Formal action may or may not be taken on the application heard here tonight. Advocate notice of this meeting was provided in the New Jersey Herald. It was also posted on the Sparta Township website and its bulletin board in accordance with all provisions of the
Open Public Meetings Act. It's a practice of this board to salute the flag. Please rise and join us. I pledge allegiance to the flag, United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Marissa, please call the role. Marissa, please call the role. >> Chairman Kenneth Larry, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Um, Richard Larufa, >> yes. Michael Jik.
>> Yes. >> Richard Robecker. >> Yes. >> We also have minutes from February 11, 2026 to be approved. The chairman detain a motion. >> So move. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> Any discussion?
Marissa, please call the role. >> Chair McKenzie. >> Yes. >> Richard Larupa. >> Yes. >> Michael Jazipic. >> Yes. >> Richard Rebecca, >> yes. Thank you. We have one application tonight 4-26 Mark and Samine.
I don't know if I'm pronouncing that correctly. Thanks for C variance relief. After the application is heard, I'll open the meeting to the public if any public will be here for comments and questions on items not on the agenda tonight.
Mark, please come forward. and Douglas Should I set up center this thing? What do you think? Center this. >> Yeah. Everyone's here. Thank you. >> Nobody's out there.
Doug uh Doug, while you're doing that, I I think you know the format here. After you're finished uh presenting your client's application, our board engineer, David, will present his report. Then this board with questions and comments will go next. After we're finished, we'll open it to
the public. >> Raise your right hands, please. >> To tell the whole truth, nothing but >> I do. >> Sir, you're going to have to talk louder. >> I do. >> I saw your lips move, but that was about the extended. What's your name, sir? >> Mark Fagger.
>> And you're the applicant. Who are you? >> Doug Dyster. >> And you're going to be testifying as what, Doug? >> A professional planner and land surveyor. >> Okay. And uh just to keep it record nice and clean and keep this one maybe simple, you did receive a copy of
David's May 20th, 2026 report, did you not? >> I did. >> And it read like a novel, did it not? >> You had a couple questions that we're here prepared to answer. >> Okay. State of the report. Uh you're only seeking two variances if I read the application correctly. Is that right? >> That's correct.
>> Because the others are pre-existing non-conforming. >> Yes. Yes. And those variances are for front yard setback and for the dwelling and for the pier. Is that correct? >> Y. >> All right. Why don't you present your case for the board? >> And again, make sure clearly and directly into the microphones as it's a
state requirement that we have reporting of the proceedings. >> Closer to where the board is going. >> That's it. >> Right. How can we help you? >> Okay. How's that? How's that? >> Good. Excellent.
Doug, we're going to mark that as A1 because I see that you had crayons out. So, it's different than what's on record. >> A1. >> I hope so. >> It is. >> And is there anything else that needs to be marked, Doug? Is that it? >> That should do it.
>> Okay. Okay. Well, I'm here tonight on behalf of Mark and Samantha Fagen. Um they are the property owners of 366 366 West Shore Trail. It's about a quarter mile past um Turtle Cove on West Shore
heading south. Um the property is commonly known as tax lot 136 block 4001. The the lot is about 120 by 175, but the rear backings are regular. The total area is
0.457 acres. What the bagger students are proposing to do is addund when get it right. A foot um addition 129 square f feet to be
precise as well as a 90 square foot stoop. Um the lay of the land, the property slopes from the road is about even with the road in this section of the front yard and then the driveway slopes down
to a garage under the entire back is a walk out and then it's a relatively flat lot out to the lake. Um the additions as you see are on the left side of the building is viewed from the road. Um, there's existing
non-conforming offsets of 6.5 ft sideline. We are not getting any closer than 6.5 ft with a new addition. Um, the variances of her front yard. What I'd like to point out here is that this house is set parallel to the
sideline as opposed to what normally would have been parallel to the roadway. So by squaring off this addition, which makes the most sense from a building perspective, it triggers this. Um
um that that's the biggest hardship we have here is the fact that the house is oriented this way and that the um the buildings are now projecting forward. So
as to um so this covered porch will provide access to proof access to the to the new front door. We're also proposing a walkway from the street to the new front door and then a new walkway down to the
driveway. Having this new driveway will encourage people to park down in the driveway and take the walk up to the front door as opposed to on street parking which we all know is a problem in Lake Moa. Um, additionally
David pointed out that we have a catch basin in the front yard. We have worked this out with Lake Country Club. We're going to provide them with a underground pipe to another inlet and then even down to the lake. >> New easement. >> The new easement. >> But that that's been worked on
