Business Community Opposes Ordinance

did not want to see the proposed ordinance affect redevelopment in Fenwick Island.

“I’m a big proponent of Fenwick Island being a quiet resort, but I don’t want it to be a sleepy resort,” he said. “I think continued reinvestment is an important part of our growth.”

Waide argued against parking ratios that would restrict businesses.

“A restaurant in our town is not going to build a restaurant where customers can’t find a place to park …,” he said. “It’s not the council’s responsibility to put a constraint on a businessperson. They need to put that constraint on themselves.”

Committee member Jay Ryan said he supported the proposed changes, as they would address a parking problem in town. He also pointed to the Fenwick Shores hotel, which recently purchased a residential property in Fenwick to accommodate their parking needs.

“The hotel paid $525,000 for that cottage at 2 West Houston Street,” he said. “If a business is going to invest over a half million dollars in a residential district to resolve their parking problem, they have an acute parking problem. We need to address it.”

Councilwoman Jacque Napolitano, committee member, agreed. She said she not only supported the ordinance changes, but a proposed Business to Business initiative, in which business owners would work together to share unused parking spaces.

“I think going forward this is the best way to handle it …,” she said. “Something has to be done.”

Committee member Ann Riley said the proposed ordinance amendment represented a compromise, as it would no longer restrict parking in the commercial setbacks or require designated delivery zones and would include accommodations for shared parking. She noted, however, that the proposed parking ratios did not address the different types of operations, particularly in mixed-used buildings.

“I do think we could do something for strip or multi-use centers that would make sense,” she said.

Magdeburger noted that commercial property owners seeking a reduction of required parking spaces for operations that do not generate as much parking use could come before the town’s board of adjustment.

“Any of our ordinances or requirements for residential or business, they have a right to go to the board of adjust- ment with what they think is a hardship,” she said.

During public comments, commercial property owner Tim Collins came before the committee to oppose the legislation. He highlighted a real estate company’s efforts to redevelop the former Dairy Queen property to make his point.

“It’s on three commercial lots,” he said. “When you can’t take that building and rehab it using the footprint that is there, and do that under this ordinance, then something is wrong,” he said.

Commercial property owner Kinsley Hazel said she not only had concerns about the proposed ratios, but accommodations within the ordinance that would allow for shared parking. She argued the ordinance amendment would not solve the town’s current parking problems.

“I don’t see how this is going to do anything but diminish the commercial district in Fenwick Island,” she said.

Warren’s Station owner Scott Mumford agreed.

“If this was a good ordinance, the business community would be more supportive, because we would see the bigger picture,” he said. “But the business community is against this ordinance, plain and simple.”

After further discussion, the committee voted 5-1, with Waide opposed, to accept the proposed ordinance amendment and to recommend the council adopt the changes.