By
- Sal DiMaggio | NJ.com
- Advance Local Express Desk
An NBA champion is appealing a violation notice from the Avalon Planning and Zoning Board over gym equipment stored in his garage
Mikal Bridges, a guard for the New York Knicks, submitted an application on Oct. 23, 2025, to the board seeking to overturn a violation notice and a determination by the floodplain manager
The notice says that Bridges needs a floodplain development permit to store the equipment at his property on 7th Street and that his use of the garage violates a deed restriction and a non-conversion agreement
Bridges is requesting two variances to continue using the garage for personal gym equipment. His attorney, Kara A. Kaczynski, argued in the application that the storage does not meet the legal definition of “development” because it does not increase the property’s footprint or impervious coverage
“The garage area is utilized solely for the applicant’s personal use,” the application states
The filing contends that gym equipment does not constitute the “materials” referenced in borough land-use regulations and that the borough enacted those codes to prevent expansion of property development rather than regulate indoor storage
The borough regulations and the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code generally limit enclosures below a certain height to vehicle parking, building access or limited storage. Bridges maintains that the gym equipment qualifies as limited storage, that no finish materials were installed in the garage, and that the space is not being used for human habitation
The application states that denying the variance would create “unnecessary hardship” for the property owner. Bridges has requested that if the board denies his appeal, the matter be forwarded to a borough tribunal composed of the business administrator and the finance and public works directors for additional review
The appeal was scheduled to be heard by the board at its Aug. 11 meeting, but was postponed to Sept. 8
Kaczynski declined to comment on behalf of herself and Bridges when contacted by NJ.com. The Knicks have not responded to NJ.com’s request for comment
Bridges won the NBA Finals in May with the Knicks and is entering the second year of a 4-year, $150-million contract extension. Bridges also played at Villanova University, where he won two NCAA championships
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This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by NJ.com staff
