Welcome to the public meeting of August 19, 2025 at the Township of Washington Zoning Board. Adequate notice of the meeting was given in accordance with the open public meetings act by the board secretary to at least two newspapers on December 27th, 2024. And this meeting
has been posted on the township bulletin board, electronic message board, WCTV, and on the township website. Salute to the flag, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. To participate Roll call. I'm sorry. Roll call, please. Mr. Dagustinino is absent. Miss Crimaldi here. Matana
here. Mr. Labrada here. Mr. Roberto is absent. Mr. Ziko here. Mr. Rivera here. Mrs. Osman here. Chairman Gats is absent. Let the record reflect. Um, also in attendance are
attorney Gary G. Antonio, board engineer John Yimick is absent, and board secretary Grace Kish is here. public portion. To participate in the general public portion of the meeting, please click the link on the website and listed on the agenda. To join the webinar, you will be asked to s state
your name for the record, and we ask that only one person speak at a time. This public comment portion is only for the non-aggenda items. Time is set aside later in the meeting to address questions or comments about current agenda items. If you are participating
by phone, press star 9 to raise your hand and star six to unmute. At the end of the general public portion, no further general questions or comments will be accepted. Motion to open public portion. Motion. Second.
All in favor? I. Anybody in the audience? Come on up. State your name and address, please. Uh, Robert Turzy, 346 Fern Street. You're on the agenda. Yes, I am. So, you need to wait a minute. Okay.
This is for I'm sorry. That's all right. You No problem. Have a seat and you'll be up in a second. Okay. Anybody on Zoom? No. Stating that there's nobody in the audience or Zoom. Uh, motion to close public. Second.
All in favor? I. Approval of the minutes. Um, did everybody take the time to read the July 15th, 2025 minutes? Are there any questions or comments? Nope. Okay. Stating that there's no
comments or I'd like to motion to approve it. Motion. Second. Do we do roll call? Yes. Roll call, please. M. Kaldi? Yes. Mrs. Hannah? Yes. Mr. Lrada? Yes. Mr. Zitka. Yes.
Mr. Rivera. Yes. Mrs. Osman. Yes. Okay. New business. Request for the second extension of resolution ZB23-16 for Robert Turzy site plan approval for driveway expansion and temporary second
shed located at 346 Fern Street, block 4409, lot 53. Now you can come on up. Kai, we're going to swear you in. Do you swear that the testimony you're about to give this board is the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth will help you God?
Yes. Please state your name for the record. Robert Turzy. Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Turzy. How come for the second extension? Uh, shortly after I was granted my first extension, um, I my employer cut my
salary and then I found out a month or two after the business was being sold. Um, that happened the beginning of, well, the middle of beginning of this year. They finally sold it July. Everything got resolved. The new owners came in and resolved everything and now
everything's back to normal, if not better for me. So, I'd like to move forward with the project. I had to put a hold on a lot of different things due to due to money. Okay. Um, does does the board have any comments or questions before I open up
to the public? There's no changes or anything. We're just voting on an extension. Could you explain I wasn't here for just let curiosity what the request was? It was Go ahead, Mr. Tury. Oh, why I'm requesting? Yeah. Um, after
I got my first request. No, no, no. What was the property? Oh, um, having my backyard graded. Um, having a slight little I guess like you would call I don't even know if you call it a retaining wall. Replacing fence, expanding my driveway, putting a new shed in, removing an old shed. um and
making a new pathway and a patio in my backyard. So, just looking at the resolution that was last the extension back in November 19th, 2024. Uh just to summarize, it was a plot plan. He came before this board in September 19th, 2023 for a plot plan
approval and variance relief with regard to the proposed expansion of their existing driveway and the addition of a second shed. That's what that's what they came in two years ago for it. So I was just curious as to what right and then that was extended last
um November extended it until September. Was there I do remember was this was a second shed and was it I already have a shed on the property but they it's been there for years and they said it shouldn't be there. So but my plan was to put a new shed up and get rid of that shed anyway. So that's still the plan.
