VILLAS – Lower Township Planning Board has approved two former farms for development, however, one farm owner hopes to place the property in the county’s Open Space Farmland Preservation program.
At an Oct. 18 meeting, the board gave preliminary subdivision approval for the creation of 17 new lots on a 22-acre site on Seashore Road, south of the canal. The property is the McPherson Farm owned by Nancy McPherson.
Planner for the project, Brian Murphy, said McPherson needed all development approvals before the county Open Space program would consider purchasing the land for preservation.
He said a road entered on the north side of the property. No variances would be required for proposed lots, said Murphy.
An easement would be provided to the county for any future widening of Seashore Road.
Township Engineer Ray Roberts, of Remington Vernick, said the subdivision would need waivers for the long length of a cul-de-sac and no curbing on the proposed street. He also requested additional storm drainage information.
The board gave a preliminary subdivision approval for the creation of eight lots at 151 Fishing Creek Road, the former Raff farm from the estate of Hessie Raff.
Attorney for the applicant, Jane Hoy, said the applicant was not seeking any variances or waivers.
Brian Murphy, planner also for this project, said the almost 8 acre property was located off Fishing Creek Road, slightly west of Breakwater Road, bordered by Lennox Avenue on the west. Another subdivision exists east of the parcel, which is an extension of Pine Street.
Seven lots would be created, suitable for single-family homes, with an eighth lot for relative Marian Raff’s home.
Murphy said buffers were being created for wetlands on the site. He said the subdivision would be a further extension of Pine Street ending in a cul-de-sac. Lots range from 35,000 to 40,000 square feet.
The property was farmed until four or five years ago.
Roberts said no plans for curbing on Pine Street required a waiver. He requested
additional storm drainage information before final approval would be granted at a future meeting.
Murphy said there were no immediate plans to build on the land due to the current real estate market. An issue was raised from a letter from the county Fire Marshal that called for the fire hydrant system to be connected to municipal water.
The project is planned to use wells and septic tanks. Murphy said he would meet with Township Fire Official David Perry.
The board granted preliminary subdivision approval to Eric A. Hansen for the creation of 20 new lots at 624 Seashore Road, located near the county airport. Attorney for the project, Louis Dwyer, of Wildwood Crest, said the board granted minor subdivision of the property some time ago with a guaranty there would be no connection to the very narrow Nummytown and Week’s Landing roads.
A new road will connect to Ernest Winfield Drive.
He said another property owner created a subdivision adjacent to the property, which included an easement to allow access to the property. All lots are one acre or larger since the homes will have septic tanks.
Engineer Dante Guzzi of Court House, said one lot is located in the Airport Hazard Zone, about 3,000 feet from a runway and meets the township’s requirement of three acres or more for that zone.
Variances were granted for seven lots for lot depth, one for lot insufficient width. The applicant agreed to create a homeowner’s association to maintain storm water drainage facilities.
The board gave preliminary and final site plan approval to Jeffrey VanMourik to realign 78 travel trailer spaces into 61 spots at Cape May Mobile Estates, 755 Route 9. He sought to create fewer but larger spaces to accommodate an industry trend towards larger travel trailers and recreational vehicles. VanMourik also sought approval to build a home for himself on the property.
Matthew Hender, planner and landscape architect of Engineering Design Associates of Ocean View, said an existing sewer line would be extended to serve the reconfiguration of spaces.
A revised drainage plan will be provided to Roberts as a condition of approval.
Hansen, Raff and McPherson are scheduled to return to the board’s Nov. 8 meeting for final approvals.
Contact Fichter at (609) 886-8600 Ext 30 or at: jfichter@cmcherald.com
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