The Jersey City Planning Board tabled a measure that would require residents to obtain a zoning certificate of compliance before selling properties after public comments poured in against it, calling the plan “redundant†and “flawed.”
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The proposed ordinance required property owners to obtain a certificate of compliance in order to perform any kind of property improvements, obtaining building and demolition permits, and simply, the selling of property. The purchase of each certificate is $150. Zoning officers would issue these certificates if they pass all zoning codes.
Many public speakers considered this charge to be an additional tax on property owners. “$150 is a lot of money to a lot of people just to do some paper shuffling†said Esther Wintner.
Although the ordinance was to provide protection for consumers, it caused more frustration and confusion to Jersey City residents.
“What’s the purpose of this? There are systems in place and I have also been a realtor for 10 years, in Jersey City and Hoboken, and I know there is more than a triple redundant system in place to ensure that a property for sale is indeed zoned appropriately†said Van Vorst Park President, Oona Jackson Moore.
“There is no clear cut opinion on what you will be enforcing when you enforce this†said Laura Skolar, Liberty Board of Realtor’s president.
Skolar spoke on behalf of her association and offered services and assistance to help create more accurate building and tax records, at a minimal fee, to help rewrite and create a “Proper Zoning Ordinance.â€
The planning board committee agreed to revisit the ordinance on March 10th. Until then, board member Joyce Watterman – also a Jersey City Councilwoman-at-Large – requested that Cotter hold a town hall meeting and get more Jersey City residents’ input before it is once again submitted to the board.