Women's shelter variances OK'd

What's New: Wanaque Board of Adjustment has granted use variances to Strengthen Our Sisters' shelters for battered women and children.

After battling in court for months, borough officials and an attorney for the non-profit group presented a joint case for the variances on Tuesday. The board's approval clears the way for the state Department of Community Affairs to issue shelter licenses.

Sean Darcy, a Department of Community Affairs spokesman, said Friday that once the agency gets the local approvals, "the state Division of Codes and Standards should be in a position to issue a license."

Background: The state agency held up issuing licenses pending the outcome of the zoning dispute. The borough claimed that SOS -- a non-profit organization that provides shelter to more than 170 women and children in Passaic County -- needed zoning variances because it uses apartments that are in a business zone. SOS argued that no variances are needed because it is providing a state-sanctioned public service.

The non-profit group sued Wanaque last year after local officials threatened to evict people living in the shelters due to building code violations. Those violations were addressed and in an agreement signed in March by state Superior Court Judge Burrell I. Humphreys, both sides agreed to put the variance issue before the Board of Adjustment.

-- Jan Barry