Long-vacant Getty and BP gas stations at the foot of the Ninth Street Bridge in Ocean City, NJ would be subject to a new abandoned properties ordinance if City Council passes a second reading on June 25.
City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that would allow the city to take control of abandoned properties that become a nuisance to the community in Ocean City.
The ordinance would authorize the mayor to assign an officer to create an abandoned properties list based on a variety of criteria (see PDF below). The city would then have the right to take control of properties, borrow money to rehabilitate them, and recover costs through liens on sale of properties.
Mayor Jay Gillian has said that the first targets of the ordinance would be three long-vacant gas stations at the foot of the Ninth Street Bridge — the first sights to greet visitors traveling the main route into Ocean City. Gillian said he would like to see the properties preserved as open space.
Council will consider the second and potentially final reading of the ordinance at its public meeting 7 p.m. June 25 at City Hall.
Council had approved one reading of a similar ordinance, but City Solicitor Dottie McCrosson
recommended on May 14 that Council table the measure and bring forth a resolution at its May 28 meeting acknowledging that blighted and abandoned properties in Ocean City are indeed a problem. She said the resolution would make the ordinance more “bulletproof.” Council followed her recommendations.
Councilman Mike DeVlieger said on Thursday that he is surprised the owners of the three gas station properties have made no apparent effort to clean their properties despite the widespread publicity of the proposed new ordinance.
If the city were to attempt to turn the properties into open space, it would come at an expense. The city would have to negotiate or litigate compensation for the properties, if it were to seize them.
Two of the properties are
listed on the state Department of Environmental Protection's list of "Active Sites With Confirmed Contamination," and the cost of any cleanup would be factored into the compensation.
City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said the owners of the properties are paying their city taxes, but not maintaining their properties.
In other business at Thursday’s meeting:
- McCrosson and Stanton Contract: City Council approved a professional services contract that would renew the services of the McCrosson and Stanton law firm for general legal services for the city at a rate of $175 per hour plus costs.
- Schilling Estate Grant: City Council voted to apply for a $325,000 state Green Acres grant to be used toward purchase of vacant property that fronts the boardwalk at 19th Street. If the grant were received, the city would be responsible for only $175,000 of a $1.75 million purchase. (Read more: $1.75 Million Deal Will Keep Boardwalk Lots Undeveloped Forever.)
- Historic District Workshop: City Council scheduled a public workshop on July 16 to discuss potential changes to the ordinance governing the district. Representatives from the state, who had toured the district, will be invited to share their input.
- First Ward Meeting: Councilman Mike DeVlieger announced an open First Ward meeting for 7 p.m. June 24 at the Bayside Center, off Bay Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets. He said Mayor's Assistant Mike Dattilo will provide updates on projects in the ward before the meeting is opened to general topics.
- Second Ward Meeting: Councilman Antwan McClellan set a tentative date of 10 a.m. June 20 for a Second Ward meeting at the Eighth Street Recreation Center. He said he still has to confirm the details.
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