All right. Good evening everyone. The time is 608. This is the Township of Springfield board of adjustment meeting for June 16, 2026. Adequate notice of this meeting is given in accordance with the Sunshine Law. Notice was published on January 1st in the local source. One of the official papers for the township
of Springfield for the year 2026. It was also posted in the annex building on January 20 January 2nd, 2026. Can we please stand to salute the >> flag of the republic for it stands one nation
under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you very much. May we please have roll call. >> Mr. Steven Hawkstein, Mr. Michael Wex, Mr. Steven Fersbound. President,
>> Miss Marla Naparano >> here, >> Mr. Peter Shewitz >> here, >> Miss Ana Dodson, Mr. Randy Pearlman, >> Vice Chair Mark Cunningham >> here, >> and Chairwoman Jodie Cohen >> here. >> Thank you very much. First order of
business is the resolutions that are on to be memorialized tonight. We'll start with application 2026-3, block 3603, lot 12. Has everyone had an opportunity to review the resolution? Are there any questions or comments? If there are none, is there a motion to
approve? >> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you. >> Second, >> Mr. Sheel. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Cunningham? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bersenbal? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zapperano? >> Yes. >> And Chair Cohen? >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> The next resolution that's on to be
memorialized is for application 2026-2, 121 Edgewood Road, block 3505, lot 12. Has everyone had an opportunity to review? Are there any questions or comments? Is there a motion to approve? >> Moved. >> Mr. Fersenbound?
>> Yes. >> Vice Chair Cunningham? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheitz? >> Yes. >> Uh, Miss Naperano? >> Yes. >> And Chair Cohen? >> Yes. >> The next resolution on is for application 2025-15
147 New Lane, block 30001, lot 23. Has every member of the board had an opportunity to review? Are there any questions or comments? >> If there are none, is there a motion? >> I'll make the motion. >> Mr. Sheitz, >> yes. >> Vice Chair Cunningham,
>> yes. >> Mr. Fenbound, >> yes. >> Miss Napano and Chair Cohen. >> Yes. And finally, the last resolution on for memorialization is application 2026-579
Beverly Road, block 2901, lot 21. Has everyone had an opportunity to review? Are there any questions or comments? If there are none, is there a motion? >> I'll move it. >> Thank you. >> I'll second it. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Carenbound. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheitz?
>> Yes. >> Miss Napparano? >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Cunningham? >> Yes. and chair. >> Yes. >> Excellent. Let's move on to the applications for this evening and we are going to call upon application 2026. Um we saw this application first in May.
This is for 53 Meek Street block 2903 lot 14 request for lot coverage rear and sideyard variances for the insulation of the pool and patio etc. etc. as the applicant here.
Please come up. >> And madame chair, the the applicant was instructed to meet with um municipal staff. She met with Bob Herbert, the code enforcement and zoning officer, and myself. Mr. Deck was brought in as the engineer, and I think he has a plan that
will be concise and understandable to the board members. >> Thank you very much. All right. First, we're going to swear you in, then we're going to let >> Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth? Please state your full name.
>> Just speak. >> Your last name. Give us your home address. >> Lyn Banses, 53 M Street. >> And maybe tip the mic. >> Good. Thank you. >> Okay. Good evening. Uh, thank you so much for
giving me another opportunity to approve my case. to speak up a little bit so that they can have it. >> Oh, I I do apologize on the um video. >> Yeah. Once again, good good evening and thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to bring the engineers so they could help me out and uh figure
this out and do it the right way. And uh I have uh the engineer here. Um we change contractors as uh as I requested and um once again we here to do the right thing. >> We appreciate that. Thank you. So, we'll
have Mr. Deck come up, please. >> Please raise your right hand. Do you swear affirm to tell the truth? >> I do. >> Please state your full name. Spell your last name. Give us your business address. >> Edward S. Deck DEEC, 131 North Michigan
Avenue, Kenworth, New Jersey. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Can you just provide us with a little bit of your background and let us know if your license is in good standing? >> Yes. uh licenses in good standing for both the uh professional engineer land surveying. I am a professional land
surveyor and professional civil engineer and uh I am the principal of Gariel and deck associates actually appeared in front of this board on a few occasions. Uh I've graduate of NJIT. I uh been the
municipal engineer in both Rosel and in Cranford. I've um >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any objections from members of the board qualifying Mr. Duck as an expert in engineering? >> None. Please proceed. >> Okay. Uh
