The Township of Washington Zoning Board voted Nov. 18 to approve a conditional variance allowing Christopher and Kimberly Bendick to convert one garage space into habitable living area as part of a home renovation on Cottage Peak Avenue, after extended discussion about preserving two‑car garages and addressing stormwater and pre‑construction concerns.

Owner Christopher Bendix (spelled in the building record as Bendix) said the change is necessary for his multigenerational household: "My father‑in‑law is severely physically disabled with multiple sclerosis," he told the board, explaining the family needs more ground‑level, accessible living space.

Architect Thomas Bola described the work as a permitted, ongoing construction project that began from drawings the building department previously accepted. Bola explained the project reoriented a two‑car side entry to create a 1½‑car garage (roughly 360 sq ft) and added driveway area to maintain on‑site parking for four vehicles. He said the initial construction was permitted by the building department, but the board noted the zoning application proposed a different final configuration than the permit set.

Board engineer Jeff Morris said the project would exceed the township’s 35% impervious‑coverage standard as submitted (37.4% reported) and asked for stormwater and soil movement calculations and building‑height calculations tied to the survey. Several board members and residents expressed concern that the new work on site had advanced before final zoning action; the applicant said the work stalled while awaiting permits and financing and that construction had paused pending the board’s decision.

After discussing alternatives (including restoring a 2‑car garage by altering setbacks or trimming interior living space), the board and applicant negotiated a compromise. The applicant agreed to revise plans to bring impervious coverage down to 35%, limit the driveway curb cut and paved width to no more than 18 feet (and no less than 12 feet), supply the required stormwater and soil‑movement calculations, and provide engineer‑verified height calculations. In exchange, the board agreed to grant the variance for a single‑car garage conversion.

The board carried a motion to approve the application subject to those conditions and asked that the revised plans and calculations be submitted before a final resolution is prepared. Applicants were reminded that if the board later finds the submitted materials inconsistent with the approval, the applicant may be required to restore previously altered elements or return to the board.