separately. They've been on that for how long? When did when did a Sabine first ask you about the >> catch basin? And then so David think >> and speak excuse me speak a little bit clearly and loud louder in the microphones again. We need the
recordings for the transcriber and a lot of times he can't make it out. David brought up this inlet in West West Shore Trail. It's at a low point in the road. Um, currently the pipe, we're not sure where it is. We know it outlets here down at the lake. So, it traverses
the property somehow, meanders around and out to that outlet. What this, uh, country club wants to do is add another inlet here and then run it along the property line and rebuild that pipe to something that can serve. It's an important section. The road comes down,
follows it. So, like the club is going to add the pipe. That's what you're going to add it and that's what they want you to do. >> We're not They're going to do it. >> Okay, great. So, the covered the covered ports as a positive criteria. The covered ports
will offer um covered entry for visitors. And these days, what's very important is package delivery. When UPS shows up or Amazon, they have a place to put a package whereas right now it's left out in the west. Um I mentioned the
parking on street parking is prevalent now. With this new configuration, we're going to entice people to move and park down below, especially guests and come up the walkway. So, we did consider alternatives when Mark first approached our office
and discussed this variance. You know, I said, "Are there alternatives you can do?" And yeah, there are. They could do things off the bat. However, as I indicated earlier, this is a walkout basement. Any improvement back here starts now at the footing of the
basement, then a full wall, and then a second floor. It would have much more sight disturbance than this proposed. I think our total sight disturbance now is 220 square feet. We would easily triple that. If we go into the backyard, we have walkways, patios,
um hot tub, all and as well as the interior layout of the basement would all be affected. Um, so as to the finish what I have here on this exhibit, I guess this is A2.
>> Yeah, if it wasn't submitted, Doug. >> Okay. So, exhibit A2. What I have here on top is the existing house as you see it now. It's more it's like a a sided um shaped siding. Seems more like an ocean
style home. What the fagens intends to parapit gable gables coming at you. The new front covered stoop the walkway as well as this lake mohawk tutor style with the different neighbors walking
their dogs. It's a say, well, >> it's a big improvement. >> Um, and Dave, anything else on your report you want to go over? >> We'll go through that when when you guys are finished and then David will present his >> We have any questions on what I've
testified to so far? >> Are you finished? >> Yeah, I think it's finished. >> All complete. >> David, if you're so kind to give your report. >> Certainly, Mr. Chairman. Just for the record, referring to the report I
prepared dated May 20th, 2026. Uh, as Mr. Dyster explained, they're adding front left side of the existing dwelling, a covered stoop, new front door, a coupa, gables, and adjusting the roof lines, bringing the new facade, and the addition of the coverage stoop and
the roof updates all into one package. On page two of the report, he indicated uh and described the variances to the dwelling and the pier. With regards to item four in the variance plan, uh I did on my field inspection see that existing
2 and 1/2t by 2 and 1/2 ft grate. And as Mr. Dyster indicated, uh there's a drain that somehow apparently gets through the existing property. And the alternative that the applicant has apparently been working with the Lake Mohawk Country Club because it is a Lake Mohawk Country
Club road is to add an additional inlet in the piping and a new pipe down to Lake Mohawk and a new drainage easement to Lake Mohawk. I'm in agreement with that relocation because then we know for sure it's not under any structure or any of the proposed additions that the
applicant's proposing. Uh I did notice on the plan and when I was out there there's an existing concrete seaw walls along the shoreline of the adjacent tax slots 135 and 137 that encroach slightly under the subject property. Are there
any easements or maintenance agreements? >> Nothing those those I can point them out. >> Okay. >> That' be down here where the seaw walls become common and where they where the styles change. Um that would be like
here and here. And I believe which side are you referring to exactly? >> Both sides actually. >> Both sides. This side is over by two square feet and this six square feet. We don't have to do anything about it unless the neighbors complain.
>> Just an existing condition. I'm just pointing out there's no easements for it. Okay. Uh item C. A portion of the applicant's existing white picket fence encroaches onto adjacent tax lot 137 to tie into the neighbor's fencing. Is there any agreement for this
arrangement? >> It's basically the applicant's fence tying into the existing fence, so it fences everything off appropriately. Um, again, it's an encroachment. It's an existing situation. They're not changing it.
