MARGATE – At the request of the governing body, a member of the city’s Citizen Advisory Committee has conducted an informal survey of public sentiment about the pending Washington Avenue streetscape project.
Following several discussions with members of the public over the last several commission meetings, longtime resident Steve Altman, a member of the advisory board, said if the commissioners agreed, he would be willing to conduct a survey of residents attitudes toward the project, which has become a controversial issue in the city.
One resident at Thursday’s meeting, questioned why the commission did not hold a referendum before agreeing to spend nearly $4 million to improve the street. Solicitor John Scott Abbott explained that case law decided that traffic control issues cannot be on the ballot. A non-binding referendum would be possible to gauge public sentiment on an issue, but the commission would not be bound by the results.
Altman said he surveyed approximately 200 people during five sessions – two at the JCC, two at the Margate Public Library and one at Casel’s market.
Of the 200 people he spoke with, about half said they were in favor of the project, 30% were vocal in their opposition and the remaining 20% were either of the mindset, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” or they didn’t really care either way, Altman said.
Resident Ed Berger, who serves as president of the Margate Business Association, sent an email to Altman with data that indicated the residents of the condominium association where he lives on Amherst Avenue were against the project, Altman said. He said that they believe Tomatoe’s Restaurant at the corner of Amherst and Washington avenues would be adversely affected by the one-way traffic pattern, and that motorists would have to find an alternate way to access the restaurant’s parking lot.
Altman said those in favor of the project thought it would improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.
City engineer Ed Dennis Jr. of Remington & Vernick first presented the project to the public during the April 17 commission meeting. During subsequent meetings, local business owners and residents said they knew nothing about it.
Information about the project was also posted on the city’s website, but Altman said many residents and out of towners said they were not aware the city even had a website, and some said they only heard about it from their neighbors.
At their meeting Oct. 16, commissioners awarded a $3,804,693 contract to low-bidder L. Feriozzi Concrete of Atlantic City to complete the project, which has come under fire by local residents and Commissioner Maury Blumberg, who said people he has spoken with don’t like the idea of switching Washington Avenue from a two-way street to one-way traveling toward the bay.
Mayor Michael Collins previously stated the project fulfills goals of the city’s 2016 Master Plan to connect the Central Business District with the Waterfront Special District.
The project includes water and sewer infrastructure improvements that will help with nuisance flooding, paving the road, installing brick paver sidewalks, corner ramps, bump outs, curbs and gutters, decorative lighting and street trees. The original plan had a bi-directional bicycle lane, but after meeting with stakeholders, the plan was changed to include a single bicycle lane.
The $3.8 million project is being funded in part with $162,000 from the DOT’s Safe Routes to Transit grant program, and $1.5 million from the competitive federal Transportation Alternatives Set Aside program. The remainder is being funded by taxpayers through a bond ordinance.
Dennis reported he held a pre-construction meeting with the contractor on Nov. 12 to discuss details of the project, and that a public meeting would be held at Historic City Hall, 1 S. Washington Ave., 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 to discuss the impact construction would have on the neighborhood, including on businesses and residential properties.
Dennis said the project would be constructed in two phases. The first phase would include construction on Washington Avenue from the beach to Ventnor Avenue that would take place over the winter and early spring months. There will be a break in construction during the summer season, and phase two would resume in the fall of 2026 from Ventnor Avenue to the bay.
Members of the advisory committee appointed on Nov. 6 include Altman, Rich Tolson, Gretchen Reed, Christine Eden, Cindy Pitts, Jan Webber, Calvin Tessler, Tanya Jacovini and Shane Conesky. Each commissioner selected three members to serve on the committee.
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