Sea Bright Planning Board Approves Property Rebuild Amid Parking and Zoning Debates

At a recent Sea Bright Planning Board meeting, issues discussed included the approval of a property rebuild on Surf Street, addressing concerns over parking, zoning, and the placement of mechanical equipment. The board approved the rebuild of the property, damaged by Superstorm Sandy, with conditions to comply with parking and zoning regulations. The debate over the number of bedrooms and the property’s use, particularly the possibility of it becoming a short-term rental, was central to the discussion.

The property on Surf Street, owned by David Mayor, became a focal point of the meeting due to the owner’s intention to tear down the existing structure and rebuild on the same foundation. Mayor’s testimony highlighted the house’s damage from Superstorm Sandy and its unsuitability for a modern family, noting the awkward layout and insufficient living space. The board heard from witnesses including David Feldman, Andrew Jenna, and Jennifer White, who provided details on the application. Despite some opposition, the application was approved, with the board requiring a roll call vote.

The board’s discussions regarding the Surf Street property also touched on other matters, such as the compliance with V-zone requirements and the foundation’s dimensions. The property owner assured the board of personal use for the house and the intention not to alter the foundation’s footprint. Architect David Feldman addressed concerns regarding the property’s parking spaces. The board and architect debated the number of parking spaces needed according to local ordinances and Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS) rules. The board insisted on adherence to local zoning regulations, expressing concerns over the proposed parking arrangement.

Concerns about the number of bedrooms in the property came under scrutiny as the board questioned the necessity of five bedrooms, which, paired with inadequate parking, could lead to potential issues in the neighborhood. The board was apprehensive about the property being used as an Airbnb boarding house, which could create overcrowding and disturbances. In response to these concerns, the applicant agreed to modify the plans, reducing the number of bedrooms to four and adjusting the parking layout to meet the board’s requirements.

Further complications arose around the issue of rear yard setback and parking spaces, with the board engineer pointing out the challenges of accommodating three full-sized cars. The possibility of enclosing the rear area to increase interior space was discussed, which would affect the total parking space required. The board deliberated on the potential need for a variance for the proposed parking spaces.

The placement of mechanical equipment for the property was debated in detail, considering the roof and deck level options for compliance with setback requirements and flood zone regulations. The board expressed a strong preference for meeting setback requirements without compromising parking spaces. The engineer’s testimony helped clarify the variances being requested and their impact on the property’s setbacks and coverage. The board also addressed the rear yard setback and building coverage variances, with the engineer assuring slight improvements to existing conditions and compliance with drainage and sidewalk maintenance standards.

The professional planner’s testimony supported the requested variances, linking the need for reconstruction with the community’s master plan and character. The planner emphasized that the variances would not generate excessive traffic, drainage issues, or noise, and aligned with the community’s vision for redevelopment.

Ultimately, the board approved the application with conditions, including restricting mechanical equipment in setbacks, adhering to setback requirements, removing certain walls, redirecting downspouts, and replacing damaged curbs and sidewalks. The board also discussed bonding for curb and sidewalk replacements and required revisions to the site plan to correct discrepancies.

In addition to the above matters, the meeting commenced with the swearing-in of Frank Lawrence as a class two member and the election of board officers, with C. Lance Cunningham appointed as chair and David DeSio as vice chair. The board also voted to retain Benjamin A. Montenegro as the board attorney, David J. Hoder as the board engineer, and Jennifer Beahm as the board planner. The official meeting schedule and newspapers for the upcoming year were established, and past meeting minutes were approved.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Brian P. Kelly
Planning Board Officials:
Frank Lawrence, Erwin Bieber, C. Lance Cunningham, Stephen Cashmore, Marc A. Leckstein, Elizabeth DeGiulio, David DeSio, Peggy Bills, Jon Schwartz, Mark Zelina, Candace B. Mitchell (Board Secretary), Benjamin A. Montenegro, Esq. (Board Attorney), David J. Hoder, P.E., P.P. (Board Engineer), Jennifer Beahm, P.P. AICP (Board Planner)

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording