Cape May Planning Board Tackles Parking and Zoning Challenges
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Meeting Type:
Planning Board
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Meeting Date:
07/09/2024
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Recording Published:
07/09/2024
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Duration:
71 Minutes
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State:
New Jersey
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County:
Cape May County
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Towns:
Cape May
- Meeting Overview:
The recent Cape May Planning Board meeting addressed several issues related to parking and zoning within the city, with focus on an application by 615 Lafayette Street LLC, discussions on ordinances for off-street storage of trailers, and proposed measures from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The meeting witnessed rigorous analysis of site plans, variances, and the alignment of new ordinances with the city’s master plan, highlighting the complexities of urban planning in a historic city like Cape May.
A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to an application by 615 Lafayette Street LLC, which involved a site plan and variance requests for an existing restaurant and bar in the C1 primary business district. The applicant, Andrew Katan, sought to legalize and reconfigure existing parking spaces that differed from a 2012 approved site plan. The board’s expert in planning and engineering, John Halbruner, provided insights into the existing conditions of the site, noting that the parking spaces, although not meeting the required dimensions, had been functioning effectively for 12 years.
The board discussed the narrowness of the lot and the unique features that created a hardship for complying with standard parking space requirements. Members evaluated whether the proposed changes advanced the purposes of zoning and whether the benefits outweighed the detriments. Variances for parking stall size and the buffer planting strip were on the table, along with compliance with stormwater management and grading requirements. The board also considered reports and recommendations from various city departments and commissions, including the fire, police, public works, environmental commission, and shade tree commission. A revision to the plan was requested to show aisles and signage for compact or golf cart parking.
Another topic was the debate over proposed ordinance measures regarding the off-street storage of trailers, an issue that some board members felt stretched beyond the Planning Board’s purview into police matters and parking enforcement. There was uncertainty about whether the ordinance was consistent with the zoning code, prompting a discussion about the need for a master plan consistency review. Concerns were also raised about how the ordinance, which was thought to have originated from the HPC, might affect properties with front yards on multiple streets. The board decided to seek clarification on the ordinance’s origin and its implications before proceeding further.
The board tackled additional proposed measures from the HPC, which included the extension of screened parking throughout the city and general parking regulations related to storing trailers and boats on private property. Members debated these measures’ potential conflict with the encouragement of parking on vacant lots, the creation of impervious surfaces in yards, and the efficiency and impact of front-facing garages on lot coverage. A discussion on parking requirements and garage design was called for, and the board resolved to remand the proposed measures back to the HPC for further review. It was recommended that an HPC representative attend the next meeting to address the concerns raised.
Zachary Mullock
Planning Board Officials:
Marissa McCorkle, Michael Yeager, William Bezaire, Dennis Crowley, Robert Gorgone, Richard Lundholm, Marilyn Reed, Michael Jones (Vice Chairperson), Gary Padussis, Dennis Crippen, Karen Keenan
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Meeting Type:
Planning Board
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Meeting Date:
07/09/2024
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Recording Published:
07/09/2024
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Duration:
71 Minutes
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Notability Score:
Routine
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State:
New Jersey
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County:
Cape May County
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Towns:
Cape May
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