Camden NJ Single-Family to Duplex

[Ryan D.]

I'm looking at taking the leap over the Ben Franklin bridge and adding a bit of speculation to my portfolio by buying in Camden, NJ. I was hoping to find someone here who has gone through the zoning variance process before as the property I'm looking to buy is currently set up as an illegal duplex (located in R-3 residential zoning where two-family is permitted but not by right). It's on a block where 25-40% of the properties are two-family, the rest single-family and are all virtually the same sqft. The city's planning department tells me I'll have to submit this form then it's up to the zoning officer if I'll be approved (they don't seem to have a clue what the zoning officer's requirements for approval are) or if I'll need to solicit neighbors within 200ft of the property to then go in front of the zoning board.

My question is does Camden automatically deny all variance requests like Philadelphia does? Has anyone had any success in obtaining variance in Camden by simply completing the zoning application without soliciting neighbors for variance approval? Thanks, BP fam!