Right. I think they were allowed you to keep that shed for like two years. Yeah. I'm not it's not As soon as the new shed's up, that one's gone. So right now you only have one. Yeah. I'm only going to have one. We're going to get rid of that. Okay. But go ahead. That's fine. Okay. Just was interested in what the
gentleman was looking for. Anybody else have any questions or comments from the board? Oh, what what the request is for how long? I said eight months. It's eight months. Um, come short of it. It's fine.
What? Yeah. My curiosity, why eight months, not a year? I because my my deadline for myself was June 1st to make sure everything's done and over with. I I want I want my backyard back. I think it's a year though. That's all. But if it's if there's a hiccup, I rather Mr. Ziko saying let's make it for
one year instead. Well, the initial approval was if we can September, let's see, it was memorialized October of 2023. Um, so yeah, I mean, yeah, I would just say keep it within the three years. Then
after three, you know, you can only give so many extensions until a certain period of time. So no longer um so he doesn't have to come back. So let's go with um August of Yeah. Yeah. So that should be within that August. Yeah.
So we'll make it one year. August of 26. Okay. And then if you don't have it done, then come back and well then it'll be a whole different right there'll be new applications. So many I believe it's for three years but so keep it within that and then we'll
see what happens. Hopefully hopefully you you get it completed. Okay. Motion to open public comments on the 346 Fern Street. Motion. Second. All in favor? I I
I Oh, I'm sorry. You have a comment? No. Oh, okay. Hi. Hi. Any anybody on Zoom? No. Uh, seeing there's nobody in the audience for any comments. Motion to close public comments. Motion. Close. All in favor?
I. I. Then let's make I'd like to make a motion to approve the application for another one-year term. That would be August expiring August of 26. August of 26. I'll make that motion.
Second. Roll call, please. Mrs. Grimaldi, yes. Miss Hannah, yes. Mr. Lrada, yes. Mr. Zitka? Yes. Mr. Rivera? Yes. Mrs. Osman? Yes.
Thank you. Thank you. We'll have a resolution at next month's meeting. Okay. You don't have to come or anything. Okay. Thank you very much. You're welcome, dude. Thank you. Good luck. Thank you for your time. Old business. uh ZB25-13 to approve the application of Brian
Collins for a driveway expansion located at 891 Manhattan Avenue, block 2404, lot 23. Um you want me to make my comments and state what we got? Yeah. So, so this was
so so this application um was approved well this application was a driveway that the that the applicant already had done. Uh when he went to close out the for the co he found out that there was things that should have came to the board but it
wasn't. So he came to the board last month as the board members we requested certain documentation to come to us which we finally received and we find out that there's um more of a problem than what it should have been. Um
there's a letter that we received as of today from Boswell Engineering and let me just read it into the records. Um please see attach our comments on the draft resolution. Most importantly, the owner produced a certified asbuilt
request by the board which show that they exceed the allow allowable impervious coverage at 35.9 when 35% is required. Please advise that this variance can be piggybacked to the driveway width variance or will they need to make a separate application to
the board. I would think the later would apply. Thanks John. Um this the second part of this as Mrs. Osman has brought to us um is that the master plan has been revised
um and now the impervious coverage for a double A is now 33%. So it's changed um and there's a lot of now there's some more comments based on his plans that
the board has received. And my my my thinking process is that this needs to be put on a table uh for next month to have the application the applicant come back to the board, have the engineer be here, everybody to be
here to see what has to be done in order to make a final decision. I don't see how that's any sort of issue since the work was already done anyway. So it's not like we're delaying his construction or anything. Correct. So let's make sure everybody's here. There's no right now. There's no hardship on the applicant at all. It's
all This was done, like I said, the clock before the horse. If we change something, he's going to have to remediate. But if we keep it the same, he's not going to he's already done. You had a condition in your approval that they provide an asbuilt survey to confirm it was less than 35%. Correct.
