Back in 2009, things got really heated over plans by Mark Benevento of Sports Development to convert an old Margate bank into a cool miniature golf attraction. The planning board, including Mayor Becker OK’ed it, but vocal neighbors shot it down. The Margate Food Truck now sits on that property at the corner of Ventnor & Frontenac Ave.
Eight years later, Benevento’s mini-golf moniker, Adventure Golf South, is trying to make a Margate comeback. The target for this 18-hole course is another former bank, Cape Bank at 9312 Ventnor Avenue. This former branch now acts as a training center.
In 2016, OceanFirst acquired Cape Bank. Ocean First now has property in both Margate & Ventnor. Can one assume they’re interested in selling off Margate if they can win over the planning board, commissioners and residents?
Mark Benevento, of Sports Development operates an assortment of Pirate Island Golf and other attractions along the South Jersey shore. » OCEAN CITY » SEA ISLE CITY » AVALON.
Benevento also served as a director of Boardwalk Bancorp, Inc. and Boardwalk Bank since 2002 until the merger with Cape Bancorp, Inc. and Cape Bank. In addition, Mr. Benevento serves as President and owner of Greate Bay Golf Club in Somers Point.
Not everyone is thrilled by a pirate-ship-themed mini-golf course in the commercial district. Potential parking, traffic, noise, loitering & safety issues are once again being brought up. Nothing new there.
But, many would love an attraction like this in Margate, especially families and kids with too few options. On weekend nights, young adults are forced to hang at Wawa, aka Club Wa.
Oops. Can’t even do that any more.
Downbeach Deli and Casel’s Supermarket supported the idea back then, seeing it as a benefit to families, local stores and restaurants.
Mayor Mike Becker was a Planning Board member back in 2009. He voted YES for the mini-golf course, saying it was an attraction that makes Margate a more complete community.
Margate property owners within 200 ft of this proposed project have been notified of a public hearing concerning this issue. Voice your opinion on December 14, 2017, at 6:30 p.m., 1 South Washington Avenue, Margate, NJ.
NOTICE OF HEARING. CITY OF MARGATE PLANNING BOARD
In compliance with the pertinent provisions of the Margate City Zoning and Land Development Ordinance, and the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Act, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., notice is hereby given that a written application has been filed by the undersigned with the Margate City Planning Board for preliminary and final site plan approval along with “c” variance relief for parking, fence height and freestanding sign and any and all other variances or waivers the Board may reasonably require in the exercise of its discretion, in order to allow the undersigned applicant to construct, establish and maintain an 18-hole miniature golf course on property shown as Lot 85 in Block 127 on the Margate City Tax Map, which property is located at 9312 Ventnor Avenue.
Public hearing on the above mentioned application has been scheduled for December 14, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. in the Court Room at 1 South Washington Avenue, Margate, New Jersey, at which time and place any interested party (as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-4) will have an opportunity to be heard.
This notice is sent to you as an owner of property situated within 200 feet of the property in question.
All documents relating to this application may be inspected by the public during regular business hours Monday through Friday in the Planning and Zoning Office, 9001 Winchester Avenue, at the corner of Winchester and Union Avenues, Margate, New Jersey.
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