Planning Board Meeting Notes - January 23, 2012

Notes by Cynthia Schweickhardt

The Planning Board organizational meeting elected Thomas Hand as Chairman.

Meeting centered on discussion of the draft of an ordinance amending chapters 560 and 345 of the revised general ordinances of the borough of Stone Harbor and creating the business/hotel overlay zoning district. Central question seemed to be, "Do we want motels/hotels in Stone Harbor in the future?"

Since only one of the present motels in the borough meets regulation of parking spaces per unit off-site parking options were discussed. It was reported that other municipalities' leased public parking spaces to make-up necessary parking per regulations. Use of parking permits was suggested as a possible solution for Stone Harbor. Since parking would necessarily be placed on the ground level of new hotel/motels, the height of the building would need to have 3 levels above for rooms enough to make it financially viable for the investor. Discussion of a change to 42 feet for building height was discussed against the heights of present motels and condos in the borough.

Jill Gougher brought up the problem of the proposed additional hotel/motel rooms and the impact they would have on water usage during peak season, July and August. The state assesses stiff fines for usage over amounts issued on permits. In 2010, the borough came close to going over the 230 million gallon per year water usage licensed by the state. Only through the conservation efforts of the Public Works department did the borough keep water usage under this limit. Already the Shelter Haven building permit will add 36 more units with another 22 units at the old Henny's location. Karen Lane was asked to bring back water usage figures for the water meters measuring landscape sprinkling and swimming pools against in house usage.