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Council hears proposal to raise off-street parking for large rental homes
Summary
A Land Use Board member proposed increasing off-street parking requirements for properties with more than five bedrooms and separating restaurant parking standards from general commercial rules to ease parking pressure in Beach Haven's compact lots.
Jamie Bommeler, who was asked to present zoning revisions, told the council the borough has seen more six-bedroom houses on 5,000-square-foot lots and suggested that properties with more than five bedrooms should be required to provide four off‑street parking spaces instead of the current three.
"These six-bedroom houses ... are more or less income properties, and we're having issues with parking," Bommeler said, arguing that an increase to four spaces for larger units would help ease curbside congestion. She recommended the council consider the change and said she would return with more details at a subsequent meeting.
Bommeler also proposed revising commercial parking standards, noting the current ordinance groups all commercial uses at one space per 600 square feet. She said separating restaurants from general commercial rules would better reflect their staffing and customer needs and suggested a compromise standard in the range of one space per 250–300 square feet.
Council members sought clarifications about grandfathering and practical impacts. A council member noted that new requirements would generally apply after a 50% substantial improvement or for new construction and urged care not to overburden existing businesses. The clerk and staff said they will incorporate these concerns into the draft ordinance and return with specific language and potential grandfathering provisions.
