cedar, does it affect anyone on Cedar? I don't believe it does. I mean, my neighbor directly to the right of me. Okay. has come. Uh just not sure if she needed to come or not. Well, during the
public portion of the meeting, she'll be given an opportunity to say something. Okay. So, if if like if there was a problem, it would be her cuz she's directly next to me. Um other than that, I don't think anybody else would even know or see it. Um my like I said, when
I purchased the house, I didn't realize how small it was. I've been dealing with it. Whatever you deal with it. And now that I've maybe have an opportunity to make it a little bit bigger, just it's actually going to be my bedroom. I I never had enough space, so I would Oh,
well, maybe I'll just have a nice big bedroom. And uh so so as a as a hardship, I believe you're saying it's a hardship. Uh this is consistent with the neighborhood, and I just say that it's a unique lot and that it's in a zone that
doesn't allow a lot this small. The lot is relatively narrow and tapers back. It's 187 ft deep. I think 3/4 of an acre, whatever that It's actually wider. I think it's a lot and a half in the front. My husband, it's a lot and a half going sideways. I think that's why I
think the half a lot was was actually zoned commercial. When we bought it, it was a lot and a half and somehow you got thrown into the Somehow it got Yeah. It didn't come up when I purchased the home. And as far as the hardship with her, she didn't she didn't say that
she's now living in the kitchen because we had the kitchen expanded with one of the bedrooms, right? And she is living in the kitchen now. She doesn't have a bedroom. Well, because the builder could not be the addition because of this. So, we needed to move back in. Uh we were
gone for a year and the house was finished except for that. So, I just sectioned off a part of the kitchen for myself until this is done. So that is the is a hardship. Do you see any detriment? Before we go any further, I'm afraid. Uh
which on this exhibit, which is your lot? Is it here? It's the last where the X is, John. It's right. It's right here. It's It's lot 30
31 and 31. Yep. 30 and 30. 30 and 30. Okay. All right. 30 and 31, I'm pretty sure. Okay. So, the zoning line looks like runs through the middle of the property. The application says lot 31. And there lies
the problem. This is my only not 31. Just to let you know. I have no idea what I'm talking about. It's only not 31. 31. Only not 31. Only 31. Only 31. 31. Only 31. Yes. It's completely in the BD zone. Okay. So, so with that again,
is there any detriment that you can see to the neighborhood with regard to what you're proposing? No. Okay. Not in my All right. Thank you. U again, we're obviously in the wrong zone, but now I want to go through what
you really need to do. You have to identify that it's compatible with the proposed use. It's compatible with all the surrounding area. So, you can give that testimony. Yes. Okay. because the rest of your neighborhood is residential is similar to yours. Correct. Exactly. Okay. Are there any mitigating factors?
Anything that required you to get this variance? Yes. Because you're really a non-conforming in the wrong zone. So, okay. Okay. Our own zoning ordinance identifies uh a A through F of the requirements and we're just going to run through those very quickly for anyone to
get a variance. uh that the use is consistent with the spirit, purpose, and intent of the zoning ordinance. You believe that your proposed addition is consistent with the neighborhood, spirit of the neighborhood, all that. Okay. Uh that the use will not substantially injure or
detract from the other neighboring properties. Obviously, this is a residential in a residential expansion. We don't see anything there. Uh C was the proposed change will will serve the best interest of the township. It really is. you're expanding your property and making it better.
Making it better. So, I don't see that. Uh D, consideration should be given to the effect that the proposed change is logical and efficient. And I think this obviously is a consistent and again we'll go back to at the end of the meeting that this is a zone problem. I
believe E, the zoning board should be guided in its study, review, and recommendation by sound standards of a subdivision. And this really is an extension of the Cedar Avenue homes. when you go out there, there's no barrier, there's no fence line, there's
no hill, there's no no changes at all that you would recognize that you crossed the zone. Uh it's very consistent. The road width is the same. Obviously, it's a dead end road. Uh but there's nothing else that would make you think, oh, she shouldn't be doing this here. And the last thing that they take
that the board take into consideration any conditions necessary complied with conditions not with limited harmonious design consideration with our master plan and there is nothing here except that we have a residential use in a
commercial zone. Uh we then identified some variances that would be required. Obviously the biggest variance is the D2 variance uh for the use. The next variance is that the minimum size lot in a the DB zone is 1 acre. The applicant
has uh obviously uh 31 acre just a third of an acre. Uh in the a third of an acre um is how many square feet? I'm going to say 13,000 12,000 square
feet. In the R2 it's 6,000. So she already has double what is required in the R2. So Mr. Kingsbury, would she require a variance for that condition? I don't think she requires a variance for existing conditions. Okay. Uh the
whatever bulk variances she is asking for other than the sideyard setback would just ride along if the use variance is granted. Okay. But I want to point out that the lot would have to be an acre. The R2 is 6,000 square feet.
