MINUTES OF THE BOROUGH OF CAPE MAY POINT

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

March 26, 2008

OPENING: The meeting was held at Borough Hall Meeting Room and was called to order by Chairperson Linda Adams at 7:00 PM. Joan Fraser read the Open Public Meetings Act.

ROLL CALL: Members:

Judi Bernard present

Jim Dippel absent

Joan Fraser present

Ernie Heegard absent

Lucinda Inskeep present

Dominic Miranda present

Linda Adams present

Alternates:

Nancy Henderson present

Mick Humbarger present

Joe Keller absent

Solicitor:

Stewart F. Kay present

Secretary:

Francine Nietubicz absent

MINUTES: Chairperson Linda Adams asked if there were any changes to the minutes of the meeting on February 27, 2007. Joan Fraser made a motion to approve as presented, seconded by Linda Adams. Fraser and Adams voted to approve the minutes, Bernard, Inskeep, Miranda, Henderson, and Humbarger abstained as they were not present at the February meeting.

BUSINESS:

Annual Report. Ms. Adams handed out a copy of the Annual Report that had been prepared previously by Board Secretary Francine Nietubicz. She indicated that Joan Fraser, Joe Keller and she had met and identified a few points to include in the draft of the comments and recommendation section of the 2007 Annual Report. Board members reviewed and then started through a discussion on each point. Cindy Inskeep provided overall editing improvements to the draft and recommended categorizing separately our recommendations to the Board of Commissioners from proposed changes to the Board’s administrative procedures. Judy Bernard questioned the viability of a proposal to increase Board procedure regarding conditions on applicants to file for and gain approvals from other jurisdictional authorities. Mick Humbarger recommended that we stay with current procedures in this regard and take a closer look at it this year. The consensus of the group was to remove this item from the report.

Upon further discussion, members agreed to the following recommendations. Recommendations to the Commissioners—a) Ordinance development for lot, building, vegetation coverage (repeat from last year) AND consolidate the related “ad hoc” regulations and definitions for pervious-impervious, landscaping, stone, etc. that affect coverage from all other sections of the Code Book and in particular, in Chapter 150, b)Review existing parking regulations in light of State “Residential Site Improvement Standards,” c)Recommend that the Planning Board/Commissioners continue to assess alternative approaches to zoning ordinance and/or design incentives to avoid box-like housing designs as applicants before the Zoning Board seek variance and use cottage-oriented housing design as a special reason to obtain a variance on new construction, d)Clarification on regulation in the public right of way, e)ordinance development and oversight to strengthen zoning regulation and enforcement thereof as to alterations, expansions, or change in use on pre-existing nonconforming use properties, f)Request that adequate staffing resources be provided to permit the Zoning Officer to attend and provide report to the Zoning Board at variance application hearings,

Regarding internal changes to Board procedures and policies, Board members agreed to include the following recommendations for change; a)establish inter-departmental procedures to improve and maximize collaboration between the Zoning Board and the Zoning Office regarding applications to the Board and enforcement of conditions placed on an approval for variance, b)Compile a comprehensive listing and profile of pre-existing nonconforming use in the Point as reference for the Zoning Officer and the Board, c)Establish application and disposition procedures on appeal and/or interpretation applications to the Board.

Judy Bernard made a motion to accept the recommendations as revised and edited. Nancy Henderson provided the second. Bernard, Fraser, Inskeep, Miranda, Henderson, Humbarger and Adams voted to approved the annual report. Board Attorney Kay will prepare a resolution to memorialize this Board action to be on the next regular meeting agenda.

ADJOURNMENT:

Hearing no other business, Chairperson Adams accepted a motion from Judy Bernard and a second from Mick Humbarger to adjourn. Through unanimous voice approval, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Adams (substitute recording secretary)

Approval Date:

Signature ___________________________