By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, July 20 introduced an ordinance revising its existing zoning regulations.
Ordinance 10-2023 amends Chapter 175 Land Use in several sections. The Planning Board has 35 days to review the commission’s recommendations and decide if the changes meet the intent of the city’s Master Plan. It can accept the revisions or make alternative recommendations to cure inconsistencies. The city’s Master Plan has been in effect since May 12, 2017.
“I reviewed the ordinance and I’m looking forward to what the Planning Board has to say,” Mayor Michael Collins said.
Changes in the ordinance include reducing the width of curb cuts on smaller lots, clarifies setbacks for garage doors regardless of driveway space, allows pervious artificial turf for driveway ribbons, clarifies outdoor fire pits that burn wood or gas, limits the number of stories over parking on lots less than 40 feet wide, and clarifies building heights, dormer heights and half-stories in certain areas. It also redefines residential/commercial uses in certain zones, provides floor areas for mixed use properties, and sets fees for city professionals to review cases.
The changes aim to help the city improve safety and update areas of concern in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which has shifted priorities in coastal communities.
Because there are some building projects currently under construction, upon adoption, the city will offer a 30-day grace period before enforcing it.
The Planning Board is scheduled to review the ordinance at its meeting 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27 at Historic City Hall, 1 S. Washington Ave.
Information about the ordinance and related exhibits is available for review at https://www.margate-nj.com/planning-board-zoning/agenda/agenda-115
Collins is also seeking candidates to serve as his designee on the Planning Board. Letters of interest can be sent to both Collins at mcollins@margate-nj.com and Administrator Ken Mosca at kmosca@margate-nj.com.
In other business, the commissioners learned a second quote for replacing the roof at the Margate Public Library came in at twice the cost as originally estimated. The first bid received in October 2022 was rejected because it exceeded the estimate. City Engineer Ed Dennis Jr. said the city could revise the scope of work before rebidding.
Dennis also informed the board that the DEP will require the city to resurvey the backbay area before applying for a dredging permit. The old surveys, which were funded with a Post-Sandy Planning Grant, were conducted to assess the impact of the storm, and were used to “get us to this point,” but need to be updated, he said.
“We will have to pay for the new survey out of pocket,” Dennis said.
Mosca said funding is in place to fund the new study.
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