Cape May Might Count Pools In Lot Coverage Calculation

CAPE MAY — Include swimming pools in the calculation of lot coverage for homes? City Council introduced an ordinance to do just that, Nov. 16.
The proposed ordinance states “that current zoning regulations which exempt swimming pools from the calculation of lot coverage threaten the city’s groundwater, undermine the intent and purpose of the city’s lot coverage limitation and are detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.”
City Solicitor Tony Monzo read from an analysis of minimum lot sizes, maximum building coverage, maximum lot coverage and square footage of lot coverage allowed in Cape May, Wildwood Crest and Stone Harbor. Monzo said Cape May has three residential zones plus the R1A overlay zone for Admiral Estates.
He said R-1 has a minimum lot size of 9,375 square feet with 30 percent lot coverage, which allows maximum lot coverage of 2,812 square feet.
The R-2 zone has minimum lot size of 7,500 square feet with 40 percent maximum lot coverage, which allows lot maximum lot coverage of 3,000 square feet.
The R-3 zone has minimum lot size of 6,250 square feet with 45 percent maximum lot coverage, which allows maximum lot coverage of 2,812 square feet.
The R1A zone allows 55 percent maximum lot coverage.
Monzo said Wildwood Crest has an R-1 zone, which has a minimum lot size of 4,800 square feet with maximum lot coverage of 55 percent but with maximum square footage of only 2,640 square feet.
He said Stone Harbor allows 70 percent lot coverage on smaller lots which allows maximum lot coverage of 4,620 square feet.
Deputy Mayor Niels Favre said he was very much in favor of including pools in lot coverage but council needed to be careful that it did not take away fair use of property from residents.
He suggested the maximum lot coverage in the R-1 zone be increased from 30 percent to 40 percent. Favre said he saw no reason to change maximum lot coverage in the other zones.
Councilman David Kurkowski said it would be helpful to see how changing the lot coverage in the R-1 zone would affect a sample of properties in the city. He said a resident remarked the ordinance as proposed would preclude new pools from most homes in the R-1 zone.
Favre said it was not intent of the ordinance to be a prohibition of pools.