August 17, 2017

Chairman Neuer resumed the meeting at 9:24 pm Ms. Berkenwald called her next witness Lisa Phillips approached the podium and was sworn under oath. Ms. Phillips detailed her educational and professional background as a professional planner licensed in the State of New Jersey. Chairman Neuer accepted Ms. Phillips as an expert in professional planning. Ms. Phillips presented four (4) pages of twelve (12) photos that was marked as Exhibit A-3 for identification. She stated that she took the photos of the site on Monday 8/15/17 and detailed them. Chairman Neuer stated for the record that Exhibit A-3 will be entered into evidence. Ms. Phillips referred to Exhibit A-1 and detailed the lower level floor plans of the house. Mr. Kantowitz asked the Chairman if Ms. Phillips is qualified to discuss plans. Mr. Kantowitz then stated that this is not planning testimony; it is engineering testimony. Chairman Neuer stated that Ms. Phillips can look at the plans and testify Ms. Phillips stated that the demolition plan shows the existing garage door being removed along with the countertops in the garage and the decking and framing. Ms. Phillips stated that the basic floor plan proposes a recreation room with a powder room and a shower. Ms. Phillips stated that the garage door opening was 8’ and detailed the dimensions of the interior of the garage. She said that the house was built in 1927 and with today’s standards, the applicants would not be able to park in that garage with an SUV; she said only a compact car could fit in there. Ms. Phillips stated that if this application was denied and the applicants had to rebuild the garage, they would never park in it because their vehicles are SUV’s which would not fit in there. Vice Chairman Buechler asked Ms. Phillips, under the standard, if someone has a garage are they required to park in it; she replied no. Ms. Phillips referred to the survey of the property and stated that the lot is undersized; she said that it is a non-conforming structure. Ms. Phillips referred to the township ordinance 25-12.1 and stated that the parking requirements for a four (4) bedroom house are 2.5 spaces.