She's doubled that size. Uh the next one was regarding the lot width. Uh in the B uh the BD, it's 125 ft. She has 70 is the average. The front of the lot is wider than the rear of the lot, I believe. Correct. No, it's the opposite.
Front of the lot is narrower and it opens up as you go back. So, I averaged it out to be 70. In the R2, it's only a 50 foot requirement. So she would comply with that uh as a condition. Uh the next one was the front yard. The front yard
requirement in the BD is 40 feet. Uh the applicant is 27.65 ft and the R2 it's 20. So it is again consistent with the rest of the neighborhood. And the last one was um the sideyard. That's the one that she's
expanding. The variance she's expanding. Uh the proposal I believe is I couldn't really read it really well but I think it's 8.3 feet you have I believe so yeah it's 8.3 feet 8.3 ft whereas 30t is required in the BD zone when you go
through the neighborhood again it's consistent the yard two requires something called an aggregate so your total sideyard has to be 16 feet total between the two the smallest being six feet and the applicant would comply with that one also so that is a variance I
believe Mr. Kingsbury that she would need because she's expanding that set back the sideyard. That would be that would be the variance she would be required. Yeah. And that's ordinance uh 205 hyphen
36B 4B. So that really would be the only variance that was required. Um I just testimony. You're not going to encroach in the sideyard any further than that. Right. Okay. Uh, that's really, Mr. Chairman, that's all I have.
It's fairly straightforward and it seems that they're in the wrong zone. Other than that, they they comply and are consistent with and I think that's what you're going to tell us it complies and it's consistent with the R2 zone that you're adjacent to. The answer is yes. Yeah.
Okay. Okay. So, in hearing the engineers report, are there any questions, any comments, any concerns? Is there any sympathy? I have a question. Is Morris Avenue a
pave is Morris Avenue pave street? Morris Avenue. What is Morris Avenue? Is that a paved street? Um, it is paved. It is paved up to lot three if you were to look. Is that a private easement? Are you allowed to use it? No. No. No. From
here to there is a steep drop off. It's at least 15. Yeah. Morris have I I guess. I'm I'm not sure, but I think it used to be my street until they built all that down the hill. My my I have the last house on
North Cedar and then it drops down and then there's Do you use Morris Avenue? No. No, Mr. Kingsburg. The only way to get to Morris Avenue is 73. Oh, okay. Yeah. I have to walk down the hill through all the brush and the trees and in the in the past this was a clay pit.
So, it was an excavation. We all know about the clay pit. Yes. uh those who live in town. Um but yes, that was an excavation. So they were left with an extremely steep sideyard. I believe it's in the count. It's in the Mars Avenue right away. The steepness, not on your
property. Is that correct? Yeah. So there would be zero access to Mars Avenue. So okay, one other question. The the addition is not going to have a bathroom. It's just a bedroom. Just a bedroom. And you're building a bathroom, but it's somewhere else in the house.
It's actually going to be pretty much next to the bathroom. There's already an existing bathroom there. Okay. Yeah. Where? In the kitchen. Well, it's not in the kitchen, but No, it's going to be off the kitchen. Okay. It's not going to be off. Well, it's already there. The bathroom's already there. The bathroom is already there. The only thing you're
adding is a bedroom. Yes. Yes. How many feet is it between the two houses? Between my neighbor and I non lot. How many feet would you maybe 12? Yeah. You miss being in the right zone by 12 ft. I
miss being in the right being in the right zone by 12 ft. By 12 ft. Yeah. I think they just made a mistake actually when they zoned it. It was always commercial. I'm only the second owner. So I guess when the first owner did it, the street didn't look like it did. I
don't know. Any questions, comments, concerns? I said I had one more question, but I lied. When was the fire? Uh, February 16th, 2024. What was the month again? February. February. February. February 16 of 2024.
We just moved back in March 1st of 25. Wow. And the whole house burned down. Um, yeah, it it was a total loss. We didn't get a new foundation, but uh everything had to be rebuilt. Okay.
When did I have another last question? You move back then when? March 1st of this year. Okay. Yeah, we were in a rental for a year. All right. I'm done. I I'm done. One more. His questions are answer them. Yeah. Great. Okay. So, um,
in that there are no other questions, I'm going to open up this application to the general public. Is there anyone in the general public who would like to speak for or against this application? No, she's here for moral support. Yes.
Thanks, Mom. She You really don't need anybody. Okay. All right. Then I'm going to close the public portion of the meeting. Come back to the board to make sure there are no last minute questions or answers or Okay. Then I'm going to ask the board, do they have a mind to
vote to make a motion? I'll make a motion to approve. Lou makes a motion to approve. Seconded by Laura. Roll call, please. Laura Kosachi, approved. Bill Jera, approved. Join Mortimer
approved. Mariam Babage approved. Lou Valentino approved. Kenari approved. Chairman G approved. Your application has been unanimously approved. We can start. Thank you. If you do anything within the first 45 days, you're doing it at your own risk.
Okay. Okay. And if you don't do anything within 6 months, you have to come back here and and redo it. Talk to us again. Okay. But I'm sure you're going to do it sooner than that. Well, we have to wait 45 days. 45 days. Okay. You don't have
to wait. I just have to say that to you. Oh, okay. Look at the number of people who have appeared against you. You know, by law, by law, you start digging them. You you could no cooking.
As soon as she gets a room soon, she starts cooking. Good luck and and I'm uh I'm sorry you had to go through this. Terrible. Thank you for that. And we will work with council to make sure that if you have to do anything else on that property, you will not have to come back and see us again. Although we enjoy
seeing you. I know you don't want to be here. Um what if we do get reszoned? Will it be I'll come to another meeting or it'll just be between you? You will be notified. I'll be notified. You'll be notified, but you won't have to come to the meeting. I don't have to come. Okay.
She get a tax deduction. You'll have to talk to Periff about that. I don't think she paid. They don't allow me to touch money in any way. I just have a quick question. I'm looking at the shirt. Did your parents own that? No, I work I've been working there 25
years. Okay. I knew the owners. Yes. Okay. I actually left work to come here. Yes. That's why I wore this. Nice. Karen, good luck. Thank you so much. One day, one day you could take all your
shoes out of the kitchen cabinets. I can't believe he told you about that. Some food. Great place. I didn't I don't have many shoes anymore. Don't let everybody be nervous. We rebuilt. Everything's fine. Thank you
though. Thanks everybody. Thank you sir. Bless you. Okay. Under new old business we have none. We're going to go to resolutions. Robert, we have one. We have one resolution for Eastern Lift truck which was heard March 12, 2025.
They uh needed a use variance to use an existing warehouse building to reinstate their usage for uh the business of Eastern Lyft uh as a warehouse. It's at
uh is this appropriate at Morris? Yeah, this is Morris Avenue. Yeah. Okay. I just asked about that. Um they presented information about the size of the space and the history of the use. Uh it's been used for the same
purpose basically uh since it was built originally uh I believe it was in the 1950s and uh they're not planning any site plan changes. There was our engineer made a
report by letter dated March 11, 2025 uh itemizing the proofs that was necessary. Um and since that uh and he observed that there's no new
uh site construction proposed uh the board uh determined that it was uh that the applicant satisfactorily adjust the proofs required for the use variance. It has has historic use as a
warehouse going back multiple decades and uh therefore the continued use as a warehouse would be appropriate. So the board granted the use varants as a warehouse for storage of
forklift trucks and related equipment. Uh the outdoor storage of propane tanks location would be shown on the plan uh to be approved by the zoning board engineer and any bulk variances that are
existing conditions are uh given approval again. Uh the minor site plan approval was granted uh with the conditions of the review letter of the zoning board engineer and that's basically it. And
the eligible voters eligible voters are Ray, Valentino, Bevich, Mortimer, Karachi, McDonald, and Ghee. Is there a motion? Motion. Motion. Karen Rey. Seconded by I'll second. Miss
Bevage. Roll call, please. Laura Kirachi, approved. Join Martin, approved. Mariam Babage, approved. Lou Valentino approved. Kentari approved. Chairman G approved.
