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Construction / Zoning / Planning

Frank Recanati, Construction Official
201-939-1777

Building Inspector – Mark Sadonis
Electrical Sub Code Official – Christopher Venezia
Plumbing Sub Code Official – Frank Recanati
Fire Sub Code Official – Lawrence Wood

The Building Department is responsible for the processing of construction-related permit applications and the issuance of the required permits.

In addition, the Building Department performs the subsequent inspections of permitted building projects to ensure compliance with the approved plans and with the State Uniform Construction Code Regulations and the issuance of appropriate certificates after the satisfactory completion of all inspections.

Zoning Board

Zoning Board of Adjustment 
David Malinowski, Secretary
201-531-7180
DaveM@CarlstadtNJ.us

The Zoning Board of Adjustment is the board of “non-permitted uses.” The board deals with the issuance of variances which are based upon the borough’s zoning ordinance. The board sits as a quasi-judicial board. Its purpose is to provide relief from zoning requirements which cannot be satisfied. The requests for relief are not based upon policy, but rather upon the ability of an applicant to prove his or her case. The zoning board must make decisions much as a judge does in court. Please be aware that an applicant is never entitled to a variance. Rather, an applicant must meet specific criteria contained in the Municipal Land Use Law by satisfying certain legal standards of proof, and the burden is upon the applicant to show that he or she is entitled to the specific relief requested. Depending upon the type of variance requested, the applicant will need to prove special reasons, a balancing of the benefits, hardship, the negative criteria, etc.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment consists of seven regular members and two alternate members. No member may hold any elective office or position under the municipality. No member may act on any matter in which he or she has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest.

Board Members:

Chairman: Vincent DeSimone
Vice Chairman: Allan Nasseh
Rober Sulikowski
Richard Bartlett
Victor Fonseca
Don Diorio
Henry Riveros
Vincent Calgano, Alternate 1
Gregory Kane, Alternate 2
Borough Engineer: Neglia Engineering
Planner: Ken Nelson
Attorney: Richard Cedzidlo

Council Liaison: James Lenoy

Planning Board

Christopher Assenheimer, Board Clerk

The Planning Board can be summarized as the board of “permitted activities.” The Planning Board’s essential duties are to deal with policy (the master plan) and the implementation of that policy through the zoning, site plan and subdivision ordinances.

These ordinances establish a series of ground rules to be met by an applicant. If the applicant meets the requirements of the particular ordinance, the board must approve the subject application unless a specific requirement of that ordinance is not satisfactorily fulfilled by an applicant.

The governing body, by ordinance, created a planning board of nine members. The membership consists of the four following classes:

  • Class I – the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee in the absence of the Mayor.
  • Class II – one of the officials of the Municipality other than a member of the Governing Body, to be appointed by the Mayor.
  • Class III – a member of the Governing Body to be appointed by it.
  • Class IV – other citizens of the Municipality, to be appointed by the Mayor.

Board Members
Chairman:  Erwin Fedkenheuer  
Vice Chairman: Mark Dunn
Mayor: Robert Zimmermann
Mayor’s Alternate: David Papa
Secretary: Gunter Kuprat
Councilman William Roseman Karl Ross

Robert Ruff Jr.
Frank Stallone, Alternate No. 1
Frank Ficetola, Alternate No. 2
Planning Board Clerk: Chris Assenheimer
Planning Board Engineer: Glenn Beckmeyer

Board Attorney:
Richard Allen, Jr., Esq.
(201) 933-3633
52 Chestnut Street
PO Box 133
Rutherford, NJ 07070

Meetings
4th Monday of each month
7:30 PM

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