By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – Proposed changes to the Margate master plan have been the buzz for more than a year. The public hearing and vote on the proposed changes are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21 beginning at 6 p.m. in Margate City Hall.
If the last meeting in August was any indication, there should be no shortage of opinions and questions from residents.
For months the city’s master plan was studied by municipal planners Heyer and Gruel. Proposed is a major amendment to the city code that will affect the size of new homes built in certain areas of the city.
There are no planned changes to the beachfront and Parkway district. In the bayfront district, the new code would lower the allowable building height by two feet, but there would be no limitation on the use of dormers on the third story.
For multifamily housing in the overlay district, there is no difference in the height of the buildings, but there is a change in the principal lot coverage. Here dormers would be limited. Roger Rubin, the land use administrator in Margate, said that in the S-25 zone, the home height limit is 25 feet. The proposed plan would limit the allowable lot coverage. He also explained that the percentage of the lot coverage relates to the size of the lot.
“We are trying to avoid McMansions here. We want to rectify the mass of the house,” said Rubin.
Changes are planned for percentage of lot coverage and side-yard setbacks. The current plan stood at 37 percent of the lot coverage with a minimum of five feet on one side. The revised version permits 37 percent of lot coverage combined. Large lots would require a 10 foot setback from neighbors, medium lots would require an eight foot set back and small lots a minimum of five feet for the set back.
Previously prohibited were sheds in the back yards. Now the sheds would be permitted and their square footage would not be included in the total lot coverage.
Rubin pointed out that what else is recommended the planners is to permit back yard fences five feet in height where they are currently only permitted four feet.
The public hearing is certain to spark debate. In August when the changes to the master plan were introduced, more than 150 people spoke in support and in opposition of the changes.
Should the master plan revisions be passed at the meeting, the Planning Board would then make a recommendation to the city commissioners to make the change to the Margate Master plan. If passed there would be a 60-day grace period for any property owner who already has plans in to the city for consideration.
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