And we correct. And and and what was provided as according to Mr. Yukimick's email, which is 35.9%. So the condition of the resolution is not met. So we're not going to we're not going to vote on this resolution. We'll table it
to next month. Can I also do some requesting? He has on his asbuilt he has one shed and it's 113 square ft. Well according to that ordinance also that new ordinance you're only allow one shed at 80 square ft.
I mean so a lot of things on this as build and the way this was all done. I and I know it's before the engineer even before his time that some of this stuff may have been approved but and I also there it's a uh what is it called? A
flag stone slate walkway that was not on the pool plans to begin with. I looked at the pool plans and it's not there but on the Zaz builds it is. So I mean it seems that they just kept putting things on and not looking. So here's the here's the other question. Maybe somebody can help me on this one.
because this project was started a couple years ago, I guess, based on what he told us. Would he be grandfa, right? Would he be grandfathered on the impervious coverage to be at 35 versus 33 what it is today? I mean,
yes, I agree he's still over it. But what I'm saying is to make things work, 35.9 and 35 is a lot closer than 33 versus 35, right? But so would he be grandfather piece would have been
factored at the time of the application. I agree. So, anything that was done prior to the most recent application that was approved and is done is done. So, the new piece whatever we just approved would have had to technically meet that because of the date of the application
because that's what matters. Okay. So, so is so if the date of the application any date any application that preceded that is a moot point but the new application which was within that time theoretically would have had to meet those requirements because the application
date those requirements were in effect. So my so the other question I have based on what you're saying is is it could it be the date of when the project was started because he didn't know he he was
in violation until he went to close out is open the date of the application and the date of the construction when it was approved when when the construction official approved it. So anything that predated that change in front of a board, correct? Because he didn't know until he
closed out his open items. Well, that was just the driveway. Well, he didn't need any he didn't need any variances. He created the variance by doing the driveway. The driveway was conforming, right? So really the only issue is the driveway. Cool. And then my thought my my issue with
that now is that we're responsible for knowing what the requirements are as the board. Yeah. If they bring an application and we base it off of inaccurate information and we give them the approval, we still gave them the approval.
That's a little touchy there for the driveway. for the driver with the width. But if there's something that was not to what we approved, that's now a different issue. So if we approved it at 35 because we whatever reason, fine, we did it at 35,
but if it came back to 359, now it's not meeting the condition of our approval. All right. Now we can go back, which now we can go back if we so choose. So you're saying we can, but it's our responsibility to make sure we're correct in what we're applying.
Yes, I see I think that's the problem and when you change engineers like I don't want to say midstream but you know when you change engineers and stuff and then the ordinances change it's very difficult to keep up sometimes. Right. Right. So but so really we need to work on the impervious coverage being
35 versus 35.9 bas that would be my based on the driveway change and not anything else at this. Yeah, correct. Everything else is already done and approved though. So it's still only the drive stone. Not that I would like the flag stone slate.
Well, and that's going to come down to the determination of whether that's considered impervious or not. That was not anywhere on anything. But that's also an easier fix. But it's still a fix. Pick it up and put it. I'll be honest with you and just not for anything. That
shed in the back is not correct. I mean, it's it's 7.8 from the side yard and 3 something. It's supposed to be it's supposed to be 10 from the backyard and 15t from the sideyard. So, whoever gave him this complete application to begin with, you
know, zoning didn't know what they were doing to begin with because that was incorrect. One second. I can tell you that that was the first time I saw that applicant at the zoning board. No, no, no. I so so I'm saying is and
what he said and if I correct me what I thought he said was last month that he didn't need any variances during this entire project because he was within the guidelines. Am I am I correct in what he said what he said? Well, that's what it sounded like. And the only way this popped up was he
went to close out his open and found out that because he because he changed the driveway and made it wider by two feet. Now he was in violation and then he needed a variance. So but he never provided an as build.
