Ocean City Council Recap: What Did City Council Approve Last Week?

Ocean City, NJ -- Ocean City Council gave final approval to three proposed ordinances meant to clarify and tidy up existing legislation during its June 23 meeting at City Hall.

The first reinserts yard encroachments as a permitted use into existing legislation for required yards for homes in the Riviera and Bayou sections of the city. The use was inadvertently left out when the ordinance was previously amended.

It also corrects the height for backyard patio encroachments to 8.2 feet. It is incorrectly listed at 7 feet in current legislation.

The next proposed ordinance clarifies what an architectural projection is. The legislation clarifies that architectural projections include chimneys and the full length or depth of a garage wall, which weren’t previously included.

The final piece of proposed legislation expands the number of porches that qualify for enhanced standards, including a decorative railing. Legislation would now include structures that have a deck over another deck with a permanent open roof as opposed to a solid closed roof.

All three ordinances were approved with 7-0 votes.

City Council also approved an ordinance on introduction that prohibits residential use on 9th Street in the Drive-In Business Zone.

Proposed changes to the existing ordinance also include requiring a side yard on every interior lot in the district, and setting a minimum width of 10 feet for side yards on corner lots facing 9th Street that are connected to public right-of-ways.

This ordinance was approved with a 5-1 vote, with Councilman Anthony Wilson recusing himself. Councilman Peter Guinosso, in his last meeting on council, voted against the legislation.

The public hearing and second reading is scheduled for July 14.