WEST CAPE MAY — Borough Commission approved an ordinance July 8 that establishes penalties for repeat offenders of land use regulations.
The ordinance amends Chapter 27 of the Borough Code to implement new recommendations from the Master Plan reexamination report.
Mayor George Dick listed some of the recommendations from the master plan, which included eliminating three- and four-unit dwellings in the R2 zone and expanding the width from 75 to 100 feet for duplexes in R1 and R2.
The ordinance will establish penalties for companies and builders breaking any land use ordinances.
The ordinance is a three-strikes system over five years, and if a property is shut down for violating any land use ordinance, the contractor receives a red sticker. After three violations, the company can no longer build in the borough.
“We’ve continuously fought road builders and construction people who basically push everything to the limit in terms of what they can get away with, and the fines that can be assessed are minimal, so they will just pay the fine,” Dick said. “This will add more teeth to our ordinances and to the penalties you can issue.”
Borough solicitor Frank Corrado clarified that the ordinance allows the borough to ensure that contractors who receive three strikes do not return under new business names.
“The language of this ordinance is broad enough that we can look through the corporate formality and look at both the corporate entity and the individual who is involved,” Corado said. “There is a dual process to protect against that type of evasion.”
The Shade Tree Commission operates with a similar system.
Borough engineer Anthony Chadwell explained the progress on the West Cape May-Cape May City Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge project that has been in the works.
The bridge will be 50 feet long and 10 feet wide, connecting Cape May’s First Avenue to West Cape May’s Grant Street. Design and construction funding is coming from two grants received by West Cape May.
Borough Commission adopted a resolution July 8 to approve the next phases in design, permitting and bidding services.
Chadwell also updated the commission on sanitary sewer improvements, saying the final paperwork was submitted in April after the project finished in late 2025, marking the close of the project.
He said he is waiting for confirmation on a pre-construction meeting for the Fourth Avenue and West Drive pump station conservation generators. A contract was awarded to Scalfo Electric.
The commissioners passed a resolution to approve the final payment for the Morrison Avenue reconstruction project, which has already been completed.
Municipal aid grants
A pre-construction meeting was held for the 2025 Municipal Aid project for First Avenue, Sunset Boulevard and Grand Avenue. Construction is anticipated to begin this fall.
The Stevens Street road construction project, funded by the 2026 Municipal Aid Grant, has been completed and the borough is now waiting for signage to be installed.
The borough has begun submitting applications for the 2027 Municipal Aid Grant for roadway reconstruction and stormwater improvements on Pacific Avenue.
By JULIA DIGERONIMO/For the Star and Wave