CAPE MAY — City Council continues to work toward satisfying its affordable housing obligations.
On July 1, council passed resolutions endorsing a fourth round of the housing element and fair share plan, as well as approving a fourth round of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund spending plan. Additionally, the council requested program and court approval of the spending plan.
“All communities are required to have an affordable housing plan to address affordable housing in their communities,” Councilman Steve Bodnar said. “Cape May has accumulated about $2.7 million in a dedicated trust fund for affordable housing.”
Bodnar added that the city’s spending does address the trust fund, but he wanted to reinforce the notion that the city should do all it can to work with the Cape May Housing Authority (CMHA) when it comes to affordable housing.
“A segment of our community lives in housing overseen by the affordable housing, and when you go down Lafayette Street and Broad Street, it’s evident the housing there is in need of rehabilitation,” Bodnar said, adding that rehabbing those units would help satisfy the city’s obligations.
The city could move forward with rehabilitation and deed restricting existing units owned by the CMHA to create new units with the CMHA or a selected developer.
“It’s going to be a work in progress; it doesn’t happen quickly,” he said. “I see a commitment from the city to work in that direction, try to make this come to fruition and make things better for a segment that’s already existing in our community.”
Solicitor Chris Gillin-Schwartz said the city is subject to an artificial deadline under the statutory framework.
“A lot of this plan [may] have to be adopted on a timeline, but what I think the professional staff sees is there’s some flexibility to account for opportunities in the future,” Gillin-Schwartz said. “The city is uniquely situated and has a good strategy to deal with this issue, and the flexibility to evaluate opportunities.”
Deputy Mayor Maureen McDade thanked Planning Board engineer and planner Craig Hurless for providing an overview during a Planning Board meeting.
“He gave the Planning Board an understanding of the complex requirement under the law,” she said. “In the past, it’s been somewhat confusing.”
Hurless said the new plan forecasts the prospective affordable housing needs from 2025 to 2035, while recognizing that plans and needs evolve.
Pedestrian/bicycle bridge
City resident Gary Snyder addressed the council regarding his concerns about the proposed West Cape May and Cape May City pedestrian and bicycle bridge project.
“I’m here as a concerned citizen to express some hesitation about the proposed pedestrian bridge,” Snyder said. “I know it’s a long way off, but now is the time for the residents in the area to speak.”
Snyder questioned whether the project is the best option and the safest for pedestrians and bicycles, as well as its potential environmental impacts.
“From what I understand in [reading] the report, I don’t think the pedestrian bridge has actually been a reviewed alternative in the formal study,” he said. “I would question the process, the method of looking at the cost/benefit analysis.”
He added he plans to meet with Bodnar to talk.
“The worst project in the world is one that people don’t understand,” Snyder said. “Speaking for the area down by the Cove, it’s not understood. I ask for your indulgence here to be patient with us and reach out to the community to make us aware.”
Other business
City resident Stacy Sheehan commented on a bond ordinance for various capital improvements, specifically the $100,000 line item for fire department equipment.
“Equipment that only has a five- year useful life should be put into their expenses that they pay for on a yearly basis,” Sheehan said. “We shouldn’t be going out for a 20-year bond for equipment that only lasts for five years, and we’ll be paying all that interest.”
She added that she felt the same way about the police equipment, suggesting it should not be bonded for, but instead put into the budget.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