uh Lima had asked that uh I prepare a plan based on suggestions made by the board last time she appeared in front of you. And what I did is I comprised the plan of three uh different versions of
the property. The one uh to the right uh dated February 12th, 2026 was before uh the pool was done. Best of my knowledge. And as you could see there are there's quite a large area uh of pavers in the
back and concrete pad. And at that present time, the property did exceed the allowable coverage. Then uh after that, I guess the applicant wasn't aware that the uh coverages were being uh
exceeded and went and uh had a pool um constructed in the rear yard. And um that made I guess this the reason for this application because construction department came onto the property. They wouldn't have known that all that
additional havers were done unless they came here to do the inspection for the pool. And at that time, that's when it was flagged that they exceeded or the applicant exceeded the total previous coverage. So, the last plan, which is
the one all the way to the left, shows what the applicant proposes to do. There will still be uh variances for the location, sideyard and rear yard of the pool, but what we've done is reduce the uh previous coverage by a considerable
amount. You can see the uh play in the middle shows 2511 and the proposed uh one all the way to the left is 2179. So, um, what we're doing is going to propose to eliminate the pavers in the backyard
except for a small area where there'll be an outdoor kitchen and then have a small walkway that's going to ring around the pool itself. And there are uh, again, like I said, variances and they're flagged in that box where it
says pool zoning requirements. As you can see, uh, sideyard setbacks are, uh, not they don't meet the required setbacks. Rear yard, same thing. So, we don't exceed the coverage, uh, for the
pool and now we've reduced the total coverage or the imper. And that's what the applicant is hoping that they would uh, receive those variances that shown on that plan. >> Thank you.
Members of the board, any questions for >> None. >> Okay. Any members of the public have any questions for the witness? Any members of the public? Oh, actually, I should ask, do you have anything else that you would like to add at this time?
The only thing is that I really appreciate your time uh Jennifer and Mr. being very kind with uh everything that uh they were doing and I really appreciate you taking the time of hearing my case. >> Thank you. Okay. Any members of the
public have any questions for the applicant? Mr. Disco, is there anything that you want to add? >> No. Um the the current plan before you now removes coverages so that they're less than the 2016 condition. >> Perfect. Any members of the public wish
to speak on this application? Thank you. Um okay. As I said, I I appreciate that you went back um and you worked with your engineer and um to come up with a plan which is overall, I think, um uh better than what is
existing. Um and I would be in favor of granting the relief that you are requesting this evening. If any member of the board agrees, It's moved >> lower right. >> I think it was around one or one or two
feet. Now it's been increased to five feet. >> Yeah. >> It's five off of the side. It's very hard to see. >> It's not on the same side as the pool. >> It's in the back right corner, but they had moved it further away from the
property line >> right to the adjacent lot. >> They moved it in further. Mhm. >> So the water line to the pool >> engineer. Yes. Anything else before we vote?
Okay. Is there a motion that a member of the board would like to make? >> I'll move it. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Sheitz. Chair Cuttingham.
>> Yes, >> Mr. Persianbound. >> Yes, >> Miss Napano >> and Sher Cohen. >> Yes. >> We got one, two, three, four yeses, one no. Motion passes. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Have a
good night. >> Have a good night. Okay, >> pull up the next application here. Okay, we are now calling up application 2026-6371,
Hillside Avenue, block 2802, lot 23. This is a request for a front yard variance for the placement of a condenser on a corner lot. >> Good evening. How are you? >> All right, thank you. Please raise your right hand.
>> You swear or affirm to tell the truth. >> Yes. >> Please state your full name, spell your last name. Give us your home address. >> Eugene Pelos, B E L O S 371 Hills, Springfield, New Jersey 07081. >> Thank you. Please keep your voice up.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, tell us a little bit about what you're looking to do and why you're doing so, please. >> Well, the the mini split unit was installed back in July 2024
by Articare and they apparently they have paid the permit, but they sent the check through the mail. the check got lost and I was told to apply for variance because I was too late to
to accept the check for the permit. >> Okay. So, but the placement of the actual condenser is the relief that is necessary. >> Yes. >> Okay. If the applicant could confirm there's a survey and there's a split unit um xed
out and um you could confirm that location on the survey. >> Yes, the location on the survey is on a side the house. It's border line with another residence. >> So 10 ft is required. Thank you.
