Undersized Lot Construction Variance Application Carried to Next Zoning Board Meeting

An application for the construction of a single family home on an undersized lot in Pine Lake Park has been carried to the Zoning Board of Adjustment's April meeting.

The board was scheduled to hear the application of Todd Jerman, who wants to build a single family home at the corner of Wellington Avenue and Manchester Street on a lot with 75 feet of frontage and a width of 75 feet, on Thursday night. According to township ordinance, 100 feet is required for both.

Through correspondance, Jerman asked that the application be carried to the board's next regular meeting on April 26. That meeting will be held at Manchester Township High School and also will feature the continued testimony in the application for a . 

Those who want to build on lots smaller than 100 by 100 feet are generally granted a variance because of the precedent set by the 1987 Dallmeyer case heard before New Jersey Superior Court. But board members in February voted to deny a variance to Freehold realtor Lisa Duerkes.

She came before the board seeking variances to build homes for sale on two undersized lots in Pine Lake Park. One was approved at the board's January regular meeting; the other was adjourned until the February meeting and .

"We have to decide if were going to stand up for the taxpayers here or the people who don't live in town," said board member Jim Hankins — who has been an outspoken critic against granting the variances — before the February vote. "Clearly we're not standing up for our taxpayers here."

Duerkes said that she plans to appeal and expects a judgement in her favor, given the Dallmeyer precedent. 

At the March planning board meeting, coordinator Marianne Borthwick said that she has been in touch with township planner Tom Thomas and township attorney Steven Secare by email and . 

"So they're working on it," Borthwick said. "There isn't a time frame, but they are working on it."