By Missy Ritti
For OCNJ Daily
City Council on Thursday adopted a measure intended to encourage single-family home construction in areas otherwise dominated by duplexes — with the goal of growing Ocean City’s year-round population.
Council adopted, on second reading, an ordinance that amends zoning to allow single family homes built on zoned-duplex lots to feature two-and-a-half stories.
Homebuyers and builders who take advantage of the amended zoning ordinance must still conform to the height and setback requirements of neighboring duplex units, according to City Solicitor Dottie McCrosson.
“This ordinance will not increase the size of the building in any way,” she told council members. “There is no additional mass or bulk. It adds habitable space in what would otherwise be the attic.”
The ordinance passed 6-1, with Councilman Peter Guinosso casting the lone dissenting vote.
Also Thursday, City Council introduced and approved a $513,448 budget for the Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) – the downtown section of Asbury Avenue, the gateway portion of Ninth Street and the retail section of the Ocean City Boardwalk.
Chief Financial Officer Frank Donato III said the majority of the budget – which is funded by assessments on businesses within the SIDs – goes to the advertising and promotion of various events each year, including fall and spring block parties, fall fireworks, Mummers nights and more. The SIDs budget will be presented again to City Council for final adoption in January.
City Council had an introduction and first reading of an ordinance that would reduce by half the number of bicycle-cart licenses that will be issued in 2016. McCrosson told council members that the decision to offer just 10 bicycle-cart licenses next year, instead of the 20 that were previously available, comes as a result of the recommendation by City Purchasing Manager Joseph Clark “based on historic demand.” Other changes recommended include allowing one vendor to bid on all 10 licenses, and specifying that bicycle-cart sales cease at 6 p.m. instead of sunset.
City Council agreed to borrow $1,995,000 to put toward a planned $2.1 million road and drainage improvement project with work concentrated in the area of 14th to 17th Streets, from Bay Avenue to the bay and including side streets such as Sunset Place and Bayonne Place. City Council President Keith Hartzell was “particularly happy” about the project, which he called “overdue.”
“It is excellent that it’s being attended to,” Hartzell added.
Paving could begin as early as late winter, once utility companies complete work already underway in the area.
