(Photo by Jack Reynolds)
The Barnegat Light boardroom was packed to the floor with residents who wanted to preserve the character of the borough by preventing the construction of future hotels or motels. But the board split three votes on an ordinance that would have prevented such developments. Mayor Kirk Larson was absent.
At the caucus meeting before the regular meeting on August 14, Councilwoman Dorothy Reynolds read an open letter proposing an amendment to the master plan to remove the provisions permitting hotels and motels.
“Barnegat Light is often described as a special place, not like other towns on the island,” she began. “It was founded as a quiet fishing village.”
She went on to say that officials’ decisions should not be based on financial gain, friendship or politics, but rather on what is best for the borough, its property values, its natural beauty and its future direction. Reynolds invoked the late Aaron Blumberg, once president of the Barnegat Light Taxpayers Association, a volunteer firefighter and animal shelter board member, saying he often told her to remember, “Change happens in small steps,” and that city leaders must remain vigilant lest the city become unrecognizable.
Reynolds said her proposal would “eliminate hotels and motels as a permitted land use” but would protect existing hotels and motels through grandfathering.
As Reynolds explained after the meeting, the Lighthouse Marina on Sixth Street is for sale. It was listed in January with Joy Luedtke Real Estate for $17.5 million. The 44-slip marina sits on 4.6 acres in the commercial marine zone and offers “endless possibilities.” Rumor has it that the developers have discussed with the property owners the possibility of building a hotel there.
City Attorney Terry Brady said the proposed ordinance could be read title-wise and then presented to the Planning Board, which could review it and make a recommendation consistent with the township’s master plan.
Brady explained that the Master Plan is a policy document that sets the vision and direction of the city and must be reviewed and updated every 10 years (most recently in 2018). That being said, the Zoning Code is a set of laws that govern the city. Planning Board applications that do not comply with the Zoning Code can still be approved with variances. However, proposed legislation that relates to the Zoning Code would most likely not receive Planning Board approval if it conflicts with the Master Plan.
The council is not obligated to accept the Planning Board’s recommendation, but acting against that recommendation could affect the validity of the ordinance should it ever be challenged in court, Brady noted. He cautioned the council to consider all the consequences. Although the governing body has the ultimate authority over zoning, its actions must be based on sound planning, he explained.
In support of her proposal, Reynolds said large lodging establishments would negatively impact the district by increasing traffic, noise, activity, strain on infrastructure and demands on volunteer services.
“Everyone agrees with Dottie Reynolds,” says Rich Brodman, president of the Barnegat Light Taxpayers Association.
Later, Bob Birdsall, a county resident and Pine Barrens advocate, proposed forming a historic preservation committee that could advise the planning board on questions such as, “Does this fit with the culture, the heritage? Is this how we want to preserve our city?”
With offshore wind farms looming, Birdsall wondered: “What’s next, beach promenades?”
When it came time for the official vote, Council President Michael Spark and Councilwomen Reynolds and Mary Ellen Foley voted yes; Councilmembers Ed Wellington, James Gutowski and Frank Mikuletsky voted no. The ordinance did not pass.
The Planning Board meets the third Wednesday of every month at 5 p.m. when it has an item on the agenda. When residents asked how they could start a dialogue with the Planning Board, officials responded that a written request could be sent to Planning and Zoning Board Secretary Cece Hodgson.
After the meeting, seasonal resident Madeline Pantzer changed her original position on the matter.
“The master plan really limits what can be developed on (designated land) maritime and commercial areas” and “was written under a previous mayor, so it doesn’t give in to maritime and commercial (interests),” she said.
By law, hotels are limited to 30 feet in height, so Pantzer argued that the only way to build higher was to apply for a special permit.
“There’s no reason to open the plan because it’s already limited enough,” she said. “Instead, we should let the planning board know that not only will we show up if they request a variance, but we have a fund set up to sue them if they approve variances.”
In response to the tie, Pantzer said she was initially angry with the maritime trade zone representatives, but then she came to the conclusion that it would be better to leave the master plan as it was because once you open a “bottomless pit,” the plan could become even more development-friendly.
“What you want and what you end up getting can be two very different things.”
In other news during the regular meeting, Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Flanagan reported that a $2.1 million bond was sold on the open market at an interest rate of 4.25 percent. This is the best interest rate the district’s auditors and financial advisers have seen in the past six months, she said.
She added that the annual audit this year revealed no deficiencies and therefore no corrective action was required.
The township has hired a new tax collector, Ed Seeger Jr., who also currently serves Lacey Township and Tuckerton. “I look forward to serving the taxpayers of Barnegat Light,” he said.
Councilmen Mikuletsky and Wellington met with Ocean County emergency management staff last week to discuss storm preparation plans, equipment and protocols, Mikuletsky reported. The county’s plans must be updated every two years, Wellington added.
Wellington said consultants have been hired and preliminary discussions are underway. The plan is comprehensive and covers “tornadoes all the way up to terrorism,” he said. It also addresses situational scenarios. Once the plan is approved at the county and state levels, the city will be able to receive federal funds to rebuild in an emergency if needed, he explained.
Beach Patrol News: 1st Lt. John Ross and 2nd Lt. Bob Selfridge are taking over as Captains of the Beach Patrol while Captain John Schulze is on sick leave.
Last month, wardens conducted 18 rescues (at streets 12, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 30) and 12 rescues, Councilwoman Reynolds reported. Surf rip currents have been a problem this summer, she added.
Bob Preston, president of the Friends of Barnegat Light Beach Patrol, said this year’s Ocean Mile Swim was the best in its 13-year history, drawing record numbers of participants, volunteers and spectators. Even better, he announced that $10,000 was raised for the scholarship program for needy lifeguards who are planning to go to college soon.
“It’s always been my dream,” Preston said, “to get this organization to a point where we can offer scholarships.”
As for public works, Councillor Wellington said that in addition to the usual summer work – cleaning the beach paths, mowing the lawns – “the big project we are working on right now, which is taking up a lot of our manpower, is the renovation of the outbuilding, the post office.”
The east wall has been re-roofed, and workers are now working on the south wall and working their way around the building, he said. “It will certainly be an ongoing project over the next few months,” he added.
The roofing shingles used are purchased dipped or pre-stained to make them weatherproof, he said. “It’s a protective layer that keeps them from warping over time,” he said.
A note on cost, Wellington added – yes, the roof shingles are expensive, and the team also reinstalled all the windows, repaired the rot on the sheathing and completely reinstalled the roofing felt. But by using its own carpenter and skilled tradesmen, the city saves on labor costs and only pays for the materials, he said. Had the work been put out to tender, the cost could have been up to double.
— Victoria Ford
