Cape May Zoning Board Approves Vital Elevator for Special Needs Accessibility

In a recent meeting, the Cape May Zoning Board took steps to improve the life of a young resident named Abigail, who is confined to a wheelchair due to critical eye impairment. The board discussed and approved a variance request for the construction of an exterior elevator tower at a summer home. This decision stood out in the meeting as it directly impacts the well-being of a family and addresses essential accessibility concerns within the community.

The board moved on to address the specifics of the elevator proposal, which was designed to be unobtrusive and meet all relevant engineering standards. The elevator’s addition would enable Abigail to move from the ground level to the first, second, and third floors independently. The family assured the board that the elevator would not change the intensity of use on the property or the parking needs.

During the presentation, witnesses outlined the current conditions of the site and the proposed construction plans. The architect, accepted as an expert by the board, detailed that the construction would not expand the building’s footprint or occupancy. The proposal also confirmed adherence to setbacks, building height, and flood regulations. The board engineer was sworn in, and the presentation emphasized the limited impact on the property while preserving light, air, and open space. It was asserted that the proposed construction would not be detrimental to the public good.

The board members engaged in discussions about the design of the elevator and its potential effects on the surrounding area. Questions arose about the engineering assessment and the elevator’s access to the garage. There was also a debate regarding the placement of the elevator and its impact on the floor area ratio. Despite these concerns, the detailed insights into the proposed elevator addition revealed careful consideration of all aspects of the project.

In addition to the elevator construction, the board reviewed a variance request related to the floor area ratio of a semi-detached dwelling. After the board engineer corrected a typo in the report, it was clarified that the proposed floor area ratio of 0.53 slightly exceeded the requirement of 0.50, necessitating a d variance and five affirmative votes. The board looked over conditions concerning stormwater management, landscaping, sidewalk replacement, inspection escrow fee, and compliance with state, county, and local approvals. The fire department, public works department, and shade tree commission had recommended approval with no comments. The board ultimately voted to approve the variance request after public comments, including endorsements from two nearby residents who expressed no concerns about the proposed construction.

The meeting also included the adoption of several resolutions for different properties, a withdrawn application, and the announcement of an adjourned application set to be heard at a future meeting. However, these procedural elements, while necessary for the board’s operation, paled in comparison to the impact of the decisions made regarding the elevator construction and the floor area ratio variance.

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:
Zachary Mullock
Zoning Board Officials:
Marissa McCorkle, Michael Yeager, William Bezaire, Dennis Crowley, Robert Gorgone, Richard Lundholm, Marilyn Reed, Michael Jones (Vice Chairperson with Environmental Commission), Norman Ledwin, Mary Notch, Stacy Sheehan, Sam Venuto (Vice Chairperson), Timothy Walsh, Theresa Werner (Chairperson), Marvin Zektzer

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
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
Congressional Committee
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
State Legislative Committee
State School Board
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
CA
Alameda County
Los Angeles County
San Bernardino County
San Francisco County
CO
Adams County
Arapahoe County
Boulder County
Douglas County
El Paso County
Elbert County
Garfield County
Jefferson County
Mesa County
Montrose County
Pueblo County
Teller County
Weld 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
IL
Cook County
Kane
Kane County
Mchenry
IN
Marion 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
MD
Montgomery County
MI
Berrien County
Genesee County
Grand Traverse County
Ingham County
Kent County
Oakland County
Washtenaw County
Wayne 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
Montgomery County
Rutherford County
Shelby County
Williamson County
TX
Dallas County
Harris County
Tarrant County
VA
Fairfax County
Loudoun County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording