Imagine building a FULL SIZE home on a Margate waterfront. Now imagine the lot is about the size of a large driveway….and it’s been deemed ‘un-buildable’.
This is nothing new for the Margate Planning Board. But this month’s festivities (brutally long, 5+ hour meeting) featured a long-shot move by the esteemed Margate City Solicitor, John Scott Abbott that got shot down.
Listen to audio highlights:
Margate Planning Abbott Rumson Lot 3.23.18On the evening of March 23, a planning board presentation was made by attorneys representing Elizabeth Abbott & Andrew Feriozzi, the daughter & son in law of Margate City Solicitor, John Scott Abbott.
The young couple wanted to build a single family home on this tiny lot located at 350 N. Rumson Ave.
The Margate parcel is owned by Maxx-Roxx, an LLC jointly owned by John Scott Abbott and his wife, Joanne, a local real estate agent.
Our rough notes from the meeting:
The applicants claim this will NOT be a spec home. They will actually live there. Raise their family.
History lesson: A petition to build on this lot was denied by the Margate Planning Board back in 1979.
As usual, Attorney Chris Baylinson went above & beyond for his clients. Baylinson faced a very steep, uphill battle representing Abbott’s daughter & son in law.
Potential conflicts of interest were discussed briefly. 3 board members recused themselves: Guber Naulty, Gallantino & Clem Wasleski.
Neighbors would suffer hardship, not Abbott. Neighbors bought their adjacent properties knowing this (Abbott-owned) lot was deemed un-buildable.
Preserve existing integrity of neighborhood. Buyers were always made aware that building on this 350 N Rumson lot, is NOT allowed.
This is an improved lot. It’s NOT vacant. There’s private parking & a dock. No hardship here. This plot has value.
Zoning ordinance. Master plan. Must preserve character of neighborhood. Visual integrity. Building on a 30 ft lot, in-between the homes built on 50 ft lots, would stand out like a sore thumb.
Neighbor offered $200k to buy land that Abbott purchased for $75k in 2015. Abbott now wants $600k. Can’t blame him for asking.
Next door neighbors were assured that the lot would NOT be developed with a home.
Neighbors say the bulkhead is failing at 350 N Rumson. That’s why $200k was offered, NOT $275k. (will cost approx $75k to fix Abbott’s bulkhead) The property also looks to be operating as a marina.
350 N Rumson in Margate was last sold for $75,000 on March 20, 2015. This property was assessed for $177,400.00. The land was assessed at $172,200.00 and the improvements to the property were assessed at $5,200.00.
350 N Rumson Ave. MAXX-ROXX LLC
Overdevelopment. Potential for conflict of interest. Oversized parking lot. Squeeze a house into a 30 ft lot, where 50 ft is required. Sometimes, 40ft is OK’ed.
30 ft lots were appropriate back in 1930 when cottages ruled. NO hardship for current property owner. Knew lot was un-buildable. Hardships would be transferred to neighbors. Grossly undersized lot. Lot does not conform to master plan. 50ft is required. They are asking for 30ft.
THE VOTE:
- Tom Collins: YES.
- Rich Patterson: NO.
- Mike Christaldi: NO
- Craig Palmisano: NO.
- Despona Hess: NO.
- Ron Grupo: NO.
- Mike Richman: NO.
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