| Author |
Message |
    
callista
Citizen
Username: Callista
Post Number: 28
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 11:42 am: | 
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How difficult is it to secure a variance for a project? I want to add a front porch and would like it, obviously, to run the length of my house. As the code is now, i need to stop my porch about 2 feet from the end of my house, which will look pretty crappy! Any tips? |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 648
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 12:09 pm: |
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a guy on the next street over needed a variance for his kitchen to be added onto in the back and was going to exceed code by 6". he had to get signatures from every neighbor within 200 feet of his house. in other words, it's probably easy to get a variance as long as your closest neighbors are okay with it. |
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 332
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 10:56 pm: |
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You don't need signatures from your neighbors to get a variance. He may have done that to demonstrate that no one within 200 feet cared, but it is not necessary. In my opinion, unless he was on a really tiny lot, he wouldn't have much trouble getting a variance for a 6" encroachment. As for the porch, I'm not sure what Callista means. It's a front porch which runs along the front of the house, right? What do you mean when you say you want it to run the length of the house.? Do you mean across the front and all the way down the side? If just accross the front, I don't know what the problem would be. Every front porch I see in town runs the width of the house. |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 652
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 8:47 am: |
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is that so, joe? i questioned the guy when he rang my doorbell...especially since i am on the next street over and there is another house AND my street between his house and mine...and he told me he had to get signatures for the variance. yeah, over here on diversity hill the lots are like 40-50x100-125. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11023
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:12 am: |
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I think the law requires that anyone within 200 feet of a property be nofified of a variance request. In some states the term "abuters and abuters of the abuters" is used which I find hilarious for some reasons.
Having the neighbors on board, via signature or at the zoning board meeting can only help your case, especially for minor variances.
I suspect Callista has a setback issue or possibly a lot coverage issue. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2841
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:25 am: |
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We recently applied for a variance in Millburn. We had to get a list of property owners from the town and send out certified letters with return receipts advising them of the hearing. We also had to put an ad in the local paper within a certain time frame about the meeting.
It was a pain in the a**. Especially since we didn't get the variance. I would have to be very sure about what I wanted to do to go through the process again.
One comment about front porches. While I absolutely love the way they look they tend to make the rooms inside the home (the ones with windows on the porch) get much less natural light. Just something to keep in mind. My living room has an overhang over the window (although not a full porch) and it is always kind of dark in there.
Good luck whatever you decide! |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11024
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:32 am: |
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Wendyn, Ok so I am nosy. What was the variance for? Did the neighbors show up at the meeting with torches and pitchforks to protest it? Did you talk to the neighbors before sending the required letters? |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2843
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:56 am: |
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Ok Bob you asked for it...
Variance was for lotsize overage for a kitchen/family room addition.
Next door neighbor came to support it, no other neighbors showed up that I know of.
The real problem was my architects. I used friends who worked on the project part time, don't live locally and don't know our board. They didn't fully research all of the zoning requirements so we didn't know we were already over lotsize coverage (we have a 50x100) and ANYTHING we did would require a variance. Had we known this we wouldn't have even done a design. Unfortunately after 2 years of planning (as I said they were working on it part time), deposits to a contractor and kitchen cabinet maker we found out we needed the variance after the plans were submitted.
Basically the board thought the design was simply too big for the lot. Looking back I agree with them. They didn't actually rule against us, they gave us the option of redesigning the plan and bringing it to the board again. We took that option, but decided that we didn't want to compromise so cancelled the whole project.
In the end we are kind of happy we didn't go ahead, as we still only have 1.5 baths and live on a busyish street. 4 years ago when we started the design the bath issue wasn't a problem, now with 2 girls we know we will need another bath soon!
Unfortunately we lost a lot of money with the architect (who is young and poor and a friend so we don't feel right asking for money back), some with the contractor who had expenses when we filed the plans, and a lot to the kitchen cabinet maker who we had to sue for our deposit back (still haven't seen the money).
Thanks for letting me re-live that wonderful part in my life.  |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11026
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 10:19 am: |
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Wndyn, sorry I asked.  |
Pamela
Citizen
Username: Pamela
Post Number: 25
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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Your best bet might be to get a local architect to assist. First, they would be able to research the potential problems. Second, they may be able to present your case to the board better than you as they've probably done it before. Variances are not impossible to obtain but it's always best to do your homework up front. |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 370
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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At least present your idea's to the local construction officer-Mr Mittemier in Mwood-he can let you know if a variance will be needed in advance.
oots |
Peter
Supporter
Username: Peter
Post Number: 231
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:04 am: |
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In Maplewood, among the various requirements for a variance is that all property owners within 200 feet of your property be notified. You can notify them via registered mail, in which case the proof of mailing is sufficient (not proof of receipt), or you can get their signatures. But the Township doesn't really like the signature option, so just use Registered mail but talk to your neighbors anyway so they know what's up.
You can get a full package of the requirements from the Township. You also have to present plans, explain why you need the variance, atteand a meeting of the BZA, and plead your case. |
callista
Citizen
Username: Callista
Post Number: 29
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 4:49 pm: |
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It's just a regular front porch, from one side to the other across the front of the house. No wraparound. But the codes are different, i.e. setbacks on the side, since our house was built. Our lot coverage is not an issue, merely the 2 feet on one side, so we would have to get a variance, or end the porch 2 feet before the end of our house! The minimum amount of time is 2 months to get a variance if all the planets align, etc... Its a lot of paperwork, legwork and money for the application. |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2747
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 4:42 pm: |
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Maybe you could build and arbor on that end or something. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7096
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 - 5:23 pm: |
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Themp has a point - if you build steps down and do a little brick or rock patio/gardeny-thing, it could look very nice. It's "temporary" so it doesn't need a permit. Designed correctly, it could be a charmimg detail. |
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