He never usually when they that's when they pick it up is the as bill. Oh, you started out with this. No variance required, but what you did now requires a var because I've had clients in other we've had to come back because something changed or a mistake was made. Yeah. See, that's what I'm trying to say
here. Sometimes I think that we're we're finding this and just this year that I bought on we found this a couple of times already and and you know and I have this pendant and I do have it when people put up fences that are off their property line and have a pool and god forbid they take it the neighbor takes
the fence down and then you know I' I've seen that before in this town and see that's the difficult part that people aren't looking at certain things and I you know I don't know whether the zoning officer I I don't know but it's it's a dangerous situation for talk to John.
So either way, right now we're just voting on tableing it. So I would say let's put that I'll make a I'll make a I'll make a motion that um I'll make a motion to table. I'm sorry. I wanted to get to the Yeah. motion 25-13
which is the uh 891 Manhattan Avenue uh to be tabled to next month's meeting. Second. All in favor? Do we need a roll call? I can do it if you want. Do a roll call. Mr. Ramaldi, yes. Miss Hannah,
yes. Mr. Lrada, yes. Mr. Zitka, yes. Mr. Rivera, yes. Mrs. Osmond, yes. I'll talk to John. We'll figure out what we'll do before the next The biggest answer we're going to need
is regarding the flag stone. And what is that or is that not considered? Is the cabana a an accessory or the cabana a what is it? You know, because he has a cabana down here that he does not have in his built at all. Not at all. And by cabana, I I didn't see the
cabana. So Oh, yeah. It's on It's on it. What is it though? Is it one of those metal Home Depot? No, no, no. Cabana. Okay. I'm I'm sure this is this is And see if
you look at his full plan, it says shed there. Now, here it says cabana. Well, I mean, shed cabana is probably semantics, but it's still still an accessory structure of some type when and it's only supposed to be and I think that was a new thing for me, too, because it used to be good to have 100
square ft shed because I know I built mine just to be 99 ft. So, I was I did that on purpose, but it now it's 80, which they went down for all areas, which the council I found was Yeah, that's a little that's small
for a shed, you know, especially if you have this much property. Yeah. You know, it's different if you have like I have a 75 by 100. So, 80 is 10 by eight. Yeah, that's all it is. It's a lawn mower. That's what I'm saying. So, I find and
this one here and this one here says it's 113 square feet and it doesn't say what the cabana is not even on here. That's why I'm saying you can't even include that in their imperous surface here. Okay, let let Gary talk to John decide how this is going to work out. They'll
let Grace know and then we'll take care of this for next month. They have to come. And again, we're not creating a hardship by doing this. That's the biggest piece of all of this. No, because it's already it's already been done. We just got to get it What happens with situations like that? What does the board have any rights?
That's what I'm interested. I I know of a town where this has happened and they overbuilt their driveway. They didn't ask permission to build the driveway to begin with and um they are now
there's a lawsuit going on, but they were told by the zoning officer that they had to remove the extra part of the driveway. I think I think if the board wanted to do that last month, we could have said to him, "We don't like you agree to it." You don't have to agree with we could have made them put it back
the other two feet. But if there's an impervious coverage with the flagstones and the cabana and everything else, I mean, there could be this board compromises. This board discusses I like that. And compromises
come up with a game plan that makes sense. They do, right? So there's yeah there's options. Sometimes mistakes happen and it's dimminimous and we're not here to I learned that word I learned that word and mistakes happen and at the end of
the result is are we is it worth it to make someone go through all that trouble for something that is small but if something is agreed not agreed we had we had a situation in town of house building built up much too high and they actually made the people
Yeah. chair the top wall. Y it depends. It depends on how bad, right? It's the numbers and it's the intent and you know some people come in and they say look I'm going to do this anyway. So you either approve it or I'm going to do it anyway and then it's your
problem and they think they're going to get away with it. Um and you know those are the people that then because the structure is too high they just fill in dirt because it makes the structure not as high. Yeah, that was so you got to read the person too. You
know, we're not here to punish homeowners for any means, but at the same time, storm water management is an important aspect of of why zoning is important because if you don't abide by the rules of the town and and you're going against everything that the town fathers wanted, then go back to the
town and change it. It's not meant to be punitive, though. It's meant to keep things within reason. as long as it makes sense. It has to make sense for the board to agree or disagree, but it has to make sense for both the town and the applicant.
