Court Opinion

ID: 4429578
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:26:31.376251+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:59.343046
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
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     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NO. A-1033-17T2

BARRY R. LEWIS,

           Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
OF THE TOWNSHIP OF
ROCKAWAY, DONALD
STEINBRENNER and BETH
STEINBRENNER,

     Defendants-Respondents.
____________________________

                    Submitted December 4, 2018 – Decided January 17, 2019

                    Before Judges Geiger and Firko.

                    On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                    Division, Morris County, Docket No. L-0273-17.

                    Barry R. Lewis, Jr., appellant pro se.

                    Brach Eichler LLC, attorneys for respondents Donald
                    Steinbrenner and Beth Steinbrenner (Susan R.
                    Rubright, on the brief).
            Spector & Dimin, PA, attorneys for respondent Board
            of Adjustment of the Township of Rockaway, join in
            the brief of respondents Donald Steinbrenner and Beth
            Steinbrenner.

PER CURIAM

      Plaintiff Barry R. Lewis appeals from a September 18, 2017 Law Division

order entering judgment in favor of defendants Board of Adjustment of the

Township of Rockaway (Board), Donald Steinbrenner, and Beth Steinbrenner,

in this action in lieu of prerogative writs contesting the approval of an

application for development to construct a single-family home. We reverse and

remand this matter to the Board for adoption of an amended resolution setting

forth adequate findings of fact and conclusions of law.

      Plaintiff and the Steinbrenners own adjoining parcels in Rockaway.

Plaintiff's parcel is developed by a single-family home. The Steinbrenners'

parcel is vacant.

      The Steinbrenners' parcel was created through a minor subdivision

approved by a prior resolution the Board adopted, as amended, in December

2007.1 The resolution also approved a use variance and associated dimensional

1
    Plaintiff also challenged the original prior resolution that created the
Steinbrenners' parcel by action in lieu of prerogative writs. The Board was
required to adopt an amended resolution following a remand by the Law

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variances for premises designated as Block 20901, Lots 66 and 67 and Block

20903,   Lots    42   and   43    (the   Epstein/Kaminow      Resolution).       The

Epstein/Kaminow Resolution transformed one parcel consisting of two wholly

interior lots (Block 20903, Lots 42 and 43) and one parcel consisting of two

wholly lakefront lots (Block 20901, Lots 66 and 67) into two parcels both

consisting of an interior and lakefront portion. Interior Lot 42 is tied to lakefront

Lot 66. Interior Lot 43 is tied to lakefront Lot 67. The practical effect of the

Epstein/Kaminow Resolution was to allow for the construction of a residence

on each of the interior lots and a boathouse on each of the lakefront lots.

      The Steinbrenners are the current owners of interior Lot 43 and lakefront

Lot 67, which they purchased from the Epsteins.           In accordance with the

Epstein/Kaminow Resolution, the Steinbrenners now wish to construct a single-

family home on Lot 43, which is located in a R-13 residential district.

      On June 30, 2016, the Steinbrenners submitted an application for

development to the Board for construction of a single-family home.               The

proposed development requested numerous dimensional variances pursuant to

N.J.S.A. 40:55d-70(c)(1), and a waiver.

Division because the original resolution lacked the required findings of fact and
conclusions of law.
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      More specifically, the application requested variance relief from

Ordinance 54-30.29.e.5, which requires a minimum front yard depth, and

Ordinance 54-30.10.i, which outlines how much vegetation can be stripped from

a lot during the construction process. The application also requested a waiver

from Ordinance 54-29.13(d)(1), which requires certain slopes to direct water

away from buildings.

      On August 2, 2016, the Board heard testimony on the Steinbrenner's

application at a public meeting. On November 15, 2015, the Board heard

additional testimony on the Steinbrenners' revised application and voted to

approve the application.     The Board adopted the Steinbrenner Resolution

memorializing its approval of the application on December 20, 2016.            On

December 28, 2016, notice of the Steinbrenner Resolution, intended to be

compliant with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(i), was published; however, the block

number was incorrectly listed as 20904, rather than 20903.

      Ordinance 54-30.29.e.5 requires a minimum front yard of the lesser of

either forty feet or the average of the two abutting lots in R-13 districts. Under

Ordinance 54-30.29.e.5, the Steinbrenners were required to have a minimum

front yard setback of twenty-four feet. The Steinbrenners ultimately requested,

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and the Board granted approval in the Steinbrenner Resolution for, a front yard

setback of zero feet.

