Dear Brigantine Times Editor, please correct your March 7, 2025, Business Developments misinformation on page 17 concerning the old Rod and Reel Site.
The history of that property goes back to August 2017 when the Brigantine Planning Zoning Board recommended to Brigantine City Council a North End Re-development Plan be studied for this property and two other properties.
Brigantine City Council adopted resolution 2017-145 and we the taxpayers paid for an extensive and thorough study to be conducted. James M. Rutala, PP, AICP, MBA of Rutala Associates, LLC completed the study. The study took years and was presented to the Planning board on August 28,2019.
Council adopted and “approved” the North End Redevelopment Plan February 17, 2021, Ordinance No.3 of the plan approved subdividing the property into 4 individual lots. Two lots face 13th Street North. One lot is on the corner of Beach Avenue and 13th Street and one bay front lot facing 13th Street North. These two lots are oriented South facing 13th Street N with rear yards facing North.
Perpendicular to those two lots, the lot orientation is important because Beach Avenue curves and the minimum lot size and area coverage requires the proposed, approved lot orientation.
The corner lots, on 13th Street N and 14th Street N require conformance to the current zoning setbacks of 20 feet for both street fronts.
This is in conformance with the Public Trust Doctrine which requires by law, visual access by the public to coastal resources without these views being unreasonably obstructed. The PTD requires maximizing the views of the bay from 13th and 14th Streets, North.
It is important to note the old, demolished residence on this property next to the old Rod and Reel and 14th Street N. conformed to this 20 front and side yard setback zoning requirement.
The plan approved a total of eight new units in four new buildings, duplexes, or four new single-family dwellings.
The plan specifically details the zoning requirements and notes the two corner lots must have 20 foot setbacks from both street and the minimum side yard distance from one dwelling to another is 10 feet.
On page 17 of the Plan it specifically states, “No deviations shall be granted…including no variances under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d”.
The local owners, names excluded for their privacy, ignored the plan and submitted numerous variance and two multi-family buildings.
Local residences within 200 feet of this property received the required certified mail notices and were outraged.
After expressing their concerns to Brigantine City Council and the lawyer for the owners, the application was removed from the agenda the day before the Planning Board meeting.
The local community paid for, and the City Council adopted a plan that shall not be changed. The owner of the property is compelled to comply.
Both documents, Brigantine North End Redevelopment Plan by James Rutala and the Public Trust Doctrine are easily found on the Web.
Sincerely,
Brooks W. Garrison, RA
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