Zoning Board Approves New House Despite Strong Objections

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI After nearly three hours of discussion and debate, the Sea Isle City Zoning Board on Monday night approved plans for a new three-story house with a pool that will replace a tiny home in Townsends Inlet that dates to 1935. Plans for the much larger single-family home at 213 89th Street drew intense objections from neighboring homeowners who were unsuccessful in urging the zoning board members to reject the project. Opponents argued that the new house would simply be too large for the small lot, would block their views of the bay at the end of 89th Street and would disrupt their privacy. “This proposal is still trying to put a large square in a small, round hole,” said Peter Maristch, a homeowner at 201 89th Street. The board members, however, voted 6-0 to approve four zoning variances that were requested by the homeowner, Eric Day, to build the new house. One board member, William Keller, said Day and his team of professionals made a “compelling” case to explain why the variances were needed and to show the new home’s expected benefits to the surrounding neighborhood. Other board members said they were similarly impressed with the project. The variances include allowing Day to build on an undersized lot and to have smaller side yard setbacks than what are normally required by the city’s zoning laws. In testimony to the zoning board during a meeting held by teleconference, Day said his new house would be a “forever home” for his family. “We just love coming to Sea Isle,” he said. “We look forward to doing this project in Townsends Inlet. We’re just really excited.” Day plans to demolish the modest, one-story home on the property to make room for the new house and a pool. Old, tall trees lining the bay side of the house will be chopped down to accommodate construction and open up the water views. Cory Gilman, Day’s attorney, told the zoning board members that the new house will be far more visually appealing than the 85-year-old home that is there now. He also said it would be more in character with the larger, modern homes that have been built on the bay end of 89th Street in recent years. Richard Mashura, a homebuilder who will construct the new house for Day, testified during the meeting that the existing home does not meet current building codes or flood regulations. He said the new house would meet or exceed modern-day construction codes and would be a much safer alternative than the old home, especially for fire protection. The house was built in Sea Isle City's Townsends Inlet section in 1935. After a number of objections were raised by opponents of the project, including complaints that the new house would block their view of the bay, Day conferred with his professionals during a short break in the meeting to consider possible revisions to the home’s design. After the break, Day agreed to tweak the size of the master bedroom on the second floor as a compromise to improve the bayside views for neighboring property owners. He also plans to reduce the size of an outdoor deck on the side of the house to give his neighbors better views. The suggestion to change the master bedroom and the side deck was made by zoning board member Jacqueline Elko. She recused herself from voting on the project because she lives on 89th Street. However, since she is a neighboring homeowner, Elko was allowed to discuss the project during the public comment portion of the meeting. Opponents did not comment after plans for the master bedroom and outdoor deck were revised, but they expressed strong objections earlier in the meeting. For the most part, they asserted that the new house would be too big for the lot and that their views of the bay would be blocked. “I think the building is way too large for the property. It’s just going to stand out,” said Margie Quinlan, who lives at 217 89th Street. Rita Maristch, of 201 89th Street, complained to the board that she did not have an opportunity to review the exhibits for the project before the zoning meeting was held. “I will take this to Superior Court,” she said. “I will not hesitate to do that.” Disputing suggestions by Day’s professional team that the new house would be more attractive than the old house, Maristch said, “There will be no aesthetic value to it whatsoever.” Another opponent, Kate Smith, of 211 89th Street, also argued that the new house would not enhance the neighborhood. Like other opponents, she maintained that the bigger house would block her view of the bay. “This is robbing me of the view I enjoy and also will reduce the value of my home,” Smith said. Jeffrey April, one of the zoning board members, criticized the opponents of the project for expressing what he called their “self-serving” opinions. April pointed out the possibility that the zoning board’s decision could be appealed by the opponents in a court fight. He stressed that the board carefully considered the testimony of Day’s team of experts before rendering its vote. Patrick Pasceri, chairman of the zoning board, said it is often a challenge to build new, larger homes in the Townsends Inlet section because many of the properties there consist of small lots. He also said he was not surprised by the opposition to Day’s project because homeowners in Townsends Inlet are “passionate” about protecting their neighborhood. “I hope you’re all happy with it,” Pasceri said to both sides after the zoning board approved the project, including the revisions that were made during the meeting.