The township zoning board is considering granting a variance to a resident who wants to construct an airplane hangar on Air Park Road.
"I hope I met all the criteria and I'm happy to be in Cherry Ridge," Nicholas Robinson told the board at a hearing Tuesday night.
The New York native is seeking a setback variance that would allow him to construct the hangar 50 feet from the center of the road, rather than the 65 feet mandated by the township.
The board has 45 days to issue a ruling but expects it shouldn't take that long.
Two people testified at the hearing, Robinson and zoning officer Steve Ostrander. They were questioned by board solicitor Errol Flynn.
Robinson said he has submitted a letter to the Cherry Ridge Homeowners Association and to adjacent landowners to let them know about his intentions.
No one at the meeting objected to the project. Two residents who attended said they are in favor of Robinson's plan.
Robinson said the setbacks are similar at other hangars on the road and his structure would not have a negative impact on the character of the neighborhood.
Ostrander added that he had measured the setbacks of three other hangars on the road - two are 50 feet from the road and one measures 66 feet from the road.
"What he's asking for is consistent to what's there," Ostrander told the board.
The hangar would be 50-by-50 and would accommodate Robinson's single-engine airplane, which he constructed himself.
Zoning board member Michael Frigoletto said 50-by-50 is "in the ballpark for a typical hangar."
Robinson said he bought the property with the intention of building a hangar and there is a pre-excavated area for a hangar on the rectangular land.
The resident said a previous owner excavated the site but he's not sure when.
If Robinson does not get the variance he would be required to build the structure farther up on the property, where there is a slope. Due to the slope, "a great deal of excavation would be needed."
Regarding the single-engine plane, Robinson said he's been working on it intermittently since 2001.
Source: http://www.wayneindependent.com
