City of Margate/Martin Bloom Community Pavilion
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE The city is a step ahead of other towns regarding potential projects eligible for funding from the federal government's Infrastructure Bill signed into law by President Joe Biden last November. Funding is working its way down the pipeline to states, counties and municipalities in the coming months.
City engineer Ed Dennis Jr. of Remington & Vernick said the city already has plans for major infrastructure upgrades that could be eligible for grant funding.
We are ahead of the game in a sense because we have done studies. The purpose of planning studies and concept plans are so when these funding opportunities come along, we are not flat-footed and are well prepared to apply for these funds, he said at the Aug. 18 Board of Commissioners meeting.
Administrator Richard Deaney sees another opportunity to improve public and senior facilities at the beachfront Martin Bloom Pavilion behind the Margate Public Library with or without a grant, he said.
Deaney said at a minimum, he would like to see the public restrooms for beachgoers rehabilitated, but he would also like to obtain a feasibility study by the end of fall to see if other amenities can be added, such as a new Beach Patrol Headquarters.
Commissioner of Public Safety John Amodeo said he would walk the site with Dennis and the chiefs of the Police and Fire departments.
I have my ideas and they have their ideas, Amodeo said.
Anything done to expand the site landward of the dune would need to obtain approvals from CAFRA (Coastal Area Facilities Review Act), which could take up to a year to receive, Amodeo said.
We are in desperate need of facilities for both our male and female lifeguards, Amodeo said.
The Bloom Pavilion recently underwent some renovations, including having new HVAC and roofing installed, and sliding glass doors overlooking the beach have been installed on the second floor.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg said the entire building is heavily used and should be considered for interior and exterior upgrades.
Let's look at this like a mini-Master Plan for the whole public area, which would include the library, library park and shuffleboard area, Deaney said. It's maybe a 10-year plan.
In other business, the board discussed two proposed ordinances that would address quality of life issues for residents of the city, which has been the city's focus over the last few months. One would upgrade the city's noise ordinance and the other the city's landscaping ordinance.
It would reduce construction hours by an hour in the morning and at the end of the day, and limit pile driving to weekdays to reduce noise pollution, especially during the summer months when the population of the city triples in size. Proposed construction hours could be shortened to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The board also discussed how to prevent the tearing down of the city's more modest homes where year-round residents are likely to live and raise their children. While much of the city's summer cottages have been razed and replaced with three-story McMansions at higher elevations, mostly for those who can afford a second summer home, officials want to keep homes affordable for residents who choose to send their children to the city's public schools.
Zoning Officer Roger McLarnon suggested the city might restrict new development in the mostly residential single-family neighborhood west of Amherst Avenue from Essex to Clarendon Avenue to two stories with reduced lot coverage.
We should, I don't want to say keep the houses more modest, but help preserve that area as it is today for the future, he said.
Amodeo agreed saying, Five bedrooms and three story houses don't fit into the neighborhood. To preserve the neighborhood so we can still have a population in our school district, I think it's important to carve out those sections and restrict development to two-story, four or five bedrooms, he said. It's something we need to have a open discussion on and get input from the public.
I agree wholeheartedly that we have to do things to preserve the character of Margate, Mayor Michael Becker said. We are here to help the people preserve the city. Let's see where this goes. It could be very positive.
The city plans to solicit input from the public before moving on any changes, they said.
It's a great idea that we study it, look into it and gain the public's interest one way or another, Blumberg said. It's something very worthwhile investigating.
The city had introduced an ordinance earlier this summer that would allow third-floor decks throughout Margate in both front of back of homes with certain parameters, but the ordinance was pulled before it had a second hearing.
The city's current regulations permit third-floor decks on the beach blocks and in waterfront areas, McLarnon said.
The new regulation would allow them on any property within certain parameters, such as keeping them small and only in the front of the house.
The Planning Board discussed not allowing them in the rear of the property because it can be too intrusive for neighbors.
It's still in discussion, but with your direction we can proceed or let it rest, McLarnon said.
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