Uh item D I just pointed out the proposed building height calculation show proposed height is 27.9 excuse me 27.19 ft. However, the zoning table shows 26.82 ft. Just the discrepancy. >> Yeah, that must have been copied over
from an older application. The existing is 24.16 and the proposed is 27.19. >> Yes, >> which is still within the limits of the height. Uh I pointed out in item E the variance map doesn't show the existing generator and additional HVAC split
system on the westerly side of the growling which I saw when I visited the site or it's offset to the property line. Also show the location of the fuel source for the generator based on what I saw. Presumably it's natural gas and that's not going to change for the
proposed additions. Okay. With regards to utilities, water, sewer, and electric, everything is served by the township's water system. The existing septic system in the front yards not interfering, and there's no problem that I saw with the existing aerial electric
service coming in. With regards to storm drainage, probably the biggest thing is the storm drain easement and relocation of the discharge from that grate that we described earlier. I do note that they are removing approximately 68 square feet of the of existing impervious
coverage which brings the total net impervious coverage to 486 square ft which is less than the 500 townships ordinance. So no additional mitigation is needed for the ordinance. Uh with regards to the architectural plans, uh the plans show three total bedrooms and
I just wanted to confirm so it can be in the resolution. There's an office shown and just confirmed that that will not be converted into a bedroom in the future. >> Sorry. No, it will not. Okay. Uh the basement layout shows an existing HVAC
unit and existing generator and I think you just indicated neither of those are going to be upgraded. Correct. Okay. And I note that the front elevation shows proposed stone features, stone veneer. The side elevation show rough saw wood
siding. The applicant to advise what the rear elevation siding will be faced with or if the existing shake siding will remain >> for the for the balance of the house. >> Yeah, I was intending on >> Sorry, speak into the microphone, please. >> I was intending on matching the the
siding portion, not the stonework on the on the back. So like this match the siding. on the back as well. >> Not not the stone, just the siding. >> The rough pawn siding. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Just wanted that to be clear so the board understood. Uh they didn't provide an EIS for the statement uh for the
application. They're going to need approval from the construction official. And if the board approves the application, as usual, we recommend that a asbuilt plan be prepared upon completion of the project. That's my updated report. Mr. Chair, >> thank you. David Marissa, could you
please call on the board members? Chairman Kenneth Larry just >> had the one question for David. Should we make it a condition upon approval for the three bedrooms >> and to confirm like the applicant said the office will not be converted into a bedroom in the future?
>> I would make that recommendation. >> All right, that's the only question I had. Thank you. >> Richard Larupo. >> Uh, one quick question. Uh would you please just for the record state for the testimony that you've gotten approval from Lake Mohawk Country Club? Well,
just state that and you know >> we did go to the board of trustees presented this is very similar application and we did get approved. >> Okay. My other one is just >> the letter was um submitted with the application. >> Yes, I saw that that just thought it should be on the record. U the only
other curiosity is are you doing anything with the existing chimney from the renderings? It looks like the existing chimney is coming down and there's going to be a chimney for the fireplace. Is that is that something? >> Can you speak to that? >> Yeah. So, the existing uh chimney is in a state of disrepair and it needs uh and
you can't I I've lived there for six years. I can't use fireplace. We're going to build a it was it was a gas fireplace on the on the side and put a new chimney in. >> Okay. You could you couldn't tell from the floor plans of the the rendering what was happening, but it looked like something was going to happen with that
chimney. That's fine. That's what that's my questions. >> Richard Robacker. >> No questions at this time. >> Michael Jac, >> no questions. >> Ryan Manowski.
>> Uh, just a quick question. The existing storm water um, is that going to be closed and retired in favor of a new one or is it just going to be repaired? >> My understanding from Mr. Dyster and his discussions with Lake Mohawk Country
Club, that existing structure at the low point of of the road in front of the house, they'll basically use that structure or they might replace it with a bigger inlet, normal sized inlet. That'll stay there. If there is a pipe going out of there, my assumption is
that they'll have that pipe sealed uh concreted so that water doesn't go through that pipe wherever it may traverse through the lot. that'll force all the storm water through the new pipe that'll be running parallel to the edge of the road and then to the new inlet and then the new pipe down to the lake.
So, um Dave, maybe you know the answer to this. Just from my own edification, I know that there's like over a hundred different sediment traps that were developed when the reservation was developed all around the lake and they're designed in such a way that the sediment that's rolling into the lake is
trapped into a concrete sistern. And then the idea is that the water rises to the ledge or the level of the sistern and then proceeds so that only water enters the lake. And I know that the lake is suffering a substantial problem with sediment which is going in there.
So if something like that is replaced does it also have that kind of technology or is that not of you know current thinking? I haven't seen any plans that that have been drawn up for the drainage, but it's possible if they replace those two structures up by the
road or along the road rather, they could put a sump in those structures that would help to uh trap some of the sediment that comes along the road and reaches that point primarily from the sanding and what have you from the roadways in the wintertime because that area of the lake is already developed.
