Proposed Construction Won't Change Makeup Of Ocean City Neighborhood, Solicitor Says

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said a proposed ordinance that went before council asking it to express interest in a currently unimproved strip of land would likely result in the construction of a new home, but it wouldn’t drastically change the neighborhood it’s in.

Jane Anderman owns a home adjacent to the empty piece of land on Westminster Lane. The city owns the land, but Anderman proposes buying the land for $24,035, build a sidewalk for pedestrian use on the adjacent right of way owned by the city, and donate the sidewalk to the city for no cost. She would take on the cost of the construction. The land is worth $25,300.

The land is smaller than the minimum size required for development by the city, but is needed for public use. There is one other home adjacent to the land, but the owner of that property didn’t respond to the city’s offer.
McCrosson said the construction on the unimproved strip of land would likely increase the value of Anderman’s home, and she expected there would be one new home, but not two. The home is in the Merion Park section of the city.

Council approved the proposal on introduction, 7-0 during Thursday night's meeting at city hall. The public hearing and final vote is set for the May 11 meeting.

Patch file photo