ZONING BOARD OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD Meeting Minutes for March 5, 2026 The meeting was called to order by Chairman McCarthy at 7:02 PM. Chairman McCarthy read the Open Public Meetings Act statement. The meeting was held via Zoom, recorded and made available for viewing on the Township website and WBMA￾TV. Roll call: The following members were present: Chairman McCarthy, Mr. Santasieri, Mr. Wangner, Ms. Brown and Mr. Perez. The following members were absent: Mr. Parsons, Ms. Seidensticker, Mr. Mohan, Ms. Diaz, Ms. Sun and Mr. Harris. Board consultants present: Anthony Marucci, board engineer and Michael Rubin, board attorney. 1. Roll Call: 2. Communications: A. 77 Myrtle Street – a motion was made by Mr. Santasieri, seconded by Ms. Brown to deny the request for a reconsideration hearing. All members present voted to deny. The board secretary will notify the applicant’s attorney Mr. Gauer. B. 87 Hoover Avenue – a motion was made by Mr. Wangner, seconded by Mr. Perez to adjourn the application to 4/9. All members present voted to adjourn. 3. Minutes: 2/19/26 – a motion was made by Ms. Brown, seconded by Mr. Perez to approve the 2/19 minutes. All members present voted to approve. 4. Resolutions: A. 181 Jerome Place – a motion was made by Mr. Wangner, seconded by Mr. Perez to approve the draft resolution. Five regular members Chairman McCarthy, Ms. Brown, Mr. Perez, Mr. Santasieri and Mr. Wangner voted to approve. Mr. Mohan and Mr. Parsons were absent. B. 117 North 16th Street – a motion was made by Mr. Santasieri, seconded by Mr. Perez to approve the draft resolution. Three regular members Chairman McCarthy, Mr. Perez and Mr. Santasieri voted to approve. Ms. Sun was absent. C. 860 Broad Street – a motion was made by Mr. Perez, seconded by Mr. Wangner to approve the draft resolution. Five regular members Chairman McCarthy, Ms. Brown, Mr. Perez, Mr. Santasieri and Mr. Wangner voted to approve. Mr. Mohan and Mr. Parsons were absent.� D. 42 Ridge Avenue – a motion was made by Chairman McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Perez to approve the draft resolution. Two regular members, Chairman McCarthy and Mr. Perez voted to approve. Ms. Sun was absent. E. 17 James Street – a motion was made by Mr. Santasieri, seconded by Mr. Wangner to approve the draft resolution. Four regular members Chairman McCarthy, Ms. Brown, Mr. Santasieri and Mr. Wangner voted to approve. One alternate member Ms. Diaz voted to approve. Mr. Parsons was absent. 5. Applications to consider for Board Planner and/or Traffic Expert (‘d’ variances): A. 39 Dewey Street Block 909, Lot 13 Zone: R-1B Applicant/Owner: Juan Camuajulca Application: seeking a D-2 Use variance, for the expansion of an existing nonconforming use. Additionally, the architectural plans indicate a D-4, Floor Area Ratio [FAR] Use variance, since the total constructed FAR exceeds the maximum permitted FAR of 0.50 and any such other relief from the Zoning Ordinance of the township of Bloomfield to retain a 3rd floor attic dormer previously constructed without permits in the R-1B zone. A motion was made by Ms. Brown, seconded by Mr. Wangner to engage the board planner. All members present voted to engage the planner. The board secretary will contact Nishuane Group. 6. Old Business: A. 90 Montgomery Street Block 481, Lot 21 Zone: R-G Applicant/Owner: The Montgomery Trust Application: seeking Class C Bulk variance for fence height, location, fence type and front yard setback and any such other relief from the Zoning Ordinance of the Township of Bloomfield to retain a front yard 3.5 foot black chain link fence in the R-G zone. Note: this work was completed without permits. Testimony was provided by Mr. Bohn and Mr. Marucci. Public question and comments provided by Mr. Sutaria. Board discussion included 3.5 foot high black chain link fence, property trustee, beneficiary, events of burglary, 20 foot plane, hardships related to the land, justifications, benefits, dog feces, security concerns, hedges, garden beds, pit bulls, yard