Quackenbush Avenue Homeowner Wins Approval for Front Portico
Genna Prell of 635 Quackenbush Avenue received unanimous approval to replace an existing concrete pad with a 10-by-5-foot covered portico, which will extend 5 feet into the required 40-foot front yard setback. Prell testified the existing placement of the home prevents a functional entry cover without encroachment. No neighbors commented. The board voted 6-0 to approve.
Ravine Avenue Ranch Gets Approval to Enclose Porch and Build New Entry
Frank Castellvi of 35 Ravine Avenue received unanimous approval to enclose the home's existing front porch to expand the living room and kitchen, while adding a new covered front porch. Castellvi said a large retaining wall in the rear yard limits backyard use for his young children, making the front of the property the family's primary outdoor space. Vice Chairman Tanis found the application straightforward, noting the proposal does not significantly increase the footprint and is consistent with the neighborhood's ranch character. The board voted 6-0 to approve.
February Approvals Formally Memorialized
The board memorialized resolutions for the two applications approved in February: the one-story addition at 338 West Shore Drive for the Cascardo family, and the 8-by-14 storage shed at 305 Sunset Boulevard for Christian Cima.
State & Local
BOARD APPROVES THIRD FLOOR FOR WYCKOFF AVENUE DUTCH COLONIAL, WITH EGRESS WINDOW REQUIRED
The owners of a Dutch Colonial home on Wyckoff Avenue cleared a technical third-story variance after a board member's fire-safety objection was resolved — and an unpermitted shed on the property must be relocated before construction is complete.
The owners of a Dutch Colonial home at 76 Wyckoff Avenue received approval from the Wyckoff Zoning Board of Adjustment at its March meeting to expand the house with a third floor for a fitness room and home office, after addressing a fire-safety concern raised during the work session.
Attorney Jennifer Berardo of Wells, Jaworski & Liebman appeared on behalf of applicants Paul and Sarah Jane Telesca and called architect Kevin Patrick Spink, of Canzani Architects in Fair Lawn, to present the project. The home is a Dutch Colonial with a gambrel roof at the front and gable roof at the rear. The proposed work adds a fourth bedroom, two home offices, a larger laundry area, and a primary suite over the garage, while reconfiguring the first floor for an enlarged kitchen, mudroom, and pantry. The third-floor designation is triggered by a raised roof section at the rear to allow functional ceiling height; Spink described it as a "technical variance" because similar space could be created without technically triggering a third story, only with less usable headroom. The finished attic portion — approximately 600 square feet at 6 feet 8 inches — is located at the rear of the home and is not visible from the street. The addition increases height from approximately 21 feet to 31 feet, which remains below the 35-foot maximum. [1]
Board member Richard Joachim raised a fire-safety concern during the work session. "My concern is fire safety, as the office does not appear to have a proper egress window," he said. "In the event of a fire, this could pose a safety issue, as there would be limited means of escape or rescue." Spink confirmed the rear window can be modified to meet egress requirements. Applicant Paul Telesca confirmed at the business session that an egress window will be installed. Joachim endorsed the final design, noting the third-floor addition is located at the rear, away from street view. [2]
A second complication arose over an existing shed installed without a permit, which Township Engineer Mark DiGennaro said exceeds permitted size limits and setback requirements and cannot simply be grandfathered. "It must be treated as a new application, requiring a permit and relocation to a compliant or board-approved location," DiGennaro said. The applicant agreed to relocate and permit the shed during construction. An existing generator — one foot short of the required 10-foot side setback — may remain as a nonconformity, DiGennaro said, provided it is properly screened from view. [3]
No members of the public commented. The board voted 6-0 to approve the application. Conditions include installation of an egress window, relocation and permitting of the shed, replacement of any landscaping damaged during construction, and a cap on the third-floor finished square footage limited to what was proposed. [3]