>> That placement is going to give you about six Okay. >> What's the unit in the rear? >> It's another AC unit. Is that a functional unit? >> The contractor put it on the side. He
didn't want to put it next to the other one. >> Um, it's because it's because it was easier for them and it was simpler to put it on the side than in the back >> because of the distance. >> If there was a distance wise and it was also um the location wasn't enough, put
it next to that condenser unit in the back too. of the property facing your neighbor. >> Yes. >> Not on the street. >> It's not on the street side. >> How far is your neighbor's house?
Do I mean is is there a good distance reaching it or is it close to the property line? It's about maybe 30 feet from my house to their house >> on the side >> from side to side about I'm not sure exactly how many feet but approximately
maybe 50 feet. I'm not sure. So they it can't be placed in the rear there is that >> it becomes too costly to do it and you have to rewire everything as well. Um it's the it's a duckless split unit so
it produces a very low noise um about 52 to 58 dB which is equivalent to quiet street or refrigerator appliance in your household. It actually goes up to um to the level
of the home that >> from that side of the house. Yes. >> And it's been there for two years. >> Correct. Yes. Any questions from the board?
>> Is there uh any litigation or claim made between you and articare? >> Claim with what again? >> Between you and articare >> order. I'm not sure what that is. >> The company that apparently did the installation or applied for the permit.
No, there is no claim. They did say they're going to reimburse me for the variance because they they feel like it's their fault as well. >> Okay. >> Correct. about 30 to 50 ft. I'm not certain. I didn't measure it, but to the fence it's
like six feet, but it should be 10 ft. >> Yes. >> Correct. I would say I'm looking at a Google or street view. You have a chain link fence. >> Yes. >> Okay. And you have what I'll call low-level landscaping. >> Yes.
>> The adjacent house I'm probably going to say is 10 to 15 feet from the fence line. >> Okay. the the existing house, the applicant's house is 96 feet. Looks like the mini split is
really put right up against the house. >> Yes. >> So, we have to guess at something. You know, we said six. It's probably seven feet. I can share the photo if anybody wants to look. >> Does anyone want to see her? You're good.
>> Thank you. Any other questions from the board? Any members of the public here have any questions for the applicant? Seeing none, anyone here wish to speak on the application. Seeing none. All right, let's vote.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Clarify one thing because I think >> somewhere talked about it being a front yard variance as a corner property, but it's on the inside side. So, it's >> sideyard
>> sideard sideyard variance. >> Y >> good clarification. Thank you, Bruce. There may have been confusion on the other AC unit which is at the rear of the house but technically in the front yard of the corner uh on the corner lot.
So even if you put it to where the other one was, you have would have a slight encroachment into the front yard even though it's behind the front corner of the house. But it is where it is and that's the relief he's seeking. >> Okay. I'm in favor of granting the relief. I
don't think it's going to cause a detriment especially at the decel that you're saying that it is at. If anyone is in agreement and like to make a motion. >> Thank you. >> Can you guys turn on your microphones, please?
>> Miss Napano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Persianbal. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Cunningham. >> Yes. >> And Chair Cohen. Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Great. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> Okay. The next application that we're
going to call is application 2026-7 43 Little Brook Road, block 3201, lot 4. This is a request for a lot and building v coverage variance for the installation of a shed.
>> Hi. >> Hello. >> Hi. How are you? We're just going to swear you in. >> Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth? >> I do. >> Please state your name, spell your last name, and give us your home address.
Carla Diaz, DAS, 43 Little Book Road, Springfield, New Jersey 07081. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Miss Diaz, if you could just tell us a little bit about what you're looking to do and what you're the relief that
you're seeking from the board. >> Yes. Um, we're looking to build a shed uh for extra storage. Um, our house doesn't have too much storage. Um, so we're just looking to store, you know, children's stuff and patio furniture and
all sorts of >> and it's in the back corner, >> right? I guess that's that's that's my question is that I don't is it is it play? I don't see it. There should be a a drawing that has the shed shown
towards the top right hand. >> No. >> Okay. Is 5t off of the rear property line. Thank you. It's is that within the setback or that's a question for Mike.
>> Um 5t from rear or side property line. >> Okay. And it's 5t from rear 5t from side. Great. >> Yeah. >> Right. Both the building coverage and the lot coverage increase by the same
amount. >> But it's already in like a phaser performing, right? >> Yes, >> Mr. Bergen. I believe there was a uh communication from Union County. They believe that the applicant has cleared property onto the county property to the
rear. So, they're looking to correct that. >> Say again. >> The we've got a communication from Union County. They were notified of this application and they believe the applicant has cleared a vegetation beyond their property line on county
property and so they're looking for that to be rectified. >> Do you understand what that talk about? >> I think so. Yeah. >> Okay. Um, so we did the back portion of the property. We did um just like clean
it up a little bit, but we were told by the county that we were we could do that. >> I I can guarantee you 100% you were not told by the county you could do that. >> Do you have that in writing from them?
