By Marion Filler
Cohome Inc., a nonprofit residence for developmentally disabled adults on Miller Road, sits in Morristown’s Historic District. In October 2020, a run-down garage on the property was demolished, and a permit was acquired to re-purpose it as recreational space.
Cohome now seeks a variance to use the garage as a residence instead.
Stately yet shabby, the nine-bedroom Victorian on .35 acres was on the market for several years until Cohome owners Nate and Yehuda Diskint purchased it in 2018 for $1.1 million and spruced it up.
Frank Vitolo, the go-to attorney for mega-projects in Morristown, informed the town zoning board last week that he is acting for Cohome free of charge.
“I’m pro bono on this one because I do believe in the mission of Cohome — and they do great work,” Vitolo said at the virtual meeting.
Although architectural drawings were not displayed at this session, Nate Diskint described the proposed caretaker’s cottage house as having 800 square feet, with a kitchen, one bedroom and a loft. He described it as architecturally compatible with the main house. The exterior already is near completion.
The main house measures approximately 6,400 square feet, including a newly renovated basement space. It accommodates six residents and three residential advisors, according to Nate Diskint.
He explained that these advisors are social facilitators and housemates, who stay for two years and are compensated with room and board.
“We’ve really had some quality people,” who have included special educators, a medical student from Morristown Memorial Hospital, a Ph.D. student from Rutgers, and a youth minister, he said.
In addition to resident advisors, there also are licensed support staff who assist residents with basic needs. They are sent by an agency and do not live in the main house.
If approved, the garage will become a caretaker’s cottage, with Diskint as its first occupant. He did not want to commit to a timetable, but expects to stay for a minimum of two years until replaced by a full-time person.
At no time will the cottage be used by anyone not connected to Cohome, and none of the developmentally disabled residents ever will live in this cottage, according to Diskint.
Board members and two members of the public wanted a clearer understanding of the roles of caretaker, resident advisor and support staff. The precedent of converting a garage to a residence also came up, but was saved for a subsequent meeting.
Since Cohome began, Diskint said, he has stepped into every position, to fully understand what is required. The caretaker role is new and consists of “many moving pieces,” which will involve supervising the resident advisors, and coordinating all the activities in the house. This person would live rent free in the cottage, 24/7.
“I expect it would be connected to employment and wouldn’t be a work-trade arrangement,” he said. The exact requirements of the position are a work in progress, as is Cohome itself, he indicated.
When asked if a caretaker was part of his original plan, Diskint answered: “I did not anticipate being the executive director even. I thought we would hand it over to another agency to operate. Meeting all of the people that we’ve been able to impact convinced me otherwise.”
A caretaker eventually will assume Diskint’s duties, such as overseeing the resident advisors and support staff, grant writing, meeting with parents, managing routine maintenance and deliveries, and anything else that comes up, he said.
Questions also arose about the sequence of permits leading to the use variance request. The original permit for converting the garage into recreational space was issued in October, 2020. Another permit was issued in November 2020 for a kitchen. But no request was made for a use variance until now.
Board Engineer Michael Textores wanted to know when Diskint realized he preferred a residence to a social space.
“I’d say probably six or so months after demolition,” said Diskint. Alluding to the finished basement that is now used as communal recreational space, he added, “We realized it (the garage) would be much better served as residential space than overflow social space.”
Neighborhood resident Jeff Stiles, a former board member, also questioned a board policy not to accept public comments sent by mail or email.
After stating that the board welcomes public participation, Chairman Steve Pylypchuk continued: “We’ve been advised by counsel that emails and letters are not admissible for applications for public hearing. So, if you want to speak about a public hearing or have comments or questions, you need to be present during one of these meetings. whether it’s virtual or in person.”
That change took effect after March 3, 2020.
Cohome is scheduled to return to the board next month, along with Turtle II, a 28-unit apartment complex proposed for a Turtle Road parking lot behind Madison Avenue offices and a Care One facility.
The apartments would share outdoor space with its sister project, Turtle I, which in turn would share is community- and exercise rooms with Turtle II.
Board members asked if surplus parking could be converted into more outdoor space. That question is scheduled for more discussion when the board meets next month.
