Ocean City Council Makes Final Decision on Pile-Driving Ordinance

Ocean City, NJ -- Ocean City Council amended city ordinance at the behest of homeowners still looking to rebuild following Superstorm Sandy Thursday night.

Council unanimously approved an amendment to city ordinance that loosens restrictions on the use of mechanical boring/auger and vibration to install pilings. This includes the expansion of hours in which these devices can be used, to Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., year-round.

There is no change on the restriction for the use a pile hammer, known for noisy, groundbreaking vibrations. They can still only be used from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday, in July and August. No pile driving whatsoever will be permitted on Saturday and Sunday.

The proposal was approved on first reading on July 14, after it was amended to keep in place legislation that says contractors using pile hammers must notify residents within 200 feet of the work area at least 14 days before work begins.

The administration had been proposing a 10-day notification for homeowners within 100 feet of the work area.

The amendment doesn’t impact bulkheads, which fall under a different section of the ordinance, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said in response to a question from resident Wayne Mozzo.

Mozzo also asked council to consider the mess that’s left behind by contractors, who he said leave pilings behind, blocking garages and alleys.

Council Vice President Anthony Wilson agreed, and added the city needs to find a better way to protect the streets when contractors bring their big trucks in to town.

“We need to look at what contractors are doing to protect our streets,” Wilson said. “We need some language that protects us from these rigs coming in and ripping our streets apart.”

He said he’s seen indentations left in the streets by big rigs driving through the city.

Wilson added that if the ordinance needs to be altered to include bulkheads, he thinks that’s something the city should look at.