Okay. Now we need a motion with regard to the minutes. Motion to approve the minutes by Mr. Gee. Seconded by I'll second it. Bill. All in favor signify by saying I. I oppose.
Okay, that was a quick meeting. Very quick. Hey, let's go. First of all, I want to thank everybody for coming. When you see a an agenda with only one item on it, some people say, "I can play hookie today." So, but thank you for everybody for coming. Um, we can do a quick lunch
around. Great. Sure. I I'll just It's good to see everybody again. Obviously, uh, I just want to talk about this and at the end of the year, we should make a recommendation that the zoning be considered uh, when they do the master plan or whatever the planning board decides. But it's a residential use.
It's been here for a long time. It's obviously consistent with the neighborhood. There are extremely steep slope, which I'm surprised how it's stable having seen it. That makes it really inaccessible and unusable to Morris Avenue and the and the commercial
district. So, I believe this and there's some other little changes I would recommend if we get closer to the end of the year that this should be reszoned to be consistent with the R2. And Purdue, you'll put that on our list for recommendation. Gotcha. back.
Oh, I don't have much of anything. It's nice to see y'all. We miss No traffic reports tonight. No traffic reports tonight? No. No. I was told I have to pipe down on that. So, no. Happy Mother's Day to everyone. Thank you.
Joanne. Uh, I did notice that um a property in town just went under contract yesterday at 105 McCrae Lane and it's one of those properties that was listed under
multifamily category. Uh, but according to the public record, I see no, you know, indication of that. So, I don't know if, uh, Praep would like to check into that. Yeah, today today one
of the attorney contacted my office and he want uh any previous information about the property. So under OPRA I will provide all information whatever the building permit and any in case any zoning approval on the property my
record and my research. So there is no indication of any duplex or two family and uh I multiple time I explain to the potential buyer as well as to the realtor that this is a two family. If it is a two family and buyer wants to
continue to use it as a two family, they need to gain the use variance approval and zing zoning board will handle the applications. So attorney is in my in contact with my office. So they are in process. So they've been in to see you already. I did notice uh according to
the um records that I could see uh that the second unit has been rented since 1999 according to the multiple listing system. Yes. Uh it is true that it is
they are renting from long time and our tax assessors report also show it is a two family home but it is not a legal duplex. So maybe I just wanted to bring it to your attention. Yeah, it is on there. That's That's not the property that came
in front of the board. No, it's near it though. It's right near it. Bill, um I'm good. I just want to say it's good to see everybody again. Robert, I'll pass. You don't have one more question.
Karen, nice to see everyone. Happy spring. Nice to see you. Thank you, Lou. Have a good evening. Good to see everybody. Miriam, nice short meeting. Thank you. Laura, Laura wants to compliment Eastern
Lift. Actually, I just rode around Pine. Did you see how beautiful that looks? No. No. Really? They did a nice job on the landscaping out front. Really, really nice. Wow. Fred, you want to say anything about
that? I know that you're working with them. Yeah, they're uh going over to Lynwood Avenue where it goes out to they own obviously along 73 right the loop road uh corner of park and also Lynwood. So Lynwood they just came in with a
proposal. We had asked them to take forklift machinery and equipment out of the front yard. Okay. They've agreed to install a fence and they show us some type of arborite or some and it looked really nice. it was going along
the front and they're going to extend their parking because obviously out that area parking is a premium and then they were going to put it down the side. So from 73 and from Lynwood Avenue, you're gonna kind of see the industrial park. I think that was intended right now. Also
along Loop Road, they haven't addressed a couple issues there still. And Frank, that was something I'd met with Dave and uh there was also moving some equipment between the buildings and there was some material put down on the far I guess west of the building. Again, they're
they're working toward it, but is to move the things off of the road and put it in areas that are more secluded and put the parking out front similar to what Stoneheart has and and and the other companies out there. So, it really has come a long way from where we were.
