Grand West Approved in Diamond Beach

VILLAS — Lower Township Planning Board approved Grand West at Diamond Beach condominiums in a three and a half hearing July 19 that brought into question interpretation of two township ordinances.
Residents from adjoining Jefferson Avenue in Wildwood Crest spoke against the project and its detrimental effects on their homes that back up to the condo site.
Developer Eustace Mita (Achristavest LLC) is constructing The Grand at Diamond Beach, across the street at 9601 Atlantic Avenue, a 12- story beachfront, 125- condo project.
Grand West will occupy a narrow strip of land only 105-feet wide that borders Wildwood Crest.
The board granted preliminary and final site plan approval for Grand West.
Mita and his team consisting of attorney Frank Corrado, engineer Vince Orlando and architect Victor DePalo appeared before the board in May.
They made changes to the project after a number of complaints of neighboring property owners in May. At that time, Grand West would have required a variance for stacked parking.
The amended plan did away with stacked parking, shifted the building to the south to create a 28-foot buffer to Jefferson Avenue homeowners, and reduced the project from 69 to 62 units.
During public comment, Jefferson Avenue homeowner Vince DeRiezo complained said balconies of the condos would have a direct view of his backyard and rooms in the back of his house. He said the building would cast a shadow on his home.
Jeff Ziccardi, who hired attorney Mary D’Arcy Bittner to oppose the application, questioned if units referred to as two-bedrooms with a den, were actually three-bedroom units.
Bittner questioned if the 22-foot wide width of the drive aisle met RSIS standards. She also questioned the amount of proposed parking spaces and the amount of paved surface.
For complete details, see Wednesday’s Herald print edition.