By Donald Wittkowski
The fate of Ocean City’s “coastal cottages” will be discussed when City Council votes on a proposed ordinance that would slow down the development of this new generation of smaller, more affordable homes.
The ordinance, up for a public hearing and final approval at Council’s meeting 7 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, would eliminate coastal cottages from a redevelopment zone concentrated along Haven Avenue in the center of town.
Most Council members and Mayor Jay Gillian have said they want to “take a pause” with the cottages to study their potential impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
Council President Keith Hartzell called it a hotbed issue when the governing body introduced the ordinance on Feb. 25 by a 6-1 vote. Councilman Peter Guinosso cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he thought the Planning Board should take the lead and then come back to Council with any recommended changes for the development of the cottages.
Hartzell said he was in favor of conducting a long-term study of the cottages because of their potential to profoundly reshape the neighborhoods. He likened the ordinance to putting the cottages “on hold” instead of abolishing them altogether.
Council originally approved the concept of coastal cottages in 2013 as a way to attract more year-round families to town. The idea was to build smaller, more affordable homes that would appeal to young families and offer an alternative to the large duplexes that dominate parts of the city.
Coastal cottages were seen then as the centerpiece of efforts to revitalize the Haven Avenue corridor with new development.
However, in calling for a pause in their construction, city officials believe more time is needed to analyze the community impacts of the cottages and to refine their building requirements.
Among the concerns are whether the cottages should be built at lower heights to have them blend in better with the surrounding neighborhood. Sales prices, lot sizes and whether the cottages should have decks are other key issues.
City spokesman Doug Bergen said the city may also consider finding new locations for the cottages that would be appropriate.
So far, only one coastal cottage project is under construction. Known as Costeria Cottages, the development consists of 18 homes along Haven Avenue at 12th and 13th streets.
The proposed ordinance, if given final Council approval Thursday, would not stop the Costeria Cottages project. Costeria and other proposed coastal cottage projects that have already been approved by the city would be grandfathered in under the new ordinance, City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said.
Once the ordinance is approved by Council, it will be referred to the Planning Board to make sure it is consistent with the goals of the city’s master plan, which serves as the overall blueprint to guide housing and commercial development.
“The Planning Board may consider revisions and possible reenactment of a coastal cottage ordinance in the future,” City Planner Randall Scheule said in a March 2 report accompanying the ordinance.
Also Thursday, Council is expected to vote on an ordinance that would make it easier for active-duty military personnel and veterans to gain free access to the city’s beaches.
Bergen explained that the new ordinance would make things more convenient for them by allowing them to simply show proof of their military service when they are on the beaches.
“Any time they go to the beach, they’re good,” Bergen said.
Under existing law, military personnel and veterans have to stop at City Hall to obtain free beach tags, Bergen said.
Ocean City waives beach fees for active-duty military personnel, their spouses and dependent children. Military veterans are also given free access to the beaches. The perk is the city’s way of thanking them for their service to the country.
