Polite but Sometimes Preposterous

As polite, considerate, thoughtful and intelligent as the Atlantic Highlands Planning Board is, one still wonders why so many variances are granted to people who purchase land in the borough for investment purposes, knowing full well the regulations at the time they make their purchase.

One also wonders why a resident who happens to live in a home on the corner of two streets, had to go through an expensive,  long and drawn out procedure simply to have a generator installed on the side of her house furthest away from her neighbor. She got her variance after presenting strong evidence as she should have. But she only had to apply in the first place because the borough has identified her side street as frontage simply because she is on the corner.

Another resident who purchased a house on Center Avenue a few years ago has been modifying a variance request and delaying its presentation for several months in seeking a variance for a change to a garage apartment stairs and railing. That variance request is yet to be heard.

Also troubling is the variance this same board gave last year for the property on Avenue C where the Fireman’s Fieldhouse was. Borough law says the property is only big enough to build two houses. But the person who bought the property, obviously as an investment, wanted to build three. So there was a variance application, all kinds of drawings, a public hearing with residents speaking both for and against granting the variance. In the end, after hearing comments from neighbors of the proposed construction that three houses would mean smaller buildings, more in keeping with the neighborhood, etc., the planners granted the variance.

Today, the center of the three houses proposed for the property is now under construction. Anyone going north on South Avenue can see that as soon as they turn onto South Avenue from First, the building is changing the skyscape and it will only get worse when all three houses are built.

Doesn’t anyone look at the drawings and check the height of these three “small “ buildings where only two should be built according to current regulations?

Doesn’t anybody care that the height of the buildings will indeed alter the appearance of the neighborhood?

Doesn’t anyone notice that the first floor of the building certainly provides enough room for more living space?

Does anyone really think that the variance granted, and the building permits approved, really adds to the “small neighborhood homes” that surround it?

Polite Polite Polite Polite

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