Grossman Steck September 4

-7- There are unusual aspects of the proposed activity The applicant, because of his expertise and personal interest, essentially engages in the same type of activities as craft making but occasionally handles larger projects such as a dining room table which requires more space than can typically be accommodated within a small single-family dwelling. Reconstructing the garage has benefits To accommodate his part time activity, the applicant intends to improve his garage space to handle both the woodworking activity as well as the interior storage of his pickup truck. Although it is often that garages fall into disrepair before the home itself does because of the less stringent construction standards in the 1920’s and 1930’s for garages, the applicant is proposing a context-sensitive design that fits within the area and masks the second level as being under a gambrel roof appearing to be 1½ stories. (The applicant is also a member of the West Orange Historic Preservation Commission.) The renovations include a header on the right side of the garage so that a second overhead door can be installed by the current or a future homeowner who desires a two-vehicle garage. As special reasons, several Municipal Land Use Law purposes are advanced. Approval of the application would advance the following purposes of the MLUL found in N.J.S.A. 40:5D-2: b. To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural and man-made disasters. The reconstructed garage will result in an upgrade to current building codes and remove a rear section that is only 10 inches from the rear property line. g. To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of agricultural, residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements in order to meet the needs of all New Jersey citizens. The reconstructed garage is in a location that is not fully visible from Alan Street and is situated in a cluster of garages and scheds which render the proposed garage as a structure visually compatible to these other structures. i. To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangement. The proposed design is an aesthetic improvement in itself and, additionally, is designed to accommodate the applicant’s pick-up truck. The

development techniques and good civic design and arrangement. The proposed design is an aesthetic improvement in itself and, additionally, is designed to accommodate the applicant’s pick-up truck. The reconstructed garage is particularly suited to the property The applicant will continue to use the principal building as a single-family dwelling in the neighborhood that has a fair incidence of two-family dwellings and in a zone that allows both one and two-family dwellings. The location of the subject garage in a cluster of sheds and garages makes the property particularly suited for the proposed garage enlargement.