Sea Isle City Council Weighs Demolition Ordinance Change

SEA ISLE CITY – Amending requirements for demolition and pile driving during the summer was discussed Nov. 10 by Sea Isle City Council.
There was concern that the current ordinance allows those activities to commence too early in the morning, and associated noise is disturbing others.
Presently demolition and pile driving activity is not permitted to begin before 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and not before 8 a.m. on weekends. Councilperson William J. Kehner pointed out what other coastal municipalities are doing regarding this issue. He noted that Ocean City restricts pile driving between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Longport does not allow demolition between June 15 and Sept. 15. 
Council members agreed that something should be done regarding restricting what time such activities can commence during the summer. Council debated if construction activity should also be included in any proposed changes. Several members expressed their concerns about doing so.
Council will take under consideration changing hours to restrict demolition and pile-driving activity to not begin during the summer season before 8 a.m., Monday through Friday and not to begin before 9 a.m. on weekends.
Councilperson John J. Divney advanced the idea of providing advance notice to adjacent properties when demolitions are to take place. Council will continue to explore a process to be able to do this in the most efficient and effective manner.
SIC administration announced that the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge will be closed from Nov. 16 until Feb. 10, 2016 for reconstruction of the roadway on the Avalon side of the bridge.
It is anticipated that once reopened in February, in time for the city’s Polar Bear Plunge, that the bridge will remain open. However, passage may be restricted to one lane. It is expected that all work on the bridge and roadway will be completed by March 15, 2016.
In addition the county engineer is looking into placements of electronic signs within Sea Isle City to alert motorists when the road to the bridge is closed, particularly in times of bad weather conditions. Occasionally, during high tides with strong winds blowing from the north, waves and sea spray wash over the seawall along Ocean Drive on the Avalon side of the bridge.
When that happens, the roadway is unsafe and must be temporarily closed. Presently motorists can phone the Sea Isle City Police Department dispatcher at 263-4311 to learn if the bridge is closed.
Council discussed amending dates for meter parking. Presently parking meters are off after Labor Day. Council discussed the potential for increased parking revenue if the meter usage was extended. Councilperson Mary Tighe provided a historical background regarding the present parking meter season which is in affect May 15 until Labor Day.
Turning off meters after Labor Day was an effort to support the success of the numerous off season festivals.
Council agreed to draw up an ordinance extending the meter season until Sept. 15. One resident expressed her concern that isn’t the city “getting greedy.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.