Connolly, Cain lead Hopewell Township zoning board

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP ZONING UPDATE

By Marianne Hooker
   At its Jan. 5 meeting, the Hopewell Township Zoning Board of Adjustment elected new officers and reappointed several of the professionals who help them with their work.
   The board also approved a height variance for a detached garage at a residential property on Chase Hollow Road.
   Board reorganization — The board voted unanimously to re-elect William Connolly as chairman. For the office of vice-chairman, they voted unanimously to elect William Cane, a former member of the Hopewell Township Committee. They also reappointed Robert Casey as the board’s attorney, Robert Miller as secretary, and Anne Moore as recording secretary.
   The board then approved a resolution of appreciation for Mary Barna, who recently moved away after 14 years of service as a member of the board.
   Garage roof height variance —Frank Baldorossi, who lives at 11 Chase Hollow Road, in the mountain resource conservation zone, was requesting a 6-foot height variance in order to build a detached barn or garage.
   The structure he had in mind was 24 feet high, which exceeds the 18-foot maximum set forth in the zoning ordinance. Mr. Baldorossi said that if his property were assessed as farmland, he would be allowed to build a barn of up to 60 feet in height.
   Mr. Baldorossi said he wanted the proposed garage to have a high roofline that would match the aesthetics of his existing home. The loft area of the building would be used only for storage. The proposed site is in a grove of established hardwood trees, and its location would not impinge on any building setbacks. The lot in question is 25 acres in size. Mr. Baldorossi said the proposed garage would have no effect on any of his neighbors’ views.
   There were no comments on this application from any members of the public. Board member Sally Brenner said that in her view, the applicant had not shown any particular hardship that might justify granting a variance.
   Mr. Casey, board attorney, said this request would fall into the flexible C-2 category, where a different set of standards apply. The applicant must show that the benefits of the proposed variance will outweigh any detriments, and that any negative impacts will be mitigated.
   The board evidently concluded that the application had met these tests. They voted unanimously to approve Mr. Baldorossi’s variance request.
   The board then passed resolutions of memorialization to formalize its approval last month of applications by David Rhoads, David and Georgiana Rosen, and Joseph Mistretta.