CAPE MAY POINT — Borough Commission discussed the Planning Board’s recommendations for an ordinance that would eliminate ambiguity in the borough code regarding pervious surfaces.
“It now properly describes pervious surfaces,” Mayor Anita VanHeeswyk said. “It should make it easier for our zoning officer (Bruce Britton) to decide on how he wants to give permits.”
VanHeeswyk said she would like to introduce the ordinance during the next meeting so that the commissioners have time to absorb and understand the changes that would be implemented.
Deputy Mayor Elise Geiger noted the ordinance would provide clarification on wording, and that the clarification on pavers might surprise people.
“As we know, pavers have been popping up all over the place,” Geiger said. “It’s important to say we wouldn’t require people to take pavers out.”
Geiger said there was much discussion during previous Planning Board meetings over pervious surfaces and the decision was not taken lightly.
“A lot of it has to do with floodwaters and storm runoff,” Geiger said. “It’s for the reason of creating more pervious surfaces for the stormwater drainage to also be in compliance.”
Being compliant with pavers is intricate, Geiger explained.
“It was a big part of the debate; you could never really enforce making sure that a paver driveway was truly compliant,” Geiger said. “I think the Planning Board minutes are very well detailed, to delve into how that decision was made.”
VanHeeswyk said the term “pervious” has been in the borough’s zoning since the early 1990s, but the Planning Board has now fine-tuned it.
“I think what we’re doing now is describing pervious [in] much finer detail,” VanHeeswyk said. “Pavers were considered pervious, but they were 1 to 3 percent pervious, and that was known and the standard the manufacturers set.”
Stormwater management is a critical initiative led by the state, which VanHeeswyk said coincides nicely with the timing of editing this section of the borough’s code. She said Cape May Point is in good shape regarding water in the streets after storms.
Construction site standards
For zoning and permitting, VanHeeswyk said she and Britton have been working on a construction site standards list for those who receive building permits, such as the “sign-off document” regarding trees.
“When somebody gets a certificate of compliance and certificate of occupancy, they’re given a form and they sign off that they understand the value of trees in Cape May Point,” she said. “They’re not able to do anything until they come back and get a permit.”
Further, Cape May’s construction department has a sign-off sheet and VanHeeswyk said the commission is developing something like that for Cape May Point.
“I should note that construction will not be doing that; Cape May construction handles the UCC only for Cape May Point,” she said. “They don’t handle any of the other construction site standards. That will be here in-house for our code enforcement person handling that.”
VanHeeswyk said she expected the documentation to be together by April. Geiger said that list would be useful for Britton, and she said the information could be put on the borough’s website.
“I think the fact somebody signs off on something, they can’t deny it if they get a summons,” VanHeeswyk said. “They can’t deny they weren’t aware, but that really does connect everything.”
Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans asked VanHeeswyk if a contractor would also have to sign off before the work started. VanHeeswyk said yes because Cape May cannot do it for them and that it’s not going to happen when a contractor gets their building permit.
“When the zoning officer gives the zoning permit, it has to happen here and it will be our ordinance and construction site standards,” VanHeeswyk said.
Yunghans asked if architects would also receive information on the changes in pervious and impervious surfaces. VanHeesywk clarified that the zoning ordinance information is provided when plans are developed and permits are issued.
“It’s like a catch-all, a reminder these are the things you can and can’t do,” VanHeeswyk said. “Kind of separate from these ordinances.”
Another issue the commission addressed at a previous meeting was the Dark Sky initiatives. VanHeeswyk said the Environmental Commission forwarded the concept to the commission. She said she would like to hear from the Planning Board on the subject.
VanHeeswyk added the commissioners requested new wording for handicap grants on private property, which should be referred to the Planning Board for discussion.
Shared services
In other business, commissioners discussed a resolution to create an advisory committee that would advise Geiger and administrator Ed Grant on negotiating a new police contract with Cape May.
“I’m happy to report I have five people that are quite interested in the advisory committee, and I’m really pleased with that,” Geiger said. “It’s a group of five people, who each individually bring a unique set of skills and experiences.”
Geiger named Andy Rusnak, Peter Dugre, Jim Imbriaco, Jim Hull and John Auerbach.
Other business
VanHeeswyk said the borough’s floodplain administrator will give a presentation about flood insurance at an upcoming meeting. The date will be announced soon.
Yunghans said the water main replacement at Lehigh and Ocean avenues has been completed, with concrete work, including curbing and a handicapped ramp near the science center, to follow. The asphalt is expected to commence in early April.
She also shared that Public Works Supervisor Bill Gibson and his team have been cleaning out the beach entrances to prepare for summer.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