      Ordinance 54-30.10.i.3 prohibits stripping more than thirty percent of the

vegetation from slopes of between fifteen and twenty-five percent grade in R-

13 districts. In the absence of a variance, the Steinbrenners were allowed to

strip 488 square feet of vegetation in this category. The Steinbrenners requested,

and the Board granted approval in the Steinbrenner Resolution for, their request

to strip 976 square feet or sixty percent of the vegetation in this category.

      Ordinance 54-30.10.i.4 prohibits stripping more than fifteen percent of the

vegetation from slopes with a grade in excess of twenty-five percent in R-13

districts. In the absence of a variance, the Steinbrenners were allowed to strip

909 square feet of vegetation in this category. The Steinbrenners requested, and

the Board granted approval in the Steinbrenner Resolution for, their reque st to

strip 4,617 square feet or approximately seventy-six percent of the vegetation in

this category.

      Under Ordinance 54-29.13(d)(1), unpaved areas adjacent to buildings

must be sloped to direct water away from the building at a minimum slope of

five percent for the first ten feet from the building in R-13 districts. Originally,

the Steinbrenners proposed swales be constructed approximately one foot from

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                                         5
the building. However, the Steinbrenners ultimately requested, and the Board

granted approval in the Steinbrenner Resolution for, swales to be constructed

approximately one and a half feet from the building.

      The Steinbrenner Resolution states the Steinbrenners propose to install

double retaining walls along both the easterly and southerly sides of the

property. It also states the inner retaining wall will have a maximum height of

six feet and that the outer southern retaining wall will be approximately five feet

from the property line shared by the Steinbrenners and plaintiff, but it is silent

as to the height of the outer retaining wall.

      According to the November 4, 2016 memorandum from Dewberry

Engineers, Inc. to the Board (the Dewberry memorandum), the proposed outer

retaining wall is upwards of nine feet in height and the outer southern retaining

wall is nine and a half feet from the foundation of plaintiff's house.           The

Steinbrenners are to submit a professional engineering certification for the

proposed retaining walls, which shall be reviewed by plaintiff, and Peter Black,

the Board's engineer, shall review the structural plans prior to construction.

      Plaintiff filed a complaint in lieu of prerogative writs demanding

judgment reversing the findings of the Board and directing the Board to deny

the application for variances. Plaintiff also demanded an award of attorney's

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                                         6
fees and costs even though he represented himself. Plaintiff challenged the

Board's approval on the following grounds: 1) the Steinbrenner Resolution and

newspaper publication failed to correctly identify the property that was the

subject of the application; 2) the Board failed to make the necessary findings to

support the c(1) variances granted; 3) the resolution failed to comply with the

requirements of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(G); 4) the Steinbrenners failed to present

adequate evidence for the variance relief granted; and 5) the Board

impermissibly delegated the issue of substantial detriment to the public good to

the Board's engineer.

      The Law Division judge heard oral argument and later issued a judgment

and written statement of reasons in favor of defendants. After recounting the

facts and procedural history of both the Steinbrenners' application and the

Epstein/Kaminow Resolution, the judge engaged in the following analysis:

            Here, the Steinbrenners presented various experts at
            two public hearings, and revised their Application in
            order to accommodate concerns brought up at the first
            public hearing. Specifically, the Steinbrenners changed
            the slope of their driveway in order to conform with the
            other driveways in the area. Further, the Steinbrenners
            moved the footprint of their proposed home ten feet to
            the left in order to move further from [p]laintiff's
            property line. Here, two engineers testified as to the
            Steinbrenners' application, their own engineer, Mr.
            Gloede, and [the Board's] engineer, Mr. Black. The
            [Board] then considered the experts' opinions and

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                                       7
           necessary "competent and credible evidence" in making
           their decision to grant the variances at issue.

