Page 4 • Wednesday , July 28 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Subdivision comes before planning board
PLANNING , from Page 1 under Chapter 175-145L ( 13 ) of the General Ordinances of the town of Hammonton . Niedoba plans to build a single family home on the new lot .
Niall O ’ Brien , of archer & Greiner , P . C ., represented the applicant . Niedoba offered testimony , as did engineer Brian Peterman of Peterman Maxcy associates and professional planner Lance Landgraf .
O ’ Brien explained the application , noting that the 5.76 acre property already contains a single-family home owned by the applicant ’ s parents .
“ the applicant is looking to create a flag lot to the rear of the property . the lot is a narrow lot ; it ’ s the only way to put another lot on it for development of the applicant ’ s own single-family home ; it will be retained by the applicant . We ’ re asking for minor subdivision approval to create those two lots : the remainder lot , which will be the front , and the flag lot to the back ,” Peterman said .
O ’ Brien said that there were also two variances associated with the application . the first related to a pole barn for domestic use , which would be in the back of the proposed home on the flag lot but , due to the conceptual orientation , would be closer to the front of the property .
During his testimony , Landgraf explained further .
“ it is a front yard , technically , because it is the first building as you come off 14th Street . the residence will be the second building back , so it becomes — by your definition , and most towns ’ definitions — the front yard of the property ... this will function completely as a rear yard , but , by your definition , it is a front yard on this particular lot ,” Landgraf said .
Landgraf said that , by ordinance , the pole barn is not permitted to be in the front yard .
“ it ’ s an accessory structure ; it has to be in a rear or side yard , so that is why we ’ re requesting a variance to allow this pole barn to be within that oddly shaped front yard of this property , because of where it ’ s located ... this is more of a , for purposes of a zoning application , we ’ re talking about a C2-type variance , and this will fall under that criteria ,” Landgraf said . the second variance , if deemed necessary , O ’ Brien said , was for a variance to permit the curb opening at the curb line for the driveway to the flag lot to be set 17 feet , which is an existing curb cut .
“ fourteenth Street , as you may know , was paved earlier this year , and as is customary , there is a roadopening permit moratorium for a period of five years , which would , if the applicant was required to comply with 24 foot width , potentially cuff the applicant ’ s hands for that period of five years ,” O ’ Brien said .
Niedoba explained his goals for the property to the board .
“ My intention for this property is essentially to be able to build my own personal residence so my wife and my children can grow up next door to my parents ; we ’ re really looking to create sort of a family compound of sorts , if you will , on this property ,” Niedoba said .
During his testimony , Peterman addressed the width of the existing curb cut , and how that pertains to necessary driveway widths according to current town codes .
“ We have 20-foot wide driveways , with a minimum of 10 feet on either side , so we ’ re compliant with your ordinance ... at this time , it ’ s right at the limits where the end of the reconstruction was for the improvements on 14th Street . right where the edge of the driveway is is where the curb transitions , in essence , from full height down to zero , then we basically have a driveway opening that ’ s been used by his parents at that point ,” Peterman said .
Peterman said that the applicant was cognizant of the purpose of the moratorium , which was primarily to stop open cuts in the roadway , particularly to make utility connections .
“ We ’ re looking to tie into a stub that ’ s already existing out there for sewer . When it ’ s over with , we ’ re going to have to put a little pump
See BOARD , Page 18