So, I would assume and perhaps it would be a suggestion to the board if they want to make that recommendation to the Lake Mahawk Country Club that they incorporate that type of design into those two inlets. >> I I don't know what the country club did, but I would be happy to tell them
that we try to take some precautions uh that are necessary to prevent sediment from going into the lake. >> I I think it's a good point and since they're reconstructing those inlets, now would be the time to do it. Okay, >> Dave, how do you suggest that that be handled? You have a relationship
apparently with Lake Mohawk, so it seems like that might be an easier, more effective way of doing it if you don't mind doing it. >> No, I could I could write a letter to um the engineer there, but would I be speaking on behalf of the committee here or the zoning board here
or just myself or >> Why? I think you shouldn't do it. I think we should just do it, I guess, Dave. >> That's fine. That's fine. >> I think it'd be easier. >> It's easier. >> Yeah, >> it's a nice offer. Thank you. >> Okay, >> Dave, if if a some sort of sediment
structure has to be built down down the pipe, do we do we have to how we word the the easement is big enough for a structure as long in addition to the pipe? I'm I'm I haven't seen like I I said I haven't seen their design or the
drainage calculations but this is kind of an isolated low point and I would and based on the size of the structure that's there now I'm not anticipating an extremely large drainage area. So, I would assume they would probably opt for
the either a a sump in in both of those inlets that are going to get constructed or in a quote unquote worst case like a dry well type of solid tank underneath to get some more volume. I wouldn't ex I wouldn't expect anything going down the property line through the easement. I
would just assume the pipe at that point. Okay. >> Other than that, I have no other questions. Isabella Artisone. >> I have nothing. >> Okay. Thank you. I'll now open the hearing to the public. If anyone's in the public with any questions or
comments on this application, please come forward. That's your choir. No. Seeing no one in the public with questions or comments, the hearing is now back to the board. Any other comments or questions before
I make a motion to approve the application? Seeing no one, chair makes a motion to have our board attorney prepare a resolution approving application 4-26, block 4001,
lot 136, Mark and Samantha Fagiston to construct an addition covered stoop and adjustment to roof lines with the following variances. The front yard setback for the dwelling
2.6 feet. The front yard setback for the pier 5.9 feet. Also the existing variance is a sideyard accessory structure where 10 ft is minimally required. 9.3 ft exists
and the left side setback 8t minimum with 6.5 ft exists. Is that all correct David? >> Yes. Yes, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you. and with the following conditions. Adhering to all points in our board
engineers report, providing an asbuilt plan of the site prepared by a licensed New Jersey land surveyor upon completion of the project. Also, that on the first floor, the three bedrooms, the office will never be
converted into a bedroom in the future. And David, should we put something in there about the sediment structure that was discussed by Brian as a condition? >> I I would recommend that uh the applicant grant the drain storm drainage easement to the Lake Mohawk Country Club
as described this evening and if the board is willing to uh send correspondence to the Lake Mohawk Country Club recommending that they provide sediment traps of their design uh for the two structures along the roadway. >> All right. Excellent. That'll be
condition two. Is that in accordance with your thoughts, Brian? >> All right. Thank you. And all this, of course, is according to all plans and testimony submitted here tonight.
Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? Marissa, please call the role. Norman Kenneth Larry, >> yes. >> Richard Larupa, >> yes. >> Michael Jokic, >> yes. >> Richard Roar Becker,
>> yes. >> Ryan Romanowski, >> yes. >> Is it Bill Artisone? >> Yes. >> And would the applicant like to wave their right to a written resolution? >> Um, >> when are you going to get started, Doug? >> And when do you plan on getting this
going? Did you have contractors lined up? I have a contractor that I've contacted but I I was waiting for this so I don't have it formalized yet. >> Okay. Sure. >> Wave it to chair. Let's entertain a motion. >> So move. >> Second. >> Second.
>> Marissa call the role. >> Chairman Kenneth Larry. >> Yes. >> Richard Larua. >> Yes. >> Michael Joseph. >> Yes. >> Richard Robacker. >> Yes. >> Brian Mowski. >> Yes. >> Isabella Artism. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Good luck. >> Thank you very much.
>> Oh. Okay, there's something else. See, no one in the public has any questions or comments on items not on the agenda tonight. The chair to obtain a motion adjourning. >> So move to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I
>> I thank you. >> Just before we leave, do we have a August meeting? Do we have anything on? >> We usually try and take August off >> if we can. >> Right now I have nothing going on yet. You want to try and do that if you can, Mr. Chair? >> If we can. Yeah, I guess. So, if no
applications are in here, August 8th, >> August, >> you got to keep it on whatever whatever this night is >> for both Dave and for me. >> What's the second Wednesday in August, guys? >> 12th. >> The 12th is the 12th.
>> Thank you. >> I guess we'll see as the time comes. >> Yeah. All right. >> We'll do our best. Yeah.