During its January 5, meeting, the City Council in Sea Isle City, NJ re-zoned a city-owned parcel next to its Dealy Recreation Field to make way for a monopole that Verizon Wireless hopes to build. Originally, Verizon had wanted the pole placed on the field but the plan was met with community outcry. The rezoning moves the parcel from R-2 (residential two family) to a public zone.
Under the municipality’s ordinance laws, reports The Cape May County Herald, once an ordinance is introduced that addresses a zoning change, the planning board has 35 days to review the ordinance and changes.
The planning board met January 11, and reviewed the Verizon proposal. Within the strict purview of planning board regulations was its sole ability to decide whether Verizon’s application was “consistent” or “inconsistent” with provisions of the municipality’s master plan.
At that meeting members found Verizon’s new site plan application was “not inconsistent” with the master plan although the vote was not unanimous reflecting objections articulated by residents about the potential of lost parking.
The newspaper reports an anti-tower group formed by about 15 residents has begun a fierce campaign on Facebook, contacting news outlets and council members and blanketing neighborhoods with anti-tower yard signs in an attempt to reverse the zoning decision and stop the construction of the structure. The next public hearing is January 26, when the city council takes up the Verizon petition for consideration upon second reading and public comment.
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