11-23-2021 Planning Board Work Session

City of Cape May Planning Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, November 23, 2021 Opening: The meeting of the City of Cape May Planning Board was called to order by Chairperson Bill Bezaire at 6:30 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. Gorgone Present Mayor Mullock Absent Deputy Mayor Sheehan Present Dr. Wolf Absent Mrs. Reed Present Mr. Yeager Absent Mr. Crowley Alt # 1 Present Mr. Lundholm Alt # 2 Present Also Present: Richard King, Esquire, Board Solicitor Craig Hurless, Board Engineer and Planner Karen Keenan, Board Secretary Announcement: Chairperson Bezaire read Mr. Yeager’s resignation letter which explained that he was appointed to City Council and cannot also serve on the Planning Board. Discussion: Master Plan Consistency Review of Ordinance 450-2021 An Ordinance Authorizing and Encouraging Electric Vehicle Supply/Service Equipment (EVSE) & Make Ready Parking Spaces Board Engineer and Planner Hurless began the discussion by summarizing his memorandum dated October 25, 2021 and said that every New Jersey municipality is affected with very little changes that can be made to the ordinance. Planner Hurless explained that Council did incorporate the Historic Preservation Commission into the Ordinance. He said the Board can incorporate comments to the governing body and reviewed how the ordinance is consistent with the Master Plan goals and objectives including the Conservation Element – Energy Conservation and Stewardship, Energy Master Plan, and Resiliency & Sustainability. Planner Hurless shared the concerns with the ordinance: specifically that the definitions of private EVSE and public EVSE are not clear, an application type and fee need to be implemented, and enforcement and compliance issues. Planner Hurless provided an example where EVSE/make ready spaces count as two spaces ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ City of Cape May Planning Board Minutes, November 23, 2021 1 for the purpose of minimum parking space requirement. Solicitor King asked if regular cars are permitted to park in EVSE spaces, and Planner Hurless said no. Board Members were allotted time for questions and comments. There was a discussion on lot coverage on private property. It was determined that an owner of existing site does not have to change their current parking conditions. Planner Hurless said that if the lot coverage is increased a variance will be required, and the parking standards still apply. He added that this supersedes all ordinances that are not consistent with this new ordinance, and a permit can be sought without site plan approval being required for changes of regular parking spaces to EVSE parking spaces. Planner Hurless added that there will be a reduction in commercial parking, for example, at the start of the implementation with less electric vehicles on the road. He said the Board can make recommendations on time limits for electric vehicle usage, location of EVSE spaces and EVSE design features. Member Crowley suggested that the Board send comments to Council in their resolution and the Board agreed. Motion made by Mr. Crowley that the Planning Board finds Ordinance 450-2021 is consistent with the Master Plan with the Planning Board’s determination that the Ordinance is also inconsistent with certain portions of the Master Plan that seek to improve parking city wide and the Master Plan’s desire to preserve the streetscape and character of historic neighborhoods. Council is urged to modify such portions of the Ordinance as it is legally able in order to address these comments, seconded by Mr. Belasco and carried 8-0. Those in favor: Mr. Belasco, Mr. Gorgone, Deputy Mayor Sheehan, Mrs. Reed, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Lundholm, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bezaire. Those opposing: None. Those abstaining: None. Solicitor King advised the Board that a member can speak on legislation as a member of public but cannot speak for the Planning Board. Open to Public: There was no public present for comment. Motion made to adjourn by Mr. Belasco at 7:27 PM with all in favor. Respectfully submitted: Karen Keenan, Board Secretary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ City of Cape May Planning Board Minutes, November 23, 2021 2