By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Ocean City is making another attempt to acquire a coveted tract of land that Mayor Jay Gillian hopes to preserve as open space instead of having it developed into a housing project by the private owners.
City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson told City Council on Thursday night that a new round of negotiations has begun with property owner Klause Enterprises for the block of land bordered by Simpson and Haven avenues between 16th and 17th streets.
“We’d like to move forward with acquisition as quickly as possible,” McCrosson said.
Although the city would prefer to reach a deal to buy the property from Klause Enterprises, it is also keeping the option open to acquire it through condemnation if negotiations fail, McCrosson added.
Gillian and City Council attempted to acquire the land from Klause Enterprises last year for $9 million, but the deal fell through when the community group Fairness In Taxes circulated a petition drive for a voter referendum to block the purchase.
The mayor wants to preserve the land as open space to protect it from densely packed housing construction that would add to the town’s overdevelopment.
McCrosson said the city has a “basic concept” for the property, which would include keeping it as open space and also using a portion for parking for the adjacent Ocean City Community Center.
The mayor will soon announce details of a town hall meeting to gather public feedback from residents about what they would like to see done with the land if the city acquires it.
“We hope we’ll get some more concrete ideas,” McCrosson said.
Brothers Harry and Jerry Klause of Klause Enterprises plan to develop 21 single-family homes on the property. The project was granted final Ocean City planning board approval in October.
The homes would replace a sprawling blacktop and concrete lot that served as the location for the former Perry-Egan Chevrolet dealership that once occupied the site. An old building that had served as the dealership’s showroom was demolished in November.
Although 21 homes were approved by the planning board, one lot is a mere half-foot short for a 22nd house. Klause Enterprises intends to return before the board to seek approval to build the 22nd home, company representatives indicated.
The 21-home project is “fully conforming” with local zoning and planning laws and no variances are needed for construction, Avery Teitler, attorney for Klause Enterprises, told the planning board members in October.
Teitler said in an October interview that the Klauses are serious about developing the project, but he did not rule out the possibility of negotiating a deal for the property’s sale to the city.
McCrosson did not mention any purchase price for the property Thursday night while updating City Council on the latest negotiations with Klause Enterprises.
Also at the Council meeting, a city official announced that contractors will be required to use eco-friendly alternatives to pesticides and fertilizers on some city property as part of a new landscaping contract for parks, playgrounds and other public areas.
The city’s landscaping contract will go out to bid in January for 32 public areas scattered throughout town. Eight of those sites will be opened up for eco-friendly “organic” landscaping bids, City Business Administrator George Savastano told Council.
The city’s decision to use eco-friendly landscaping on some public property follows months of urging by local environmental advocate Donna Moore. She frequently appears before the governing body to talk about the potential health hazards of pesticides and fertilizers containing toxic chemicals.
Waving hand-written signs above her head that dramatize her warnings, Moore has been appealing to Council to have the city’s landscaping contractors use environmentally friendly methods to help protect humans, animals, marine life and the water supply.
Moore was present – along with her signs – during Thursday’s meeting when Savastano made his announcement. She said she was encouraged by the city’s move toward organic landscaping, but indicated she would like to see eco-friendly methods used for all public property to create a “healthier family island.”
“Groundwater contamination is a problem with all of these pesticides,” she said in public remarks to Council.
For the past several months, the city has been using the grounds of the Bayside Center as a test area that is free of pesticides and fertilizer.
Ocean City operates the three-story Bayside Center at 520 Bay Avenue as a combination museum, community center and nature center through a long-term lease with Cape May County, the building’s owner. It is a popular tourist attraction that features sprawling green grounds and a bayside marina.
In another matter Thursday, Council tabled a proposed zoning ordinance that would permit grass paver blocks as an option for driveway construction.
The city is looking for a more attractive alternative to concrete driveways. The addition of grass paver blocks for driveways would also help to reduce flooding by allowing water to drain faster.
Following a lengthy discussion between the Council members, Gillian and McCrosson, as well as pointed questions from members of the public about a number of aspects of the ordinance, the measure was tabled until January.
“We can keep making it better,” Gillian said of the proposed ordinance. “Let’s keep tweaking it.”
To start the meeting, Council honored the state champion Ocean City High School girls soccer team. The players and coach Kelly Halliday joined with the Council members for photos and the reading of a city proclamation recognizing the team’s “outstanding dedication, determination and team spirit.”
Ocean City topped Ramapo 3-0 in the Group III title game last month, while compiling a 24-1-1 record overall. It was the team’s 19th shutout of the season. Ocean City also had the state’s top-rated offense with 114 goals.