                  Moreover, the Steinbrenners demonstrated that
           their [p]roperty met the positive criteria for a 'c'
           variance, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c)(1).
           Specifically, the [p]roperty is comprised of two lots
           across the street from one another, and both lots have
           considerable slopes. Expert testimony supports the
           finding that the [p]roperty has "exceptional topographic
           condition[s]." Further, the Steinbrenners met the
           necessary negative criteria by establishing there would
           be no substantial detriment to the public good and their
           variances will not substantially impair the intent and
           purpose of the zone plan and zoning ordinance. Indeed
           [to] the extent there may be a danger of disturbance to
           [plaintiff's] property, such danger was remedied by the
           requirement that any excavation and/or retaining wall
           would be subject to a "professional engineering
           certification." The prior property owners, the Epsteins,
           had a planner who opined that the topographic
           conditions of the [p]roperty as a split lot "makes the lot
           suitable for the neighborhood and will not impair the
           intent and purpose of the zone plan or be a detriment to
           the public good." Further, the split lot allows for
           building on the interior lot as consistent with the
           neighborhood and in compliance with the zoning plan.
           Plaintiff fails to make a showing of abuse of discretion,
           as the decision of [the Board] is supported by expert
           testimony and necessary consideration by [the Board]
           of the relevant positive and negative criteria in granting
           variances.

           [(citations omitted).]

     This appeal followed. Plaintiff argues the Law Division judge erred,

claiming the action of the Board was arbitrary and capricious because: 1) the

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                                       8
resolution is deficient on its face by failing to make the necessary findings to

support the c(1) variances granted; 2) the resolution is substantively deficient

and fails to comply with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(G) by failing to set forth adequate

factual findings and conclusions of law; 3) the applicants failed to present

substantial, competent evidence to prove the elements required to obtain the

variances sought; 4) the Board impermissibly delegated its obligation to

determine the positive and negative criteria to its professionals, and

impermissibly delegated the issue of substantial detriment to the public good to

its engineer for post-hearing determination; and 5) the applicants failed to

present competent, credible evidence to support relief under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-

10(G), warranting a reversal without remand for further proceedings. Plaintiff

additionally argues the Law Division judge erred by independently reviewing

the record and reaching his own findings, in part based on improper

considerations.

      "Our standard of review for the grant or denial of a variance is the same

as that applied by the Law Division."      Advance at Branchburg II, LLC v.

Branchburg Tp. Bd. of Adjustment, 433 N.J. Super. 247, 252 (App. Div. 2013)

(citing Bressman v. Gash, 131 N.J. 517, 529 (1993)). "We defer to a municipal

board's factual findings as long as they have an adequate basis in the record."

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                                       9
Branchburg, 433 N.J. Super. at 252.          However, a zoning board's legal

determinations are subject to de novo review.         Jacoby v. Zoning Bd. of

Adjustment, 442 N.J. Super. 450, 462 (App. Div. 2015). "[C]ourts ordinarily

should not disturb the discretionary decisions of local boards that are supported

by substantial evidence in the record and reflect a correct application of the

relevant principles of land use law." Lang v. Zoning Bd. of Adjustment, 160

N.J. 41, 58-59 (1999).

      "[W]hen a party challenges a zoning board's decision through an action in

lieu of prerogative writs, the zoning board's decision is entitled to deference."

Kane Props., LLC v. City of Hoboken, 214 N.J. 199, 229 (2013). "Courts give

greater deference to variance denials than to grants of variances, since variances

tend to impair sound zoning." Med. Ctr. at Princeton v. Twp. of Princeton

Zoning Bd. of Adjustment, 343 N.J. Super. 177, 199 (App. Div. 2001); see also

Branchburg, 433 N.J. Super. at 253. "[T]he burden is on the challenging party

to show that the zoning board's decision was 'arbitrary, capricious, or

unreasonable.'"   Price v. Himeji, LLC, 214 N.J. 263, 284 (2013) (quoting

Kramer v. Bd. of Adjustment, 45 N.J. 268, 296 (1965)).

      The New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 to

-136, imparts authority to boards of adjustment for the grant of variances when

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                                       10
            (a) by reason of exceptional narrowness, shallowness or
            shape of a specific piece of property, or (b) by reason
            of exceptional topographic conditions or physical
            features uniquely affecting a specific piece of property,
            or (c) by reason of an extraordinary and exceptional
            situation uniquely affecting a specific piece of property
            or the structures lawfully existing thereon, the strict
            application of any regulation pursuant to
            [N.J.S.A.40:55D-62] would result in peculiar and
            exceptional practical difficulties to, or exceptional and
            undue hardship upon, the developer of such property,
            grant, upon an application or an appeal relating to such
            property, a variance from such strict application of such
            regulation so as to relieve such difficulties or
            hardship[.]

            [N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c)(1).]

However, "[n]o variance or other relief may be granted . . . , including a variance

or other relief involving an inherently beneficial use, without a showing that

such variance or other relief can be granted without substantial detriment to the

public good and will not substantially impair the intent and the purpose of the

zone plan and zoning ordinance." N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70. "The applicant bears

the burden of proving both the positive and negative criteria." Ten Stary Dom.

P'ship v. Mauro, 216 N.J. 16, 30 (2013).

      N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(g) "requires a municipal agency to reduce each

decision on any application to writing in the form of a resolution that includes

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                                       11
findings of fact and conclusions of law." N.Y. SMSA, LP v. Bd. of Adjustment,

370 N.J. Super. 319, 332 (App. Div. 2004). To that end,

            [t]he factual findings set forth in a resolution cannot
            consist of a mere recital of testimony or conclusory
            statements couched in statutory language. Rather, the
            resolution must contain sufficient findings, based on
            the proofs submitted, to satisfy a reviewing court that
            the board has analyzed the applicant's variance request
            in accordance with the statute and in light of the
            municipality's master plan and zoning ordinances.
            Without such findings of fact and conclusions of law,
            the reviewing court has no way of knowing the basis for
            the board's decision.

            [Id. at 332-33 (citations omitted).]

Thus, resolutions that state their conclusions in a "'summary fashion'" have

"repeatedly been recognized as deficient by the courts." Id. at 333.

      Moreover, the reviewing court should not incorporate statements

contained in the hearing transcripts and made by individual board members into

the resolution. Ibid. "The statements of individual Planning Board members,

'represent informal verbalizations of the speaker's transitory thoughts, they

cannot be equated to deliberative findings of fact. It is the Resolution, and not

board members' deliberations, that provides the statutorily required findings of

fact and conclusions.'" Rocky Hill Citizens for Responsible Growth v. Planning

                                                                         A-1033-17T2
                                      12
Bd. of Borough of Rocky Hill, 406 N.J. Super. 384, 413 (App. Div. 2009)

(quoting N.Y. SMSA, 370 N.J. Super. at 334).

      Here, after laying out the Steinbrenners' requested variances and waivers,

the Steinbrenner Resolution states:

            7.    At the public meeting on November 16, 2016, the
                  applicant was represented by Susan Rubright,
                  Esq., of the law firm of Brach Eichler, LLC, who
                  introduced the first witness, Mr. Gloede, a
                  professional engineer located in Oakridge, New
                  Jersey, who testified that the property is currently
                  a vacant lot; that the applicant will be
                  constructing new retaining walls along the north,
                  east and south sides of the proposed residential
                  dwelling; that the landscaping will remain the
                  same; and the applicant will comply with all of
                  the Engineer's comments and will put a fence on
                  top of the retaining wall, as discussed.

            8.    The next witness called by the applicant was
                  Peter Hestevold, who is the general contractor on
                  the project, who informed the Board that the
                  retaining walls will be designed by a structural
                  engineer.

            9.    The final witness called was Jeff McEntee, the
                  applicant's architect, who discussed with the
                  Board all of the architectural aspects of the
                  proposed dwelling, deck and porch.

            10.   The application has been reviewed by the
                  township professionals and their reports and
                  findings are incorporated herein as though set
                  forth herein at length verbatim.

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                                      13
            11.    It is a finding of the Rockaway Township Zoning
                   Board of Adjustment that the application for
                   various "c" variances and waiver can be granted
                   without substantial detriment to the public good
                   and without impairing the intent and purpose of
                   the Township Zoning Ordinance.

The Steinbrenner Resolution makes no mention of the positive criteria.

      The factual findings set forth in the Steinbrenner resolution amount to no

more than a cryptic summary of the testimony of three of the four witnesses

presented by the applicants and a single conclusory statement about the negative

criteria that the Board has "couched in the conclusionary language of the

statute." Harrington Glen, Inc. v. Bd. of Adjustment of Leonia, 52 N.J. 22, 28

(1968). Thus, "[a]t a minimum, the legal insufficiency of the resolution in this

case warrants a remand to the Board for reconsideration and specific factual

findings." N.Y. SMSA, 370 N.J. Super. at 335 (citing Smith v. Fair Haven

Zoning Bd. of Adjustment, 335 N.J. Super. 111, 123 (App. Div. 2000)).

