Date: Fri 22-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Borough-ZBA-variances

Full Text:

Borough ZBA Considers Variances

Borough Zoning Board of Appeals members are considering granting zoning

variances which would allow a development group to build four single-family

houses on an unusually shaped piece of land in the borough, near the

intersection of Main Street and Sugar Street.

Appeals board members conducted a public hearing on the requested variances

March 20, but took no action on the matter. Action is expected at an upcoming

session.

Newtown Borough, Limited Liability Corporation, represented by Attorney John

R. Byrk of Fairfield, is seeking appeals board approval to build the four

houses on 11 acres which abut Main Street, Sugar Street and the cul-de-sac at

the intersection of Lincoln Road and Roosevelt Drive. Narrow sections of the

property extend outward to the streets. The property's street addresses are 15

Main Street, 7 Main Street, and 12 Sugar Street. The land is in an R-1 Zone.

The applicant has received wetlands construction approvals for the project

from the Conservation Commission. If the proposal receives Borough Zoning

Commission approval for the zoning variances, the proposal would still require

a residential subdivision approval from the town's Planning and Zoning

Commission (P&Z).

Although a four-lot residential subdivision is not a large construction

project, the land proposed for home building is notable because it's in an

old, densely-developed section of town.

Mr Byrk is the managing member of Newtown Borough, LLC, which also lists

Michelle Ashelford and Gus Curcio as members. Raymond Julian is the owner of

the 11 acres. The developers reportedly are under contract to buy the 11

acres.

In order to receive requested lot street frontage variances, the applicant

must prove to the appeals board that a "hardship" exists in connection with

the development of the property. The property has insufficient road frontages

for development.

Besides the lot frontage zoning variance requests, one of the four proposed

building lots, known as Lot 4, also requires a variance concerning house

placement on the lot.