A public hearing was held during Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Atlantic City Council, during which there was minimal input with regard to a proposed amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance. The amendment would may make certain real property change from C-1 (Highway Commercial) to I-1 (light industrial), and changing the zoning maps to reflect the change. It would essentially allow Ray Armstrong to rezone his property at 1007 W. 6th Street, so as to further develop the property and use the built real estate, while remaining in compliance with zoning regulations.

Following the hearing the Council took into consideration the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission’s conclusion, that  the rezoning changes were not in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission prefers to see development occur at the location mentioned, but does not feel rezoning is the best way to see that happen. The P&Z will reconvene March 9th to fully review the relevant definitions and regulations for both C-1 and L1, to see if changes can be made to the Zoning Ordinance that reasonably accommodates development in the area, while also protecting the rights of abutting property owners.  The City Council, for its part, held the first reading of an Ordinance pertaining to the amendment, but the matter died for lack of a motion to approve.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council set their next regular meeting as the date for a Public Hearing on the FY 2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars for Certain Levies. City Administrator John Lund says they proposed Budget for FY 2022 totals $14,638,261, or a decrease of 11.19% ($1,844,008) from the FY 2021 Revised Estimate of $16,482,269. And he said the budget will allow for work to proceed on an addition to the Atlantic Animal Shelter, along with other priority projects.

On property tax statements where no changes in assessed or taxable value have occurred, the City will show an increase of 2.59%, not the 2.87% shown on the public notice. Lund notes that “While 2.59% is the increase in dollars generated, it is not going to be reflective of the impact on the property taxes levied against individual properties.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution they passed also set the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a G.O. Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and borrow money for the same, not to exceed $90,000. The City has, for the past two-years, entered into a 28-E cost sharing agreement with other cities in the County, to pay the Landfill costs, which will be paid for through the Debt Service Levy.