Township may give five-year lifespan to zoning variances
By:Audrey Levine
The Township Committee unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance that would give residents and builders more time to build projects with zoning variances.
Currently, once a homeowner or retailer receives a use variance an allowance to build something that doesn’t conform to zoning or planning ordinances for a project, the variance must be used within a year or else the variance expired.
In that case, the owner was forced to go back to the zoning board to request another variance.
According to Bob Ringelheim, township planner, the new ordinance will extend the period of time to five years, allowing owners more leeway to begin their projects.
"They now won’t have to reapply if they can’t start the project in one year," he said. "And the (Zoning) Board of Adjustments can extend the period of time if necessary."
Mr. Ringelheim said unforeseen circumstances can sometimes interrupt a project that would have ordinarily begun within the year of the issuance of the variance. With the new ordinance, he said, owners will not have to reapply for the variance or pay the accompanying fee, which usually costs several hundred dollars, a second time.
"There is less aggravation for the owners," Mayor Anthony Ferrera said.
Mayor Ferrera said the ordinance is also "business-friendly," acknowledging a comment from Gene Strupinsky, business advocate, at the June 12 meeting that the change would be supported by the township retailers.
According to Mr. Ringelheim, there have been several incidents over the past few years where homeowners and businesses needed extensions on the variance because finances would not clear, or other issues hindered the start of the project.
"There were tons of owners and it was cumulative over the years," he said.
Public hearing for the ordinance will be held on Aug. 14.