City Reduces 10 Year Cumulative Cap from 10 Years to 1 Year, Enhances City Planner’s Authority, and Decides No Permit Parking System for Lewes Beach This Year. (2/14/2022)
On February 14th, the Mayor and City Council voted on four issues of great importance to LBCA members. Specifically:
The Mayor and City Council voted on proposed Ord-1-22 Code, the proposal which addresses multiple things including language concerning off-street parking. Council Member Williams offered an amendment that struck the portion of the proposal that addressed off-street parking, specifically amendments to Section 197-61, and asked Council Member Ritzert to work with stakeholders to address the problems that were raised during the recent public hearing. His amendment was approved. The Mayor and City Council then voted unanimously to approve the underlying proposal, minus the off-street parking language.
This is a win for LBCA members. Due to your quick support and help, LBCA was able to submit a petition in opposition to the proposal, or in the alternative, to delay voting on the portion addressing Off-Street Parking until the City answered questions about the proper meaning, interpretation and enforcement of Section 197-61, as currently written. Click here for a copy of our petition.
As expected the Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to approve proposed Ordinance 2-22, which provides the current City Planner with greater authority over a variety of issues involving zoning, construction, and ordinance interpretation.
The Mayor and City Council voted unanimously to approve proposed Ordinance 3-22, which reduces the current 10 year cumulative cap on renovations, maintenance, and repairs to 1 year, which is the correlative FEMA standard. This is a terrific win and accomplishment for LBCA members, because it preserves our right to repair and maintain our homes without being restrained by a 10 year cumulative cap. The proposal was championed by Council Members Williams and Saliba. As you know, LBCA submitted a petition in support of this proposal.
Finally, the Mayor and City Council agreed not to move forward with a permit system for Lewes Beach this year. Instead, the Mayor and City Council scheduled a hearing on Thursday, March 10th, starting at 6:00pm to address the staff’s report on possible interim steps. Click here for a copy of the staff’s report (it starts on page 147), which was released today. More information to come once we have had a chance to digest what was shared.
It was clear this decision was based in large part on your questions during the hearing and your submissions to the record. It was clear even to City staff it will take a much longer time to analyze all that was raised.