configuration, boxwood plantings, front yard setback, non￾conforming, front yard, vegetation location, sidewalk width, narrow walking space, other types of fences, sight line, combined driveways, driveway width and lawn maintenance. A motion was made by Mr. Wangner, seconded by Mr. Perez to approve the application with � conditions. Four regular members Ms. Brown, Mr. Santasieri, Mr. Wangner and Mr. Perez voted to approve. One regular member Chairman McCarthy voted to deny. The application was approved with conditions. B. 34 Monroe Place Block 281, Lot 39 Zone: R-1A Applicant/Owner: Jerel Zarra Application: seeking an interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance to determine what qualifies as a single family dwelling in the R-1A zone. Note: this work was completed without permits. Testimony was provided by Mr. Zarra, Mr. Pierre and Mr. Marucci. Public questions/comments – there were none. Board discussion included number of house residents, the lease, Bloomfield College affiliation, payment of rent, number of kitchens, common areas, bathrooms, shared food, cleaning and other chores, unwritten rules, utilities, holidays, door locks, cooking schedules, turnover, head of household, filling vacancies, security deposit, max number of residents, related legal case Glasgow, boarding house differences, township definition, sororities and frat houses. A motion was made by Mr. Santasieri, seconded by Chairman McCarthy to approve the application. Three regular members Chairman McCarthy, Mr. Santasieri and Mr. Perez voted to approve. One regular member, Ms. Brown voted to deny. Mr. Wangner was not eligible to vote. The application was approved. C. 164 Jerome Place Block 308, Lot 77 Zone: R-1B Applicant/Owner: Michell Contreras Application: seeking Class C Bulk variances for side yard setbacks, front yard setbacks and building height and any other relief from the Zoning Ordinance in the township of Bloomfield to construct an addition to the rear and the above the 2nd floor expanding the 2nd floor bedroom and increasing the 3rd floor attic space in the R-1B zone. Testimony was provided by Ms. Contreras and Mr. Marucci. Public questions/comments – there were none. Board discussion included expanding the attic, 3rd floor living space, master bedroom, comparable properties in the neighborhood, front and rear setbacks, ceiling height, enclosed front porch, new bedroom, exasperated front yard setback, 2nd floor square footage, three stories, street scape, full 3 rd floor staircase, lack of architect appearance, prevailing trend, hardship, and narrow front. A motion was made by Mr. Wangner, seconded by Mr. Santasieri to approve the application with Mr. Marucci’s conditions. Five � regular members Ms. Brown, Mr. Perez, Mr. Wanger, Mr. Santasieri and Chairman McCarthy voted to approve. The application was approved. 7. New Business: A. 60 Walnut Street Block 306, Lot 34 Zone: R-1B Applicant/Owner: Monique Gethers-Williams Application: seeking Class C Bulk variance for side yard setback and any such other relief from the Zoning Ordinance of the township of Bloomfield to replace the previously demolished non-conforming rear deck in the R-1B zone. NOTE: the work began without permits. Testimony was provided by Ms. Gethers-Williams and Mr. Marucci. Public questions/comments – there were none. Board discussion included prior deck was structurally unsafe, deck demolition, replacement deck in the same footprint, sliding door, former deck 14 X 10, proposed new deck 14 X 16, deck adjacent to neighbor’s rear yard and side yard variance required. A motion was made by Mr. Wangner, seconded by Chairman McCarthy to approve the application. Five regular members Chairman McCarthy, Ms. Brown, Mr. Perez, Mr. Wangner and Mr. Santasieri voted to approve. The application was approved. 8. Adjournment – a motion was made by Mr. Santasieri, seconded by Mr. Perez to adjourn the meeting at 10:53pm. All members present voted to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Amanda Waters Planning and Zoning Board Secretary