By Tim O’Meilia
The owners of Ocean Ridge’s five-store business district agreed to pay for a planning study that may forestall its demise, but not before clashing with town commissioners.
After requiring an engineering study of the property at 5011 N. Ocean Blvd. four months ago, commissioners were reluctant Oct. 7 to reconsider a 44-year-old decision to change the shops to residential use.
“I question why we want to change our comprehensive plan for one building. What does Ocean Ridge get out of it?” said Commissioner Zoanne Hennigan. “And why ask our residents to pay for that?”
An extension of a 2000 agreement gives owners Orlando and Lilianne Sivitilli until June to continue commercial operations in the 60-foot deep strip at the south entrance to town.
The property houses Colby’s Barber Shop, the Transition Area triathlon shop, The Coastal Star newspaper and Ocean Ridge Realty. Four apartments are on the second floor. Ten parking spaces serve the area.
Town Commissioner Gail Adams Aaskov, who owns the real estate firm, does not vote on issues regarding the strip.
“After all these years we’ve been fulfilling the rules, making applications,” said Lisa Sivitilli, the owners’ daughter, “then to come in tonight and hear suddenly you’ve changed again? It seems to me like you’ve playing with our affections.”
Later, Sivitilli and the commission agreed she would file for a plan change soon, estimated to cost $13,000, although the town is scheduled to pay for a plan change in 2015.
“We’re happy we can get this resolved,” Sivitilli said after the meeting, noting that dealing with an uncertain future has been a hardship. The study and possible zoning changes may take more than a year.
In 2012, the commission granted a two-year extension on the conversion to residential only because Sivitilli said the sinking real estate market made plans to convert to townhouses a financial risk.
In June, commissioners, including Mayor Geoff Pugh, fretted that the strip could be left abandoned. “I’m fearful of what could go up there,” Commissioner Lynn Allison said at the meeting, disagreeing with her fellow members.
Real estate agent Sandy Foster supported retaining the small shop area, saying it would be difficult to convert to an attractive residential area because of the aging cottages behind it and a gas station across the street. She said neighborhood businesses would be more attractive.
In other business, commissioners took the following action:
• Refused to release liens of $50,000 against the oceanfront home at 6011 N. Ocean Blvd., recently sold for $3.3 million by Joseph Romano, who is serving 15 years in federal prison in New York on a business conspiracy conviction. Romano was cited in 2009 for not having a pool barrier and in 2010 for erecting columns without a permit. Romano’s money was being held in escrow. “The relations between the town and the Romanos has been quite prickly for a number of years. I don’t think we should resolve the lien by one penny,” Pugh said. “The pool barrier was a life safety issue and the columns were something they installed themselves.”
• Agreed to consider allowing commissioners to participate in meetings over the phone if there was good cause but not to count toward establishing a quorum. Town Attorney Ken Spillias said state law and attorney general’s opinions are unclear, but advised against allowing commissioners to vote by telephone for fear of such decisions being later overturned.
• Allowed the $2,500 purchase of 300 7-by-10-inch alarm warning signs to be sold to town residents to put on their lawns. Homeowners can have their alarms monitored directly by the town police force for $200 annually.
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