Township of Lower

The session commenced with an opening announcement, the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and an invocation. Key actions included the administration of the Oath of Office to Councilmember Joseph Wareham. The Work Session featured Oaths of Office for Chief Donald Vanaman, Jr., Deputy Chief Michael Majane, and Captain John Armbruster. The extensive Consent Agenda involved numerous professional service contract appointments for 2026, including the Municipal Solicitor, Labor Attorney, Municipal Prosecutor, Public Defender, Municipal Engineer, Municipal Judge, and Public Information Officer. The agenda also covered the establishment of annual council meeting dates, designation of official newspapers, and approval of various annual resolutions related to debt service payments, budget adoption, tax appeals, insurance fund confirmations, and fee waivers. Significant resolutions also addressed the awarding of contracts for fireworks display supply, MIS consulting, animal control services, fertilizing services, and landscaping services, as well as an appointment to the Zoning Board and Planning Board. A Bond Ordinance was introduced for supplemental funding for a Public Works Building construction. The Regular Agenda included the second reading and public hearing for ordinances concerning Youth Sports Volunteer Background Checks and Township Salary and Benefits.

The Zoning Board addressed several agenda items, including the conditional approval of a use variance and a hardship variance application for the creation of an in-ground swimming pool enclosure on a lot where the principal structure is located in an adjacent municipality. The Board also discussed and concurred with a staff recommendation to reduce the required number of copies for a Zoning Board of Adjustment application submission from twenty to fifteen, pending final approval by Council. The Board also approved Solicitor and Engineer Vouchers.

The meeting involved the review of three primary applications. The first item was a minor site plan waiver application for a sewer vacuum pump station submitted by Sun Communities, Inc., which the Board approved. The second application concerned a minor site plan waiver for the installation of two industrial condenser units for Cape May Brewery, LLC, which was also approved. The third item was a minor subdivision and hardship variance application for City to Sea Investments, LLC, proposing the creation of three new lots from six existing lots, requiring variances for lot area, frontage, depth, width, and setback encroachment; this application was ultimately denied following member deliberation regarding lot sizes and neighborhood conformity. The Board also approved the Minutes from the October 16, 2025 meeting, along with the associated Board Engineer and Solicitor vouchers, and Resolutions from that prior meeting.

The meeting agenda included the Call to Order, recital of the Open Public Meetings Act, Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of resolutions concerning applications heard on November 13th, 2025, including cases for Sun Communities, Inc., City to Sea Investments, LLC, and Cape May Brewery, LLC. New Business featured five applications requiring review, such as a preliminary and final site plan for an outdoor deck enclosure by Isla Sirena Properties, LLC; a minor subdivision by N.L. Martucci Properties, LLC; a minor site plan waiver for a Cigar Lounge by Coastal Cigar Lounge, LLC; another minor subdivision by Good Fellows Management, LLC; and a preliminary and final site plan for a winery renovation by 600 Railroad Avenue, LLC. Discussion included a staff recommendation to reduce the required number of copies for Planning Board applications from 20 to 15.

The meeting involved addressing correspondence, including lists of Board Engineer and Solicitor Vouchers dated for the meeting day. Due to deficient mailing notifications, two preliminary/final major subdivision applications were adjourned to the subsequent meeting of October 16, 2025. The Board reviewed and approved a minor subdivision application for 926 Woolson Road, which was determined to be a By-Right subdivision, with a condition regarding completed Subdivision Plans for sewer hookup. A second minor subdivision and hardship variance application for 501 Baywyn required adjournment to allow the applicant to provide a detailed map showing individual lot ownership and size to address concerns raised by the Board and the public, who expressed opposition regarding lot size, setbacks, safety, and precedent establishment. Finally, discussions occurred regarding the potential redefinition of several zones, specifically considering modifications to the Shawmount Estates and Breakwater Estates areas from Conservation (C) and General Business (GB) to Mainland Residential (R-3), changing the North Cape May GB-1 District to GB-2, and creating an overlay zone for a specific area to permit single- and two-family homes with conditions related to commercial noise/odor disruption. The Board also approved the Minutes and vouchers from the previous meeting of August 21, 2025.