Berkley Zoning Board Approves Two Residential Addition Variances Unanimously

BERKLEY -- August 13, 2024, Berkley's Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved two residential dimensional variance requests at its August 13 meeting. The board voted 6-0 to grant a 2.38-foot variance to Steven and Jennifer Newman of 2274 Earlmont Road, allowing an 8-by-32.625-foot addition to their 1927 home, where a pre-existing attached garage leaves the combined two-side-yard setback at 12.62 feet against a required 15 feet. The board also voted 6-0 to approve a 3.417-foot dwelling-distance variance and a 0.208-foot front-yard variance for Forged Homes LLC at 3764 Tyler Avenue, clearing a second-story addition that would not alter the existing building footprint. Vice Chair Allen presided in the absence of Chair Pine. Nine neighbors submitted written support for the Earlmont application; one written objection was received for the Tyler Avenue case, from William Shear of 3855 Gardner, who argued the request amounted to profit-maximization on a house flip rather than a genuine hardship.