The owners of a ranch home at 365 Auburn Street received unanimous board approval in January for a two-story addition and renovation, with the board finding that the property's undersized lot constitutes a hardship under zoning law.

The application sought three variances: a front yard setback reduced from the required 40 feet to 28.3 feet to accommodate a new covered front porch; side yard setback relief on one side where 20 feet is required under enhanced standards for larger homes; and principal building coverage rising from 14.9% to 17.8% where 15% is permitted. [1]

Architect Amanda DeNaro, of Wyckoff, told the board the property's 11,000 square feet — in a zone requiring 15,000 — drives the coverage challenge. Chairman Mark Borst agreed: "If this were a conforming 15,000-square-foot lot, the permitted coverage would be 2,250 square feet. They are currently at approximately 1,950 square feet. This clearly demonstrates a hardship created by the undersized lot." [2]

The design retains the entire existing first floor, with all changes occurring above: a second-floor addition primarily containing bedrooms, with a walk-in closet stepped back to reduce encroachment into the side yard setback. A small rear addition and front porch slab are also proposed at the ground level. DeNaro said the goal was to maintain the Dutch Colonial aesthetic while keeping the structure modest in scale. [2]

The board praised the approach. "It's a modest addition and very fitting," said board member Zvonko Veskov. An existing shed on the property that was found to encroach on required setbacks must be relocated to a compliant location and formally permitted as a condition of the approval.

No members of the public commented. The board voted 5-0 to approve the application. [2]