Ocean City Considers Change to Site Plan Review

Ocean City, NJ -- Ocean City Council approved a proposed amendment on introduction that amends the existing ordinance that allows residents to make minor improvements to their homes without needing to go before the Planning and Zoning boards at its Feb. 25 meeting.

The current ordinance concerning Administrative Site Plan Review designates the Director of Planning to review and approve minor changes to site plans. However, following the reorganization of the City’s departments, there is no Director of Planning in Ocean City.

The proposed ordinance calls for a professional planner or engineer, along with the Zoning Official and the city or board solicitor, to review and approve those changes in place of the Director of Planning.

The planner or engineer will be designated by the department head to whom the Zoning Official reports.

The current Zoning Official is Ken Jones, and he reports to Business Administrator Jim Mallon. Each case will be considered on its own circumstances, to determine who the best person to help review the plan would be. It will be a team effort, and the Zoning Official will never make the determination on their own, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said.

The proposed ordinance was approved, 6-1, with Councilman Pete Guinosso providing the lone dissenting vote.

Guinosso’s issue appeared to be with the ordinance as a whole, as he believes everything should go through the planning and zoning boards for consistency. He said it might not be clear exactly what should be treated as “minor.”

McCrosson agreed, but noted that the proposed amendment doesn’t apply to that portion of the existing ordinance.

The public hearing and second reading of the proposed ordinance is set for March 24.