And I did that company's growing so fast. Yeah. I mean, they have like 23 offices up and down the east coast and they're a huge asset to this to this city, this township. every building they put together. I mean, they paint, they put beautiful landscape in, you know, my
wife works for them. We know with the explosion of warehouses and on the east coast. Yeah. That's what you do. Yeah. I mean, uh they have their hands in a lot of different things and and and they're a great they're a great business for this community, you know. I'm not just saying that because my wife
works there. I mean, they they've really been really been good to this town for over since the father started the company and now the son Dan runs it. Yeah, I think they took to heart our comments and our suggestions to them. I think it was a great example of and
frankly weren't here when it started uh with Fred working with the applicant not only property that was before us but on adjacent properties and the applicant being cooperative. Uh it was it's a great example of what a town help
beautify and you know there are some applicants that are own large pieces of land that aren't being very cooperative. Can we talk to the computer repair guy across I'm sorry the computer repair. Oh, but Fred is very tenacious and even though other properties aren't com
cooperating, I'm sure that we're trying. He'll twist another arm. The uh Yeah, it's taking years, but we're not giving up. We're not saying the uh to to golf track the gentleman that lost his house to a fire on Woodland Woodlong. Yeah. A
couple months ago. He is a friend of mine and he's uh he's put that property up for sale. He just said uh I got bad memories from that fire and um and he's selling that property. Um I you know I don't know if they knock it to the ground. I think they someone Jason Holm
had 15 weeks, right? Yeah. Yeah. Jason Hol had some damage. He lost his, you know, his vehicle. I saw it. Yeah. He's an IBW electrician, local 98 member, and they took care of him for months with him and his family. Insurance put him up
in a in a in an Airbnb, but uh my buddy Henry just said, "We're going to look for another place." And uh so that place is up for sale. So they'll probably take a bulldozer and demolish it because the smoke damage. And it's just I don't think someone's going to try to fix
that. I mean, keep the foundation, but You know, it's uh So, continuing on the on what's around. Yeah. I mean, Frank, you have anything to say? I You know what I have to say? Clean out your dryer lints because I did that today. That could cause a fire. Is that
what happened? My father was a fire. No, it actually uh he thinks someone flicked a cigarette at 4:00 in the morning, going down the street, and the wind blowing under his under his porch because the fire started on the back uh porch and went through his uh it went through his kitchen. Uh yeah, he actually came down the steps to make
coffee and he smelled smoke and he looked out and he said, "Uh, oh, someone must have had a bonfire." But it was in the middle of the winter. Like someone might have had a fire out back in their in their backyard. He went upstairs to take a shower. And then when he came back down, the flames were coming at him through the kitchen. His son and his
son's girlfriend said, "Get out of the house." I think they lost a couple cats in there. But I mean, he was standing outside in his shorts and no shoes. And you can replace a house. You can't replace people. I told him you get out with your life, man. Very uh for
particular the Westwood known property damage fire damaged property. One l one one lady came to my office and she says I already purchased that property. It is under contract and uh I am just changing the interior with all the
walls and all and I'm going to remodel it. That's what she says regarding the Maurice Avenue Eastern Lip. I just bring it to your attention. and they contacted construction office yesterday and their intention is uh to renovate the office
and uh park the vehicles into the facility into the new building and I deny that you cannot do it under section 178 20 17820A 4A they cannot occupy the
building or they cannot do any kind of they cannot file any construction permit application before they gain the certified letter from the fair toux office that all the visa compliance conditions are fulfilled then only they can do it. So they were not little bit
happy but unfortunately nowadays the pressure comes on me that I'm allowing. So now I have started from this week that section 17824A nothing can be done no demolition no renovation until the friend Fred
provides the certification of the complying the conditions of the resolutions and that's the way it should be no it will be now no more okay motion to adjourn Mr. D seconded by bet. There you
go.