>> Okay. Wait, let's swear you in. Come on up. Uh, Ronaldo Diaz. >> Wait, wait, wait. Do you swear affirm to tell the truth? >> Yes. >> Now, state your name. >> Uh, Ronaldo Diaz, Diaas. Um, so we had a couple dead trees in the
backyard. Couple branches actually fell onto our property. I called um Union County. They sent out a crew to cut the there was two two trees to cut the trees down. And I asked them then because there's a lot of poison ivy in the back
there. So, it's concerning. I'm allergic to it. I have little kids that I don't want them to get this. I asked them, "Can I um clean the shrubs back?" And they're like, "You could you can't build anything on the property, but you could
clean back and put grass." They even said I could put um those green giant trees, but I did not do that. I just cleaned basically clean the poison ivy back and um just seated it. That's it. Do they do you have that in writing from the county that
>> I do not have that in writing. I spoke to the supervisor that went out there. >> It's just a verbal thing. >> Just verbal. >> Bruce, would there be documentation that they were out at his property to clean the trees? >> There there might be a work order.
>> Yes, there's there's multiple work orders. >> And there's actually another dead tree. I'm going to have to call them again to go get the vet tree out twice. Mike, just just for the record,
um you indicated that obviously the county's within the 200 ft notice. So, what was the request from the county? >> June 2nd, they sent an email. Um it's six paragraphs, so I won't read it. Uh
essentially they want to ensure that the shed does not encroach on county property. So they're going to look for a built or something to that effect. They noted that there's mowing of grass on county property that went
looking for a correction of that and I think they should certainly interact with the county if there's an affirmative certainly interact how I mean we're willing to correct whatever needs to be corrected but And I don't know if this is a question
maybe for the county or for you guys, but how exactly do you correct something that just grass? >> So I'm sorry. >> Well, they they may want other vegetation, other >> Oh, like for us to plant
>> Bruce, this was from J R O B A I N A of Department of Parks and Recreation. So where does where do we stand with approving the shed with the county prop the county saying they got to put vegetation back there is that of any
effect in on the shed at all with location? >> No >> the shed is still in our property. >> Right. Right. That's not that's just something else that you have to remedy with this county, >> right? >> Regarding whatever corrective action they're asking you to take, >> okay,
>> to regarding the vegetation that was displaced, >> you know, when you cleaned it up, >> they removed the trees. >> So, but I mean that really has >> So, my question is if poison ivy does get because it's going to come back in,
>> right? We don't know what >> that's a health >> but we don't know what the obviously they're not going to ask you to put poison ivy back but there might be some sort of other vegetation they'd be asking you to replace in the fact that you know removing whatever vegetation
was there but yeah like you said you said it was poison ivy >> poison ivy and the landscaper basically he took everything out like we didn't dump anything onto the right >> onto the park. >> So obviously there's some sort of corrective action they're going to want you to take or removing that. So, and
that's between you and the county. I don't believe it has anything to do with granting a variance for the shed being on your property. But that's just a separate issue of the county order that you have to remedy. >> Just as a word of advice, after you talk to them, I would like recap it in an
email, maybe take a picture of the back property. So, it's time stamp and dated to cover what you're doing. >> Okay. So, I have to call Who do I have to call about this? Are they going to contact? >> Did the email did it go to Did it go to the applicant?
>> No. >> Yeah. I think their primary concern is that the shed gets built and it's on county property >> because because the lawn mowing and the clearing have already happened. So, it's a de facto extension of property. They don't want >> they don't want the shed to go onto the
to the county property. >> Yeah. Just make sure that shed is on your property. >> Yeah. That's why they're looking for something that um documents that the shed is built with the five with the five foot offset and not on county. >> Is that something?
How would we show them? You have a surveyor. >> I have a surveyor who will as built where the shed is and show that it's the five foot away minimum of five. >> Okay. As a condition of approval, if we are to
approve, we will have to take corrective action and comply with the county's request. >> So, I called the I called the county. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yes. >> Okay. Any questions from the board?
>> Well, there's no variance for the setbacks. They did they they the shed is located in a compliant location. And it's 5 ft off of the rear and it's 5 ft off the side. >> So is it a lot coverage? >> It's lot and building coverage. They're increasing by like 2%.
