A public hearing is set to take place a little after 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 17th) at City Hall, during a meeting of the Atlantic City Council. The hearing is with regard to an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance, by changing certain real property from C-1 (Highway Commercial) to L-1 (light industrial), and changing the zoning maps to reflect the change. The change would 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.

Zoning Commissioner/City Administrator John Lund says the City’s Zoning Commission met on Feb. 9th, and concluded unanimously that the rezoning changes were not in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, and therefore recommended against changing the District from Highway to Light Industrial. The Commission wants to see development occur at the location mentioned, but does not feel rezoning is the best way to see that happen. Lund says they 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.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on setting the date for a Public Hearing on the FY 2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars for Certain Levies. Juhn Lund says 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. He 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. “There is no way to know,” according to Lund, “what the impact will be in year-to-year impact on taxpayers.” He says when other authorities set their levies, a taxpayer can calculate the changes in their property taxes through a certain formula (**Shown below).

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will act on setting the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation (G.O.) Refunding Loan Agreement (RFLA) and to borrow money for the same. They will 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. Their final action item, is to approve a change order in the amount of $11,429 for the Downtown Revitalization Project, as it pertains to 514 Chestnut Street.

And, in his report, City Administrator John Lund will present the FY 2022 Budget, 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, Budget Performance and Future Forecast, reports. The proposed Budget for FY 2022 totals $14,638,261, or a decrease of 11.19% ($1.8 million) for the FY2021 Revised Estimate of $16,482,269. Lund will report: the City’s combined property tax levy will remain at the same level set in the FY 2021 Budget; No increases to existing fees are proposed, and utility rates will remain unchanged. He will summarize by saying “Atlantic is in a stronger position as a municipal entity than most American cities. Altogether, the FY 2022 Budget continues our planning for the next decade of life. It positions our community to tackle its challenges by leveraging its strength, while continuing to be a community that is welcoming to families and businesses.”

**Taxation formula:

(Assessed Value) x (Property Tax Rollback) = (Taxable Value)

(Taxable Value) x (Combined Levy of All Taxing Authorities)/1,000 = (Gross Taxes Due)

(Gross Taxes Due) – (Applicable Tax Credits) = (Net Taxes Due)