Post by wildre on Nov 30, 2005 10:24:36 GMT -5
From this weeks Cape May Herald
Wildwood Again Nixes 23-Story Jetsonian Condo
By: LAUREN HUGGINS
WILDWOOD — A crowd of residents and several members of the New Jersey Carpenters Local 1743 saw a repeat of the zoning board’s Sept. 26 rejection of the proposed Waypoint Beach Club Monday night.
The board voted 4-3 in favor of the condotel, but according to municipal law, five affirmative votes are necessary from the seven-member board.
“As it was before,” announced board chairperson Raymond McGrath after the votes were tallied.
It all happened in less than 30 minutes, with little board discussion and no public comment permitted.
Condominium owners, who live adjacent to where the proposed high-rise would have been built, said they have been fighting the project since June. After the building was rejected a second time, many in attendance breathed a collective sigh of relief.
“It was so stressful. Some people didn’t want to come because they expected it to be a yes vote,” said Robin Arena.
Developer Lawrence D. Howard had planned to build a 23-story condotel on 50,000 square-foot of property that is currently occupied by the Binns and Bonito motel and a residential home.
The 250-foot “jetsonian” style building was to hold 114 hotel rooms and 185 residential units and was to be built for approximately $125 to $150 million.
Attorney Stephen Nehmad told the board that the Waypoint Beach Club would initiate economic growth, bring more year-round businesses to the area and support the convention center.
Following the vote in September, Howard and Nehmad asked that the vote be set aside due to a conflict of interest. Nehmad argued that because Margaret Mitchell, wife of zoning board member William Mitchell, spoke out against the condotel.
During public comment on Sept. 26, Mrs. Mitchell had said that she would speak for the little person and the project’s variances should not be granted when a hardship is present. Mr. Mitchell then voted against the project.
Board solicitor William Kaufman explained that while Mrs. Mitchell had every right to speak, her husband should not have voted following her testimony. As a result the entire vote was thrown out.
The new vote, however, was a replay of the original vote with board members Dorothy Gannon, Elaine Billiris, and Todd Kieninger voting “no.” Dennis Krause, Steven Lerario, and McGrath voted in favor, still one “yes” shy of the number needed for approval.
Gannon and Billiris both clarified their decision by maintaining that there were just “too many variances needed.”
Billiris said that there was no reason that she was going to change her vote because the project was just too big.
“At some time you have to comply with the ordinance,” added Gannon.
Kieninger, a new member of the board, complemented the look and style of the building before handing in a “no” vote.
“Its just too tall for the property,” he said. “I think it belongs somewhere else.”
Carol Bannon, of Rio Grande Avenue, told the Herald that this decision affects every resident in Wildwood.
“I agree with the board’s original decision and I agree with this vote. The infrastructure is just too big,” she said.
Contact Huggins at: lhuggins@cmcherald.com
Wildwood Again Nixes 23-Story Jetsonian Condo
By: LAUREN HUGGINS
WILDWOOD — A crowd of residents and several members of the New Jersey Carpenters Local 1743 saw a repeat of the zoning board’s Sept. 26 rejection of the proposed Waypoint Beach Club Monday night.
The board voted 4-3 in favor of the condotel, but according to municipal law, five affirmative votes are necessary from the seven-member board.
“As it was before,” announced board chairperson Raymond McGrath after the votes were tallied.
It all happened in less than 30 minutes, with little board discussion and no public comment permitted.
Condominium owners, who live adjacent to where the proposed high-rise would have been built, said they have been fighting the project since June. After the building was rejected a second time, many in attendance breathed a collective sigh of relief.
“It was so stressful. Some people didn’t want to come because they expected it to be a yes vote,” said Robin Arena.
Developer Lawrence D. Howard had planned to build a 23-story condotel on 50,000 square-foot of property that is currently occupied by the Binns and Bonito motel and a residential home.
The 250-foot “jetsonian” style building was to hold 114 hotel rooms and 185 residential units and was to be built for approximately $125 to $150 million.
Attorney Stephen Nehmad told the board that the Waypoint Beach Club would initiate economic growth, bring more year-round businesses to the area and support the convention center.
Following the vote in September, Howard and Nehmad asked that the vote be set aside due to a conflict of interest. Nehmad argued that because Margaret Mitchell, wife of zoning board member William Mitchell, spoke out against the condotel.
During public comment on Sept. 26, Mrs. Mitchell had said that she would speak for the little person and the project’s variances should not be granted when a hardship is present. Mr. Mitchell then voted against the project.
Board solicitor William Kaufman explained that while Mrs. Mitchell had every right to speak, her husband should not have voted following her testimony. As a result the entire vote was thrown out.
The new vote, however, was a replay of the original vote with board members Dorothy Gannon, Elaine Billiris, and Todd Kieninger voting “no.” Dennis Krause, Steven Lerario, and McGrath voted in favor, still one “yes” shy of the number needed for approval.
Gannon and Billiris both clarified their decision by maintaining that there were just “too many variances needed.”
Billiris said that there was no reason that she was going to change her vote because the project was just too big.
“At some time you have to comply with the ordinance,” added Gannon.
Kieninger, a new member of the board, complemented the look and style of the building before handing in a “no” vote.
“Its just too tall for the property,” he said. “I think it belongs somewhere else.”
Carol Bannon, of Rio Grande Avenue, told the Herald that this decision affects every resident in Wildwood.
“I agree with the board’s original decision and I agree with this vote. The infrastructure is just too big,” she said.
Contact Huggins at: lhuggins@cmcherald.com
