VILLAS – Part-time resident Charles Brady of Villas described the winds over the May 14-15 weekend as “unbelievable” at Beach Drive and Cloverdale Avenue. As he described his wife’s eyewitness account, “The house that is under construction on the dunes seemed to raise up into the air and come crashing down” during the height of the winds that swept in over the bay.
Brady stated that the neighbors in the immediate area never wanted the house to be built and that they understood that there was a moratorium on building on the dunes. Brady described the structure as a three-story frame only, consisting of load bearing lumber that had no walls or supporting material and “It’s a miracle that no one was hurt” when it crashed down into a huge pile of two-by-fours.
Brady stated that after the house collapsed, about 10 neighbors gathered outside the pile of debris wondering why it was built in the first place.
He added that although a zoning variance request had been filed with Lower Township, the neighbors had no opportunity to attend the meeting to oppose the plan to build the house. He said he did not receive a notice of the meeting.
Gary Playford, of the Lower Township Construction Office, stated that a dune review was conducted at that construction site and that a permit for foundation and footing only was obtained by the builder.
He further stated that there is no permit for framing the house and that the builder “jumped the gun” a little by beginning that work.
Playford stated this occurs sometimes which is why his office wants permits for foundation and framing to be obtained prior to any construction.
Playford added that no inspection of the framing portion is required at the site until the electrical and plumbing is also completed. He also stated that as far as he knows there is no moratorium on beach construction in that area.
William Galestok, of the Lower Township Planning Office, confirmed that an open meeting was held prior to the construction permit request Oct. 18, 2012. That application was approved.
He stated that neighbors were notified of that Planning Board meeting at that time.
After the architect Victorian Charm Development Co. acquired the state mandated Coastal Area Facility Review Act permit to build on the coast, a final planning board request to construct the house was granted in February 2016.
Charles Brady emphatically stated that neighbors intend to get a petition to prevent the house from being rebuilt.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
