The owners of Island Beach Gear at Ninth Street and Bay Avenue will go before the Ocean City Planning Board on Wednesday with a plan to expand by adding a second and third floor above parts of the existing retail store.
The board will consider a site plan that proposes additions that would turn the existing 10,489 square foot store into one with a total floor area of 18,820 square feet.
The store sits at the foot of the Ninth Street Bridge at Ocean City’s gateway and sells chairs and other beach, pool and patio gear, often displaying its colorful wares at curbside. It has been in business for a little less than a decade at the site of a former pharmacy.
In a public meeting at 6 p.m. May 13 at City Hall, the board will consider a site plan that requires variances for parking spaces, a truck berth and signs.
Though the new plan proposes 47 parking spots (eight more than exist now), 54 are required. One truck berth is required, but the plan proposes none. A maximum of three signs are permitted, and the plan proposes four.
If approved, the new structure would include 8,461 square feet of storage space, and 10,359 square feet of retail space. The property is part of the Drive-In Business (DB) Zone.
Beverley Gill owns Island Beach Gear. Her family also owns Tackle Direct, a fishing tackle business in Egg Harbor Township, and is redeveloping a marina on the bay at 10th Street.