We had a board member who would say it's the I wants. It's not how much of a hardship it is, but it's the I wants. I want a bigger area. I want it's not the, you know, it's not a variance that they need. It's the I want that I, you know, and he would never vote for
anything was like me. Okay, we all good for tableabling next month. So, we did that. We did that. Okay. Resolution ZB25-14 to approve the live stream broadcast and internet video storage of the zoning
board of adjustments meeting. Um, any comments, questions? The end of the year, right? To the end of the year. And then then in January, we'll make another decision at that time. Do we need to do rolling?
So, I'll make that motion to approve it. Okay. A motion to approve ZB25-14. Mr. Ziko has motioned it. Anybody for second? Second. All in favor. Or do we need to do a roll call?
Do a roll call. Yeah. Mrs. Grimmaldi. Till the end of the year. Yes. To the end of the year. Yes. Mrs. Hannah, yes. Mr. Lrada, yes. Mr. Zitko, yes.
Mr. Rivera, yes. Mrs. Austin, yes. Okay. Uh, last thing. Any board members have any issues, comments, questions? Great. Do we have anything upcoming for next month? Do we have anything up? We may have one if if John can get it
turned around. We have a residential and we may have this application this application as well. So we may have two. Yeah. Okay. Um now do we need to or do we for that other resolution that we tabled?
Do we need to reach out to him or no have him here? No. What we're going to do is let Gary and John talk together. Let them come up with a game plan and then they'll let Grace know and then Grace will do whatever needs to be done. We'll work at that one for the application.
Um, no, the only thing I was going to say is that I know we had a few if you just want to say we you Grace had sent out a few letters I saw to the mayor and council about Yes. All the letters that the board has directed have been sent out to the mayor
and council. Um, they talked about them at the last their last meeting. I think it was August 11th, which I think end of the meeting if you wanted to. Yeah. you know, um, followed by YouTube, but the the meeting the the li not the live stream because I
didn't want to live the YouTube the YouTube cut off cut off and when they were discussing our last point. Oh, okay. So, I asked I reached out to Grace to find out what was said. So, maybe we can all find
out next week. Yeah, unfortunately. So, so the last point was um the board facing the board member and so we Sue and I both talked about it because it wasn't that clear from their discussion, but I think they're going to
have a resolution to remove the board member at the next meeting. Right. So, that was one there was one about fees. The fees they wanted um an analysis of the surrounding towns like you know our direct neighbors which I'm working so the the So, okay. So you're
they seem to receive it favorably and um to try to be more in line with the towns. And what was the other one? Yeah, the other one was the demolition issue. They're working on um a new ordinance to address that. Um
Okay. Either way, and some of the code regularities, um they didn't really talk about, right? I didn't know where that's going to go. So you'll report back to us whenever comes back between now and the next meeting. But I just want to put that in record that that was
Yes, it's been forwarded to the council. They discussion we've had for several months earlier this year. They It's put before the council and see what they do. Yeah. All right. Good. Yeah. Good. Anybody else have any questions, comments, concerns? No. But if we could have copies of the
letters that did go out. Oh, we didn't we didn't get that. So So normal procedure is I sent it to Fred, I sent it to the chairman and um so we didn't send it out to everybody, but I can I can Yeah, that would be Yes, you can read it.
Now I know why I'm not real concerned here because I didn't understand why the That's why I would have brought it up because I think and I and I didn't know that. I wouldn't have brought it up because I didn't know because I didn't see those letters either. Yeah. So yeah, if you can send them all out, I'll email them to everybody so you can all see what was
fed. Okay, thank you. Any other comments, concerns, questions? Can I make a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I. Have a good night everybody. You too.
September. See you September. Oh my god.