A new broom does indeed sweep clean

Gloucester City Planning Board Has A New Look

By Linda Boker-Angelo

NEWS Correspondent

 

A new broom does indeed sweep clean.

There were many new faces at last week’s Gloucester City Planning Board as members were sworn in to begin the new year.

Returning board members were: Michael Smollock, Mayor’s Designee, term expiring December 2007; Edward Gorman, term expiring December 2007; and Ralph Randolph, term expiring December 2010.

The following individuals were new appointees to the board: Nicholas Marchese, Jr., term expiring December 2007; Daniel Spencer, term expiring December 2010; alternate Ryan Murphy, term expiring December 2007; alternate Jack Brandt, term expiring December 2008; and alternate Frank Wunsch, term expiring December 2008.

Board members unanimously elected John Bisconti to continue acting as Chairman, while two nominations were made for the post of vice chairman. The names of Jess Torres and newcomer Spencer were tossed up for consideration, however Torres declined the nomination due to work commitments. Torres, in turn, nominated long-time member Gorman, who members selected by a vote of six to three.

The first issue to come before the newly assembled board was an application submitted by North King Street resident and business owner Glenn Hastings, who requested approval by the City Historic Commission to erect a 20-foot by 21-foot deck on the roof of his three-story building.

Hasting operates the King Street Espresso Bar on the first floor of the building and he and his family reside on the second and third floors. Hastings said the proposed deck would be for the family’s use only.

The Historic Commission did not approve Hastings’ plans and recommended that the Planning Board deny the application. Attorney Gus Tamburro and architectural historian William McCabe argued on
Hastings’ behalf that as the entire block was renovated in the mid 1990s, any historical significance the building may have once had is gone.

Several board members were concerned about the additional weight that the deck would put on the frame of the building, as well as that the deck would be about 30-feet above the ground with only a 42-inch railing.

New member Marchese supported Hastings’ plans, stating that the Historic Commission and the board needs to work more with business owners interested in improving their properties.

After considerable discussion, the board voted to approve the application. Hastingsalso received permission to install a retractable roof awning on the front of his coffeehouse. The Planning Board will meet again on at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 21 in the City Administration Building 512 Monmouth Street