August 14- Ocean City Sentinel<\/p>\n
By Eric Avidessian<\/p>\n
OCEAN CITY \u2013 Call it d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu.<\/p>\n
Council on Aug. 8 introduced an ordinance to acquire through purchase or condemnation the former Ocean City Chevrolet car lot almost a year after they did the same thing for the same property.<\/p>\n
A price has not been determined.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Last year the city bonded $9 million to purchase the dealership property which occupied a city block on Simpson Avenue from the owners, Klause Enterprises LLC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The city wanted the 86,688 square foot tract, or 1.9 acres, preserved from residential development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Fairness in Taxes (FIT), a taxpayer watchdog group, saying the $9 million sales price was too high, started a petition drive last October to halt the sale and put the property sale to a public vote. The petition drive proved ultimately successful, and after the signatures were verified, the city repealed the property\u2019s sale, ending the deal with Klause Enterprises.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Klause Enterprises \u2013 brothers Harry and Jerry Klause \u2013 then proposed a 21-unit housing development for the car dealership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Seven homes are planned along Haven Avenue, while 14 homes are to be built along Simpson Avenue, according to the plans. Each lot will have landscaping, a driveway, and access to a rear alley bisecting the lot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In May, Mayor Jay Gillian announced that the city is getting new appraisals for the property.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The property, a patchwork of different lots, consists of: 1600 Haven Ave. block 1606, lot 3; 1601-43 Simpson Ave.; 1620 Haven Ave.; 1628-38 Haven Ave.; 1640 Haven Ave.; and 1644-46 haven Ave. lot 1606, lots 2, 3.01, 4, 5 and 6.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
City Solicitor Dorothy McCrosson said the city will authorize the acquisition by either negotiation through contract or condemnation if an agreement can\u2019t be reached with the property owners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to be in negotiations for the acquisition of this entire lot,\u201d McCrosson said. \u201cWe\u2019ll make sure that it\u2019s out in public, you could get comments from the public and this will be the first step in that process.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Councilman Michael DeVlieger said \u201ceveryone is pretty much in harmony\u201d with the city acquiring the lots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Last year, the city floated several ideas for the land, including a possible state-of-the-art public safety building, recreation, parking or open space.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Currently the property contains the car dealership building, garage, and paved parking lot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Gillian, in an Aug. 9 statement, noted the city hasn\u2019t reached an agreement with the property\u2019s owners, and the ordinance only starts the negotiation process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cMy position has not wavered since we attempted to purchase the property at this time last year: I don\u2019t want to see this property developed with more housing. It\u2019s a truly rare opportunity to protect an entire city block on our densely developed island. With plans now approved for single-family housing there, this is a matter of some urgency. Protecting this land from development is our plan. It\u2019s as simple as that,\u201d Gillian said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Gillian urged public input on how the city can use the block.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe are not currently considering this location as a potential site for a new public safety building. It will be reserved for open space, recreation or some other public use,\u201d Gillian said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
FIT President David Hayes said his group favors the ordinance, but wants a plan from the city on the property\u2019s use.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe agree with this ordinance. It\u2019s how we should have treated these properties in the first place, we should have been considering all of them for condemnation or purchase,\u201d Hayes said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Hayes said the city should produce a clear strategy for the entire city block.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat are we doing with this property? It\u2019s being purchased with tax dollars, we need to have a plan. Without a plan it\u2019s just hand-waving. If it\u2019s going to be open space, say it\u2019s open space. If it\u2019s going to be a public service building, that\u2019s great\u2026. If you can\u2019t decide let\u2019s have a workshop and get people\u2019s input,\u201d Hayes said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The ordinance\u2019s second reading and public hearing will be held Aug. 22.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
August 14- Ocean City Sentinel By Eric Avidessian OCEAN CITY \u2013 Call it d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu. Council on Aug. 8 introduced an ordinance to acquire through purchase or condemnation the former Ocean City Chevrolet car lot almost a year after they did the same thing for the same property. A price has not been determined. Last …<\/p>\n