Mount Olive Planning Board approves variance for homeowner Daniel Wolpey

The Mount Olive Township Planning Board on July 9 approved application PB26-11, granting a C-variance that will allow homeowner and applicant Daniel Wolpey to add a modest addition at 10 New Street.

The variance permits an increase in lot coverage from the 30% allowed to about 34.9% and maintains the property’s existing nonconforming side-yard condition of roughly 10 feet 3 inches, the board was told. Wolpey testified that the house is small, sits far back on a narrow lot, and has a long driveway that limits buildable area. “We just want to do a very modest addition on our house,” Wolpey said.

The board framed its review around the two traditional proofs for a C-variance: positive criteria (practical difficulty presented by the lot) and negative criteria (no substantial detriment to the zone plan or neighbors). The chair said the long driveway and preexisting nonconforming placement supported the positive criteria, and described the proposed 4.9-percentage-point increase in coverage as de minimis. A board member estimated the addition would be on the order of about 150 square feet.

Wolpey told the board he had discussed the project with adjacent neighbors, who expressed no objections. The panel also asked that exterior materials and colors be compatible with surrounding homes; the applicant agreed the finish would be consistent with the residential character of the street.

A motion to approve PB26-11 was made by Ralph and seconded by Bill; roll call recorded affirmative votes from John Batch, Rafael Oterio, William Gallop, Jamie Shemincay and Howie Weiss. The chair said the board will publicize a memorializing resolution at the next meeting (the third Thursday in August); once the resolution is adopted, the applicant may obtain building permits from the building department the following day.

The board’s approval does not itself substitute for required permits; the resolution will formally record the board’s decision and permit issuance remains subject to building-department review.