Ocean City Planning Board Designated as Flood Appeals Board

Ocean City Council unanimously designated the Planning Board as the Flood Damage Prevention Board of Appeals Thursday night.

The purpose of the Flood Damage Prevention Appeal Board would be to hear and decide appeals and requests for variances related to flood damage prevention.

The City sees a need for such a board “in light of the current FEMA and flood insurance flood-proofing requirements,” as well as an increase in the number of homeowners interested in elevating or replacing their beachfront and bayfront bulkheads.

The ordinance was up for its public hearing and second reading on March 12, but had to be tabled when city officials discovered an ordinance from 1991 that requires approval from a defunct division of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection when it comes to approving appeals. That had to be corrected before the ordinance could be passed, but the ordinance had to be reintroduced.

It was reintroduced on March 26.

It was approved by a vote of 6-0 Thursday night. Councilman Peter Madden was absent.

City Council also approved an ordinance to extend the municipal budget appropriations limits and establish a cap bank ahead of adoption of the 2015 budget. The public hearing on the budget is set for April 30.