Mahwah January 20, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Non-conformance certificate approved by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved a certificate of non-conformance for a property on Ramapo Valley Road that is located in the R-40 single family residential zone, but has two residential dwellings on the site. The certificate of non-conformance certifies that the uses and structures on the property are legal non-conforming uses that are in accordance with state law. According to Bruce Whitaker, the attorney for property owner Marlene Frazzini, the certificate of non-conformance is required due to greater scrutiny by mortgage and real estate appraisal companies in the financial world today. He explained that the township’s zoning ordinance allows one single family house on a property in this zone, but there are two single family structures on this site, one of which fronts on Ramapo Valley Road. The other structure, a cottage that contains two living units, fronts on River View Terrace. He claims the houses were built before the township’s zoning code was created and, therefore, are pre-existing non-conforming uses. Whitaker further explained that Frazzini acquired the property in 1984, and the cottage building existed at that time with two separate living units that were being rented at the time. She has continued to rent them since that time. In her testimony before the board, Frazzini estimated that the buildings could have been built in the 1920s, long before the township’s zoning ordinance was created in 1946. She also confirmed that the house and cottage units have separate gas, electric, water, and sewer connections. Whitaker also produced a tax assessor’s document dated May 2, 1974 that indicated a 1920 build date. To bolster Frazzini’s claim that the cottage existed prior to 1946, Whitaker provided an affidavit from a 96-year-old former resident of the cottage on River View Terrace who was not able to attend the zoning board meeting due to her health. That former resident, Lillian Brick, advised in her affidavit that she rented one of the units in the cottage with her husband in 1945. Brick described the unit as having a kitchen, two bedrooms, one bath, a living room, and a dining room. She stated that she resided there for five years with her husband and their three children. Brick also advised in her affidavit that, while she lived there, the owner of the property lived in the other dwelling on Ramapo Valley Road and she visited the family that occupied the unit next to hers in the cottage, which was a separate residential unit with a living room, kitchen, bath, one large bedroom, and a laundry room. Brick said that, after she moved from that location in 1950, she returned to visit neighbors in that area and she met the people who were tenants of both units of the cottage and the owner of the property. “I know for a fact that since 1945 there have been three residential units continuously used as separate residential units at this property,” Brick stated. There were no public questions or comments, and the board unanimously approved the certificate. Winter concert Lenape Meadows School in Mahwah recently held its second and third grade winter concert for family and friends to enjoy. Students sang songs of the season and played the drums, xylophone, bells, and recorders under the direction of music teacher Barbara Owen. Pictured is third grade student Sarah G. plays the xylophone as her classmates sing ‘Welcome to This House.’ Post office earns Customer Service Award There are five-star hotels and five-star resorts. Now there is a five-star post office. The Mahwah Post Office recently earned a five-star rating as part of the U.S. Postal Service’s new 5-Star Customer Service Program. Ratings are based on surveys by The Gallup Organization. “We’ve always provided excellent service,” said Acting Postmaster Kenneth Weite. “Now we’ve got the stars to back it up.” The Gallup Organization surveys USPS customers, asking them to rate local post offices on efficiency, accuracy of delivery, consistency of delivery and waittime-in-line. Mahwah Post Office received a significant increase in “excellent” ratings, earning the 5-Star Customer Service Award. “We’re really honored to receive this rating,” said Weite. “It shows that our customers value the excellent service the employees in this office provide.” ����� ������� ������� ����� ��� ��������������� ����������� �������� ��� ������������ �������� ������������ �� ������� ���������� ��� �������� ������� ��� ����������� HARDING WINE&SPIRIT We are beside ourselves about this wine we found. 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