OC Planners Support Affordable Housing Initiatives

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Planning Board unanimously backed measures aimed at bringing more affordable housing to the seaside resort, and supported a plan to expand the number of units in a senior housing project on West Avenue. 
The board reviewed three ordinances introduced by City Council related to affordable housing, including an increase to a fee paid by developers to help offset the cost of providing such housing.
Both the Housing Authority project and the ordinances will help Ocean City meet its obligation under a settlement reached with the Fair Housing Center, Planning Board members stated.
The Ocean City Housing Authority is not required to seek site plan approval for projects, but typically presents plans to the board for a consistency review.
“We want the public to know what we are doing. This shows we’re not trying to hide anything. We’re proud of what we’re doing,” authority Chairman Robert Barr said after the meeting. Barr is also a member of City Council, representing the 4th Ward.
As presented, the Housing Authority plans to build a project adjacent to the existing Bayview Manor at 635 West Ave. That project had received Planning Board support in January. The new proposal would expand that project, increasing the number of units from 20 to 32.
Authority attorney Charles Gabage told board members that the local organization has approval from state and federal agencies to expand the West Avenue project.
“In the beginning, the authority was limited to 20 units, not by the city but by these other agencies that were involved. Ultimately, they conceded,” Gabage said.
As presented, the new project would be built on the north side of the existing building, where there is a parking lot.
The new building will have parking underneath, with three floors of residential units above the cars.
The city has agreed to bond $1.83 million for the expansion, with more money to come through the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, set to put about $4.6 million toward the project, according to Richard Ginnetti, a consultant working with the authority in connection with the federal department of Housing and Urban Development and with the state HMFA. 
The HMFA funds come from a fund for affordable housing units damaged in Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“The ultimate goal of the Housing Authority is to get all of their units above the ,” Ginnetti said.
All of the new units will be above the flood level of any future storm.
Flooding from Hurricane Sandy hit the homes on the north side of Pecks Beach Village hard, forcing residents to relocate while extensive repairs were made.
The ground floor of Bayview Manor was not as badly damaged, but some units experienced flooding from the storm.
“As most people are aware, Pecks Beach North was totally wiped out by Superstorm Sandy,” Ginnetti said. The authority plans to complete the project and begin moving residents in from the other units, to minimize disruption. The ground floor of the existing Bayview Manor will be put to new uses, including offices for the Housing Authority and for common areas for residents to socialize and participate in activities. The units at Pecks Beach will be demolished, with the possibility of a new project above floodplain at that site in the future.
Barr hopes to see construction begin on the West Avenue project in the New Year and expects the total project to take from 12 to 15 months to complete.
Members of the Planning Board supported the plans, with some praising the foresight put in to avoid disrupting the residents’ lives.
Planning Board member Gary Jessel said the state often overreaches on affordable housing, but congratulated Barr and others, describing the project as a common-sense approach, with other members describing it as a great project.
Board Chairman John Loper also liked the idea of bringing the residents closer to the downtown, where they will have easier access to shops and activities.
“Go build it,” Loper said.
At the same meeting, the Planning Board heard reports on three ordinance changes set for a public hearing and final vote at the City Council meeting planned for the same room Dec. 13.
Introduced this month, one of the ordinances amends the definition of “municipal uses” in the city’s zoning ordinance to include city-sponsored affordable housing.
Another amends the city’s existing fair share housing ordinance while a third will increase the city’s residential development fee, to increase the amount from 1 percent to 1.5 percent of the project, for use in the city’s affordable housing trust fund.
City officials say the change will help reduce the cost of affordable housing to taxpayers.
Jessel said he had reservations about increasing the cost to developers but joined the rest of the board in voting yes, giving the ordinances three unanimous endorsements.
Another ordinance introduced at the same City Council meeting was not reviewed by the planners.
An ordinance providing a minimum set-aside for affordable housing was set for a public hearing and final vote at the same meeting Dec. 13, but that agenda indicated that the administration would ask that ordinance be tabled until further notice.
Two other ordinances set for introduction Dec. 3 were also pulled, with the indication that they would be back before the governing body at a later date.
To contact Bill Barlow, email bbarlow@cmcherald.com.