Ocean City Council Makes Final Decision on Administrative Site Plan Reviews

Ocean City, NJ -- Following a minor change by the Planning Board, Ocean City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that amends an existing ordinance that allows residents to make minor improvements to their homes without needing to go before the Planning and Zoning boards Thursday night.

The ordinance concerning Administrative Site Plan Review had designated 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.

On Thursday night at City Hall, council approved an amendment that 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 proposed ordinance was approved on introduction on Feb. 25. When the Planning Board reviewed the proposal, it recommended striking a portion that limited the number of alterations that may be made to a property to two.

“Whenever a new owner comes in, they may want to make minor changes that don’t require a variance,” Ocean City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said. “The Planning Board said there may be more than two made per property because some properties change hands every two years.”

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, McCrosson said.

The ordinance was approved by a vote of 6-0. Councilman Anthony Wilson was absent.