      In addition, the discrepancies between the Steinbrenner Resolution, the

reports prepared by the Board's professionals, and the Law Division judge's

statement of reasons also warrant remand.

      Ordinance 54-30.10.i.2 prohibits stripping more than forty percent of the

vegetation from slopes with a grade of less than fifteen percent in R-13 districts.

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                                       14
In the absence of a variance, the Steinbrenners would only be allowed to strip

200 square feet of vegetation in this category from interior Lot 43.

       There is no mention of Ordinance 54-30.10.i.2 in the Steinbrenner

Resolution or the three memoranda prepared by Burgis Associates, Inc., the

community planner hired by the Board (the Burgis memoranda). Ordinance 54-

30.10.i.2 is mentioned by Dewberry. However, according to the Dewberry

memorandum, while the Steinbrenners originally sought permission to strip

5,586 square feet of vegetation in this category, the revised plans propos e to

strip 5,593 square feet of vegetation in this category.     Nevertheless, a fair

reading of the judge's statement of reasons gives the impression the

Steinbrenners requested, and the Board approved, the Steinbrenners' request to

strip 5,586 square feet of vegetation.

       The Steinbrenner Resolution is also inconsistent on its face. It states

Gloede testified "that the landscaping will remain the same." However, the

Steinbrenners sought permission to strip thousands of square feet of vegetation

from Lot 43. Since landscaping can be defined as modifying an area by altering

the plant cover,2 the landscaping on Lot 43 will not remain the same.

2
    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/landscaping.
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                                         15
      Finally, unless Lot 43 can qualify as an "existing platted substandard

lot[]," the Steinbrenner Resolution is deficient for its failure to consider or grant

side yard setback relief. The Steinbrenner Resolution states "the southerly side

yard setback has been increased from [eight] feet to [eighteen] feet, while the

northerly side yard setback has been reduced from [sixteen] feet to [six] feet."

Ordinance 54-30.29.e.6 specifies the minimum side yard depth in R-13 districts

and requires:

             two (2) side yards, and no side yard shall be less than
             ten (10) feet; provided, however, on existing platted
             substandard lots, the total width of the two (2) side
             yards shall not be less than fifteen (15) feet, and no side
             yard shall be less than five (5) feet. Notwithstanding
             the above, no building shall be permitted to be erected
             on a substandard lot if such building would be closer
             than fifteen (15) feet to an existing building on an
             abutting lot. [3]

Yet, there is no mention of a variance of this requirement imposed by Ordinance

54-30.29.e.6 in the Steinbrenner Resolution. Nor is it mentioned in the Law

Division judge's statement of reasons or the Dewberry memoranda. The only

references to the side yard requirements are in the Burgis memoranda, and those

are mere generalized references to the Steinbrenner's need to ensure that the side

3
  Land Use and Dev. Regulations of the Twp. of Rockaway, 273 (Nov. 1, 2014),
http://www.rockawaytownship.org/DocumentCenter/View/1271/Chapter-LIV-
Land-Use-and-Development-PDF-1648-KB (last visited Jan. 2, 2019).
                                                                             A-1033-17T2
                                        16
yards satisfy the requirements for R-13 districts. Notably, both the Burgis

memoranda and the Steinbrenners' plans seem to be treating this as an existing

platted substandard lot. However, to qualify as an "existing platted substandard

lot," at a minimum, Lot 43 would have needed to be a buildable lot before

August 1999.4 Since Lot 43 was created by subdivision from Lot 42 in the

Epstein/Kaminow Resolution in 2007, dual ten foot side yards are required.

       We are constrained to reverse the judgment entered by the Law Division,

vacate the Steinbrenner Resolution, and remand this matter to the Board for

adoption of an amended resolution containing the statutorily mandated findings

of fact and conclusions of law based on the proofs submitted. We do not retain

jurisdiction.

       In light of our ruling, we do not reach the additional arguments raised by

plaintiff.

       Reversed and remanded.

4
    Land Use & Dev. Regulations of the Twp. of Rockaway at 162.
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