Community Update

 May 22, 2014

Letter to the Editor

 Ocean City and its

lack of orderly and proper zoning and planning

In December 1999, I wrote

to you about my concerns regarding the breakdown of our planning and zoning

system. In my letter I referred to a person with common sense and good land

planning concepts -Costal Commission Chairman Phil Butler. At the time he

stated, “If the Zoning Board wouldn’t offer relief; architects, builders and

others would stop requesting variances on a constant basis.”

What he stated in 1999

still holds true (even more so) today.

Looking back makes the

effort by the City look even worse in its attempt to satisfy builders, realtors

and others in its attempt to reduce setbacks, side yards, rear yards and

increasing the overall square footage of the McMansions they have created and

at the same time destroying the neighborhoods that historically had been

planned at the time to meet all local, county and state zoning requirements. At

the time every subdivision that was created (and the City did not have many)

was approved and housing was built that met reasonable zoning standards. At the

time orderly development was taking place and neighborhoods were created such

as Rivera. They were neat and orderly providing air space and good land use.

What has happened since

then, well we all know Sandy hit our town; however, we were saved compared to

the land and beaches to the north of us, Long Island and Staten Island.

What was our answer to

Sandy?  It appears we now have zoning as

a result of the flooding that runs the gamut from 5 to 6 feet to the first

floor elevation along Asbury and Bay Avenues. Then we have the 8 foot

requirement that seems to prevail along the Bay area.

If someone can explain to

me why it goes from 8 foot plus down to 6 foot more or less on the island I

would be more than happy to listen to the logic and the reasoning that was

used.

In the meantime, the City

is now creating a further breakdown of whatever was left of any orderly

planning. It appears we have no logic.

It seems to me that instead

of maintain standards that would enhance the aesthetic appearance of the

overall City; the various planners and staff are doing everything within their

power to create clutter and overbuilding in a city that is already over built.

Just recently the City was

presented with the new Six-story 92 condominium (second home units) to replace

what was already approved -- the Soleil a five story complex that was to

compliment the Flanders and provide it with the deed restriction maintaining

152 parking spaces for the Flanders.

Currently the existing

redevelopment plan does not permit residential use. For this to occur the

Planning Board and the City would have to provide the necessary changes for the

project to move forward. In 2005 the Owners and residence of Ocean Avenue and

the side streets raised objections to the project at the time and ultimately

the local residents were in my opinion satisfied.

We now have the Coastal

Village concept and the six story 92 unit second home facility with its so

called restaurant.

So much for good planning

and zoning.