Zoning Board to Hear Another Undersized Lot Construction Variance Application

A month after denying a variance for construction of a home on an undersized lot in Pine Lake Park, Manchester's Zoning Board of Adjustment will hear a similar application Thursday night. 

The board will 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, when it meets at 7 p.m. in the courtroom. According to township ordinance, 100 feet is required for both.

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."

The application for a skilled nursing facility will not be heard at the board's March meeting. It was and has been carried to the April 26 regular meeting.