>> Less than 2%. One >> and a half% >> one and a half%. >> Which was already non-compliant. And this might be an undersized lot. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. By definition, because it has a roof, it also counts as building coverage in addition to the lock.
The uh a lot area is requires 22,000 square feet. They're at 244 acres. So >> they're size. >> Undersized. >> Mhm. >> You didn't do the math on that.
>> Um okay. Any further questions from the board? Any members of the public have any questions for the applicant? Any members of the public have wish to speak on this application? Seeing none.
Okay. Um I'm in favor of granting the relief that's required. I think it's a dimminimous request for the shed and it's compliant in its location. I just again there will be a condition that you must handle the county and make sure that you abate and adhere to every one
of their requirements. >> If anyone's in agreement and would like to make a motion. >> I'm in agreement. I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Miss Napparano. >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Cunningham. >> Yes. >> Mr. Versinbound. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shewitz. >> Yes.
>> And Cher, yes. Motion passes. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. Would we be able to get that email that he has? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The final application that we're calling this evening is application 2026-8
for 29 Henshaw Avenue, block 1305, lot 43, Sideyard requests, Sardyard setback lot and building coverage variance requests for garage. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> How are you? >> Good. How are you? Good. Thank you.
>> Swear to >> Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth? >> Yes. >> Please state your full name. Spell your last name. Give us your home address. >> La Baraso. B A R R A S S O 29 Henshore Avenue Springfield, New Jersey.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Let tell us a little bit about what happened and what you're looking to do. So on um March 16th, somewhere in the middle of the night, the tree fell on my garage and destroyed my garage. So I am looking to rebuild my
garage in the existing footing that where the original one was same height. Um but unfortunately I have the variances that I'm asking for approval. It was a
setback lot and building Okay. So, I'm sorry. So, the garage in the same footprint existed, the tree fell, and you're replacing it in kind. >> Yes. >> But it was non-conforming.
As far as the um engineer said is non-conforming. It's being there's no difference in size or anything. It's just being rebuilt or want to rebuild it. >> I don't understand when I'm reading the U chart
that if everything is the same, how does the uh building coverage for the garage go from 24.3 to 30.8? We listed the coverage for just the house and then the >> the coverage with the house in the
garage >> and uh the word house that's written on that form on the side. Again, I'm just confused. >> So the house only is 24.3%. Only the house was the
building coverage it would comply. >> So that building coverage is incl um is the same 24.3 that's handwritten >> underneath the uh the types the type thing. >> Yeah. And we we we listed below the
building coverage with the garage as 30.8. So it didn't change but that's the value. >> Okay. To me, it was unclear, but thanks for the >> Unfortunately, the ordinance, if you read the ordinance and the destruction clause, so essentially an act of God or
whatever, if it's more than 50% destroyed, you lose the protection of it. That's why you have to come back here to the board and get presumably the setback and the coverage reapproved by this board if it was at a pre-approved. What I didn't understand
was the change in the numbering >> in the math. >> But I didn't understand that. So, thank you for >> Yeah. >> A little education there. >> If it's less than 50% destroyed, you can rebuild to what it was. >> If it's more than 50%, you lose the
protection and now you have to >> pretend as if it's a new structure. >> And everything has to meet it. So, you've heard that he's putting it back where it was, >> right? But it does trigger now unfortunately for the applicant the setback and the coverages.
>> Okay. >> Any other questions from the board? >> This is a detached garage or >> Yes, >> detached. >> Detached twocar garage. >> Looking at the You sure you couldn't have rebooked that?
>> Can't believe it. It's very unfortunate that that happened. >> Yeah. Sorry about that, but I mean based on that. >> Yeah, >> we're gonna >> Yeah, I'm going to let you do that in two seconds. Is there any member of the public that has any questions for the
applicant? Is there any member of the public that wishes to speak on this application? Okay, Mark, take it away. >> Okay, I'd like to make a motion to the application. >> I'll second. >> Vice Chair Cunningham. >> Yes. Naparano. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Persenbound. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sheitz. >> Yes. >> And Sher. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Yeah. Good luck with everything. Sorry about that. That's unfortunate. >> There was even a car in there was total >> Oh, wow.
>> Actually, the the tree totaled three cars. >> One in the garage and two outside. >> I'm so sorry. Ouch. Is right. >> Mhm. >> It's okay. Everybody else is fine. >> That's right. That's what matters. >> Thank you. >> Good luck.
>> Byebye. >> Okay. Um, any other business? None. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make a motion to >> second.
All in favor? I. Thank you. When