Planning Board's Formal Resolution Denying 518-520 Ridgewood Avenue Subdivision Rejects Applicant's Neighborhood-Consistency Argument

The Board adopted a detailed memorializing resolution denying the Estate of Carol S. Garben's application to subdivide 518-520 Ridgewood Avenue and its associated lot-width variance. The resolution found that the applicant's planner, Peter Steck, had understated the "neighborhood" by pointing to other narrow lots on the same side of the street while overlooking at least seven larger, conforming lots directly across the street. The Board also found the applicant offered no evidence that the borough had an unmet need for additional single-family homes that would justify the deviation, and concluded the applicant had not shown the hardship or public benefit required under state law to grant the variance.

Ms. Fields joined the meeting partway through, and Chair Mason recused himself for the remainder of the session. No members of the public commented on the resolution.