05/24/2022 Planning Board Work Session

City of Cape May Planning Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 24, 2022 Opening: The meeting of the City of Cape May Planning Board was called to order by Chairperson Bill Bezaire at 6:32 PM in the City Hall Auditorium. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice was provided. Roll Call: Mr. Bezaire, Chairperson Present Mr. Jones, Vice Chairperson Present Mr. Belasco Present Mr. Crowley Present Mr. Gorgone Absent Mayor Mullock Present Mrs. Reed Absent Deputy Mayor Sheehan Absent Mr. Lundholm Present Mr. Maloy Alt # 1 Absent Mr. Padussis Alt # 2 Present Also Present: Richard King, Esquire, Board Solicitor Craig Hurless, Board Engineer and Planner Karen Keenan, Board Secretary Minutes: Motion made by Mr. Crowley to approve the meeting minutes of May 10, 2022, seconded by Mr. Lundholm and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Belasco, Mayor Mullock, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Lundholm, Mr. Padussis, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bezaire. Those opposing: None. Those abstaining: None. Resolution(s): There was a discussion regarding the wording in Resolution number 05-24-2022: 1 for SP Cape May Marina LLC regarding the parking at the site. It was determined that the following sentence on page three is to be deleted: There are no stated parking requirements in the Code for this specific use. Motion made by Mr. Crowley to adopt Resolution number 05-24-2022: 1 as amended, SP Cape May Marina LLC, 124 Rosemans Lane, seconded by Mr. Belasco and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Belasco, Mayor Mullock, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Lundholm, Mr. Padussis, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bezaire. Those opposing: None. Those abstaining: None. City of Cape May Planning Board Meeting Minutes, May 24, 2022 1 Motion made by Mr. Crowley to adopt Resolution number 05-24-2022: 2, New Cingular Wireless PCS LLC (AT&T), 1036 Beach Avenue, seconded by Mr. Belasco and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Belasco, Mayor Mullock, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Lundholm, Mr. Padussis, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bezaire. Those opposing: None. Those abstaining: None. Application: Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May 500 Hughes Street Block 1048, Lot(s) 1.06 & 6 Attorney Anthony Monzo introduced the application for preliminary and final site plan approval and variances for lot coverage and parking within setbacks and Paul Gentlini, an elder for the church and Engineer Louis Scheidt. Mr. Gentlini, Engineer Scheidt and Board Engineer and Planner Craig Hurless were sworn in by Solicitor King. Attorney Monzo stated the uses of the property are religious services and community services including a food bank. Mr. Gentlini, head of the church building and maintenance committee said the reasons for the project are to improve the safety and look of the property and address water problems and poor lighting. Engineer Scheidt presented his credentials and was accepted as an expert by Chairperson Bezaire. He showed the Site Plan, sheet three of five and indicated that the parking lot consists of clamshells and gravel, and the church wants to pave the parking lot and add lights and onsite drainage. He described the parking setbacks at five feet to be existing nonconforming to remain nonconforming, and the lot coverage to be 58.9% existing and 80.8% proposed. Engineer Scheidt said the project’s benefits outweigh the negative with the positives all being safety related. He added there will be no substantial detriment to the public good nor the zone plan. Engineer Hurless addressed the Board about new stormwater regulations requiring review of the project as a major development. He explained that the Department of Environmental Protection audits site plans and advised that the applicant is asking for a waiver, which the Board is allowed to grant, from the design standards. Engineer Scheidt described the proposed stormwater system as small due to site constraint of lack of room with the added system to improve the existing water storage and discharge system. He said the church was built in the 1880s before municipal land use law. Engineer Scheidt said any water runoff in excess will not affect adjoining properties. Board Engineer Hurless then summarized his report dated March 22, 2022. He described his zoning and completeness review and the waivers he supported. He summarized the variances requested and then shared his general review comments 1-9 in detail with all items being conditions of approval. Engineer Hurless read the Environmental Commission and Shade Tree City of Cape May Planning Board Meeting Minutes, May 24, 2022 2 Commission reports, dated April 4, 2022 and April 1, 2022 respectively, including planting native species and protection of the roots and no existing tree nor hedges to be removed. Attorney Monzo stated the applicant agreed to comply with the requirements of the Environmental and Shade Tree Commissions. There was then a discussion on make ready electric spaces which was in the code in section 525- 49 which was repealed then replaced with section 525-89. Engineer Hurless stated that this is a state requirement. It was determined and agreed regarding Electric Vehicle Supply/Service Equipment (EVSE) & Make-Ready Parking Spaces, to be worked out between Attorney Monzo and Engineer Hurless: condition imposed if there was an ordinance, in effect at the time the application, that applies, the applicant will comply; if an ordinance was not in effect at the time of the application, the applicant will not have to comply. Board members were allotted time for questions of Engineer Hurless. Discussion was opened to the public at 7:41 PM and closed with no public coming forward to comment. Motion made by Mr. Lundholm to grant Preliminary & Final Site Plan Approval with associated waivers as well as variances for lot coverage, parking within setbacks – Decatur, parking within setbacks – Columbia, parking within setbacks - Side Yard, with particular attention to waiver for the stormwater issues that were addressed by the Board Engineer and the expert and the Electric Vehicle Supply/Service Equipment (EVSE) & Make-Ready Parking Spaces condition if there was an ordinance, in effect at the time the application, that applies, the applicant will comply; if an ordinance was not in effect at the time of the application, the applicant will not have to comply--to be worked out between Mr. Monzo and Mr. Hurless, also the condition that whatever landscaping replacements to be made will be species acceptable according to the recommendations in the Environmental Commission and Shade Tree Commission reports and all conditions of approval outlined in the review memorandum, from Board Engineer Craig R. Hurless, PE, PP, CME, dated March 22, 2022, seconded by Mr. Jones and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Belasco, Mayor Mullock, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Lundholm, Mr. Padussis, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bezaire. Those opposing: None. Those abstaining: None. Mayor Mullock expressed best of luck to this good project. Motion made to adjourn by Chairperson Bezaire at 7:44 PM with all in favor. Respectfully submitted: Karen Keenan, Board Secretary City of Cape May Planning Board Meeting Minutes, May 24, 2022 3