Margate Gardens, 9710 Ventnor Ave.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – Not satisfied with the response received from the Board of Commissioners about a developer allegedly violating his permitting, a resident has called on the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office to investigate.
Patrick Geddes Thursday, April 18 listened to comments provided by city attorney John Scott Abbott and developer Steve Baglivo’s attorney, Eric S. Goldstein of Nehmad Davis & Goldstein PC, about his concerns but he was not satisfied with their explanations.
“Someone is not telling the truth,” Geddes said. “I guess I’m going to have to get proof. I think he’s lying to you. I think he’s trying to run the city more than you folks are.”
Geddes informed Downbeach.com that he filled out a tip sheet and had an investigator from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office assigned to his case.
“I told him how unhappy I was yesterday that those four guys met and decided everything was on the up-and-up without inspection,” Geddes said April 19. “I think the McLarnon/Galantino/Abbott team is being deceptive…”
Geddes said he hopes Mayor Michael Collins is not involved in a coverup.
According to the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission, Baglivo, an established residential builder operating in Margate, provided a $2,500 contribution to the Collins, Horn & Blumberg campaign in 2023.
“…the Mayor’s Office appoints these people and even if it wasn’t him that appoints them, he is still responsible for their actions,” Geddes said.
Geddes believes Baglivo is renting more apartments at his Margate Gardens property at 9710 Ventnor Ave. than the six, two-bedroom, two bath units approved by the Planning Board on Aug. 25, 2022,
Abbott said there is “misinformation” being spread on the internet.
Abbott brought up the issue during the commissioners’ work session to “let everybody know what’s going on and how we are straightening out some of these issues,” he said.
Each of the six approved units was provided with two parking spaces in the parking lot, with three spaces reserved for the commercial property located on the first floor of the complex. Geddes said one of the tenants told him he is renting a one-bedroom unit and was told to park elsewhere to ensure the commercial property has availability of off street parking for the convenience of customers. That causes parking conflicts for other residents who live in nearby properties that do not have off-street parking available.
Geddes reiterated his concerns to the board at the meeting on Thursday but received no satisfaction from Margate officials responsible for upholding the Planning Board’s decision.
Abbott said he has reviewed leases Baglivo placed on file, and Certificates of Occupancy for the units, and the leases contain no restrictions on parking.
“It’s six units, not 12. They are all occupied,” Abbott said. “The developer has represented to me, and I take him at his word, that he’s not restricting parking.”
Geddes asked if anyone has inspected the units since he made his complaint.
“Are they now going into private residences where people live? No,” Abbott said.
“We did inspect the units after the stoves were taken out, and there’s photos of the proof,” Building Inspector Jim Galantino said.
Geddes also told commissioners that originally, units were numbered 301A, 301B, etc., but as of Wednesday, each unit was labeled with the name of the occupant, Galantino said.
Geddes filed an Open Public Records Act request for all the Certificates of Occupancy issued for the units.
Documentation provided by the Building Department shows each of the six residential units was issued a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy on Dec. 11, 2023. The Temporary COs indicate they are two-bedroom, two-bath units. Baglivo was required to “provide piling vibration report,” “provide flood proofing certificate,” “provide proof of final elevator inspection approval,” and “obtain final zoning re-inspection approval” to remove temporary status. The initial Temporary COs had an expiration date of Feb. 9, 2024.
Continuing Temporary COs were issued for all the residential units on April 18, the day of the commissioners’ meeting, with the same conditions, except for the piling vibration report, and given a new expiration date of June 17. Temporary COs were also provided for the commercial portion of the building and the Marble Building next door.
Galantino did not return phone calls requesting additional information about how continuing temporary COs are issued.
Goldstein indicated Gedde’s complaint may be a moot point as Baglivo plans to turn the building into condominiums and sell the units – six residential and five commercial. The commercial portion of the building currently houses a liquor store, which held a grand opening celebration last weekend.
Goldstein said Baglivo is willing to meet with officials to alleviate residents’ concerns.
“He’s never not wanted to address these issues. As you know, we addressed them several times, but the internet and people have a little bit of an idea of what is actually going on compared to the truth. I don’t know why this has become such a big deal.”
According to Geddes, the Prosecutor’s Office declined an investigation and referred him to the NJ Department of Community Affairs Office of Regulatory Affairs, the state agency that investigates Uniform Construction Code violations.
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