Public against businesses using city’s lots to meet parking requirements
SOMERS POINT — The public spoke. City Council listened.
More than a dozen people came out July 23 against a proposal to allow new businesses around Bay Avenue to use municipal parking lots to meet the required number of spots.
“It’s got to be one of the most horrible ideas I’ve ever heard come out of this body,” Gary Gray said. “It’s just an excuse to overdevelop the properties down there. If it doesn’t fit … it doesn’t belong there. It’s that simple.”
Parking is always at a premium in the city’s historic district, exacerbated by the multiple popular restaurants in the area, a thriving community theater and beach concerts that bring hundreds to the area each Friday night through summer.
Council voted 6-1 to reject the proposal of Councilman Sean McGuigan, who cast the sole vote in favor of the measure.
Ordinance 17-2026 was introduced June 25 in a 4-3 vote. The measure would have allowed City Council to grant an easement to a new commercial business within 100 yards of a city-owned parking lot, giving the owner exclusive use of certain spaces for a fee. In addition, it would have allowed City Council to enter into an agreement in which the owner, customers, employees and patrons of a new business in the area have non-exclusive use of parking spaces within a specific lot, and the city would have the non-exclusive right to use parking spaces in the owner’s lot for overflow parking when needed.
The proposal came about as the result of a would-be developer seeking a way to satisfy a parking deficiency.
In December 2025, McGuigan reported that a developer approached the Concept Review Committee with a plan to build a mixed-use building on the southwest corner of Gibbs and Bay avenues but lacks adequate parking.
The developer proposed creating a cut-through from its lot to the adjacent municipal lot on the corner of Higbee Avenue, across from the Gateway Playhouse. That would conceivably have provided enough parking that the Planning Board would approve the project, despite a double-digit shortage.
McGuigan said at the time that the proposal calls for demolition of the existing building and construction of a new one with three retail spaces on the first floor, office space for medical billing on the second floor and a home on the third floor.
The ordinance faced opposition from the start, with Councilwoman Janice Johnston arguing that it “defeats the purpose of having a municipal parking lot, because you’re allowing someone to build something bigger than what’s allowed and use the city parking.”
The Somers Point Planning Board considered the measure July 15, and despite the board engineer opining that it was consistent with the city Master Plan, voted 4-3 that it was not.
McGuigan argued that the proposal would boost economic development in the area and make the district more walkable.
Public comment
Judd Moore, who serves on the Somers Point Board of Education, said the measure would circumvent zoning regulations.
“Zoning is in place to protect the area,” he said. “Parking is a premier commodity on Bay Avenue, and so we need all the parking that we can get.”
Pat Pierson, a regular at City Council meetings, said the proposal would benefit the business owner at the expense of the public.
“Every one of you knows this is wrong; just don’t do it,” she said. “The building should fit the site plan.”
Louise Gregory, wife of Walt Gregory who is part owner of nearby Gregory’s Restaurant, said she believes the parking lots should remain open to the public.
“One business should not be given special privileges versus all the other businesses that have followed the rules,” she said.
Terry Doebley, who lives on Bay Avenue, said the parking situation is untenable.
“I couldn’t even get out of Bay Avenue tonight because you can’t see. They’re parked all the way down to Cedar Avenue. They’re parked all the way along Maryland, along Sunny. I couldn’t see to get out, and so now you’re going to give parking spaces to a business. If they have to have a big building, they have to have parking to go with it. They shouldn’t be taking our parking,” she said.
Brooke Guckin of New Jersey Avenue said she appreciates the city’s efforts to encourage development in the area.
“However, development should not come at the expense of existing residents,” she said.
Guckin said the ordinance would increase demand for parking and decrease the availability for residents. She said her property contains two historic homes and no driveway, and that she has been refused relief to add one, forcing the residents to park on the street.
“My concern is straightforward and has a direct impact on my family’s quality of life,” Guckin said.
Kim O’Brien, president of the Somers Point Democratic Club who is challenging Councilman Jack Shields in November, said the ordinance is similar to one that was considered earlier this year that would have allowed The Point to play music until 1 a.m. while all others were forced to stop at 11 p.m.
“It just seems like a troubling pattern where the interest of one business makes it all the way to a City Council resolution,” she said.
O’Brien said she is in favor of economic development but that “has to be balanced with the needs of the residents.”
Ahead of the vote, McGuigan said there long has been discussion about the potential of Bay Avenue.
“It would be great to have little shops and so forth. … We’re just not going to get any development if we don’t come up with some sort of a plan here,” he said, noting the ordinance would have provided the city a couple of tools to help ease the way.
Councilman Howard Dill said the proposed building at Gibbs and Bay would create a parking issue, but noted that is an issue for the Planning Board or Zoning Board.
“Therefore, it’ll be going to one of the boards, and that board will make that decision based on the size of the building and any decisions that are made or any recommendations that are made associated with that,” he said.
Johnston said the ordinance would benefit only one business.
“I respect the Planning Board and our professionals, our engineers, but to me, this particular ordinance has nothing to do with the Master Plan. This has to do with putting a building on Bay Avenue that’s too large. It doesn’t belong there,” she said.
Council President Kirk Gerety, who cast the final no vote, said he encourages members of the governing body to bring ideas to the table.
“Some of them are great ideas, some of them are outright stupid ideas, but I applaud Mr. McGuigan for coming with an idea,” he said.
Gerety said that just because a proposal is on the agenda doesn’t mean City Council is in favor of it.
“This is what we debate, we take in your opinions and everything else. … We want the public to know everything that we’re talking about up here, good or bad, so that you know what’s going on so we are transparent,” he said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
