Kimbles Beach Residents Fight Zoning Change

COURT HOUSE –– Many residents of Kimble’s Beach Road and the surrounding area were overjoyed by a “No” vote at the Middle Township Committee meeting Monday night.
The owner of a property at the corner of Kimble’s Beach and Route 47 was before the governing body to request a zoning change, but members sided with the dozen or so neighbors who opposed the application.
“Democracy was preserved tonight,” said Jeffrey Carr, one of the neighbors. “The appropriate use for the site was preserved.”
Richard Myers, the owner of the site, wanted to change his 210 foot by 190 foot lot on the west side of Route 47 from Rural Residential District zoning to Community Business District zoning.
Myers’ attorney, Louis Dwyer, and his planner, Lewis Conley, argued that the zoning change for this corner lot would just make sense from a planning point-of-view.
“The properties at every intersection of a major cross street along Route 47 from Goshen Road down to Springers Mill Road, Dias Creek Road and Indian Trail Road are zoned for business except for this one,” Conley said while pointing to a map of zoning districts in the township. “This change would make it consistent.”
The applicant’s professionals also said the township’s land use boards recommended the zoning change and said it should be added to the municipality’s master plan.
Residents argued, however, that a new commercial business there would add to an already bad traffic problem.
“If you approve this change tonight, we ask that you increase the width of Kimbles Beach Road to accommodate the extra traffic from the potential business,” Carr said.
Others called for a traffic signal for the corner, which is very difficult to navigate especially during the summer months due to increased traffic along Route 47.
Kimbles Beach resident Susan Copson said she had been rear-ended herself at the intersection last year.
Carr’s wife Catherine also noted that young kids often ride their bikes along the road back to the bay to go fishing.
“I’m so concerned with the safety aspect of the change,” she said.
Neighbors were also concerned that any new business on the site might not conform to the sensitive nature of the surrounding area.
Some permitted uses for community business zones include: retail sales including grocery stores, bakeries, drug and liquor stores; service uses such as hair care, dry-cleaning and repair shops; restaurants including the sale of alcoholic beverages; banks; professional offices; office buildings; vehicle sales; and fast food.
Copson remarked on the beauty of the walking trails, Delaware Bay corridor and Nature Conservancy grounds in the area. She said any new business would take away from the area’s ambience.
Another neighbor, who is trying to sell his home on Kimbles Beach, said no one was looking at the house because of the dollar store that was rumored for the site.
“You’re giving us all heartburn with this dollar store project,” he said.
Myers’ professionals tried to assure residents no business had been chosen yet. They said that would be addressed at the site plan review.
When all the comments were heard, Mayor F. Nathan Doughty as well as Committee Members Steve Barry and Susan Delanzo backed the Kimbles Beach group and rejected the ordinance that would have changed the zoning on Myers’ property.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com