There were two major items on the August 9 Planning and Zoning Board meeting agenda. The first item was for a Major Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval.  The second was for a Master Plan Amendment which, if approved, would pave the way for the creation of an overlay zone permitting a boutique hotel in the Bl business district.  It was this second item that drew a standing-room only crowd.

Regarding Item 1, 25 Dune Drive, LLC, sought a Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval for the construction of a building at 25th Street and Dune Drive which would have four residential units above four first-floor commercial units.  No variances were required, and the Applicant accepted the Board Engineer’s conditions.  Members of the Board did not want the Applicant to preclude a restaurant from occupying a commercial unit.  The Applicant agreed that restaurants would not be prohibited and that the Applicant would install appropriate vent stacks accessible to the commercial units should they be needed.  The Board approved the application.

Next the Board Engineer presented his rational for the need and wording of the proposed amendment to the Borough Master Plan.  The Board’s attorney explained what options the Board had regarding the proposed amendment.  The Board could accept it, reject it, or postpone a decision pending determination of additional facts.  Rejection would end the need for going ahead with creating an overlay zone.  If the Board accepted the proposed amendment, the Board would need to then send it to Borough Council.  If Council accepted the amendment, the Board could then begin the process of drafting the ordinance creating the overlay zone.  After the Board’s discussion of the amendment, the issue was opened to the public for comment.

The ratio of those who were strongly against the amendment versus those in favor of it was about 2:1. In addition to those who were either pro or con, a number of people indicated that they would like to see data supporting the perceived need for a boutique hotel.  A few people stated that in their opinion the amendment was overly broad, vague and indefinite.  One person attempted to question why a map of the area for the proposed overlay zone was not available to the public.  Several others urged the Board to live stream its meeting with telephone participation by the public.  In the end, the Board approved the amendment.