Sports
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IR advances in state playoffs
Mamma Mia! to soon hit local stage
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MARCH 3, 2023
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 20, Issue 9
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Fenwick passes commercial parking restrictions By Mike Smith Staff Reporter The Fenwick Island Town Council voted unanimously this week to curb commercial parking and reduce the load on parking lots and surface streets by 20 percent — setting off a battle between the commercial property owners and residential property owners in the town. Mayor Natalie Magdeburger read the resolution to restrict commercial parking, which she said was needed to
combat the illegal imposition of vehicles in residential areas, the incursion of trash from fast-food businesses and even partiers trespassing on homeowners’ lawns. She quipped that there are more than a dozen “whereas” justifications in the ordinance to improve parking. She said the now-approved restrictive changes would address a growing parking problem in Fenwick. She said changes made in 2013 had eroded the Town’s parking space requirements to
the point they no longer meet the needs of the business community. The Fenwick Charter & Ordinance (C&O) committee met to discuss offstreet parking last month. The council had already heard a second reading of the planned changes. “Pursuant to charter and state law,” said Magdeburger, “We have authority to enact amendments to our own ordinance. The Town has reduced off-street parking requirements for restaurants and commercial establishments. There
is insufficient off-street parking for patrons in the commercial zone. The Town’s Ad-Hoc Parking Committee convened to discuss parking, and C&O met to permit better ratios for off-street parking.” “This ordinance is very ‘Not in my back yard,’ very NIMBY,” said Richard Abbott, an attorney representing the Joseph Balsalmo family and construction company, which owns five comSee PARKING page 2
Undocumented history derails portion of White Creek dredge By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter Boaters on White Creek eager to see the waterway dredged so boats can stop getting stuck in the mud at low tide are disappointed that the last eighth-mile — the eastern prong of the creek — is not going to be dredged after all. James Bew, who lives on Cristy Lane in Ocean View, said he learned of the change in plans in the $4.7 million project after reading bid contract specifications on the DNREC website. When he reached Joanna French, DNREC’s engineer program manager at the Division of Watershed Stewardship’s shoreline and waterway management section, he said, she told him she “failed to update the wording on the website and the bid contract specifications,” and said the dredging project is considered maintenance — not first-time dredging. Since officials couldn’t verify if that last portion had ever been dredged before,
Special to the Coastal Point • Marian Dowling
Sunrise at the Indian River Inlet can absolutely steal your breath, especially if you’re looking through the lens of local photographer Marian Dowling.
See DREDGE page 3
Millville council candidates make their cases for election Compiled and edited by Kerin Magill Staff Reporter The Coastal Point recently asked all six candidates in the upcoming Millville Town Council election to submit brief biographies and answer three questions
designed to give voters a glimpse into their strengths and their priorities for the Town. The election will be Saturday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Millville Town Hall Meeting Room. Six candidates will vie for three two-year seats.
Sharon Brienza My husband Rich and I moved to Millville from New Jersey in August 2016. Before my retirement, I worked in local government for Branchburg
Township, N.J., for more than 29 years as the township clerk. I also served as the acting administrator on two different occasions. I was very active with county organiSee CANDIDATES page 4