As most predicted, the Margate Planning Board approved, by a vote of 4-1, a new site plan for the Sunrise Tequila Bar and Roof-Top Party Deck proposed for 9700 Ventnor Ave.
It was a packed house. Standing room only.
Public Comment Audio, May 15 Margate Planning Board Mtg >
Sunrise Tequila Bar and Roof Top Party Deck will be a 2-story facility that will handle upwards of 200 patrons.
No parking, fear of inadequate trash facilities, noise and security concerns. Not following zoning law and Master Plan?
Virtually NO setbacks. Building coverage on the lot should be 60%, but it’s actually about 98%.
Audio: Variances Requested & Vote >
Mike Richmond, Margate Planning Board Chairman: Yeah, I wasn’t happy with the way things played out. I’m a builder. I’ve been involved in a lot of major construction like that. I still don’t quite understand why (structural issues) were not picked up earlier.
Richmond: I wasn’t happy about starting the new construction without permits. I just think that makes the city look bad. Trash situation should have been addressed at the get-go. But it wasn’t.
Editors note: Mike Richmond was the only Margate Planning Board member pointing out unlawful restrictions on the Chinese restaurant redevelopment plan at the corner of Douglas and Ventnor Ave. Listen below.
MAY 2023 audio. Margate Planning Board accused of unlawful spot zoning Board Vice-Chairman MIKE RICHMOND vs Chairman RICH PATTERSON.
Public Comments:
Floodgates are open. Can we expect additional, future venues like the one proposed by Sunrise Tequila?
Wonder where the next, two-level, open-air music venue will be built?
Residents disagree with Margate Planning Board member Tom Collins, who happens to be the father of Mayor Mike Collins.
Note: Mayor Mike Collins hand-picks the Margate Planning Board. (School board too)
Atty Eric Goldstein was also very defensive during the meeting. Quite cagey at times. Some say he was easily ‘triggered’.
No real detriment to the surrounding homeowners?
The previous business at that location was a retail liquor store. That’s much different than a roof top bar and party deck with live music.
You’re opening the door to additional roof top party decks like Sunrise Tequila.
Roof-top party deck. Every homeowner near these zones, are now poised to have their quality of life and their home values go down the tubes.
Are we really supposed to believe that no one inspected the existing walls and foundation to see if the structure could uphold the proposed addition?
It appears that those implementing the master plan have to decide whether they want to turn Margate into a party destination like Wildwood, or if they want to actually encourage new families like my own to move into town.
You also have to consider the dwindling numbers of year-round families and listen to their concerns. My son has only 28 kids in his grade at school.
I implore you to rethink how your decision will completely change the face of the entire C2 commercial district.
The ordinance in Margate says: you’re not allowed to have a rooftop bar. This [project] is being called a second story, or a second-floor bar. It’s very unclear what the difference is between a rooftop and a second story.
You should only have 60% site coverage. Not 98%. Once that building came down, for whatever reason, it’s a whole new blank slate and they should start over. All these conversations about existing walls, they make no sense. They should redesign this property.
I would like to know how this enhances the Margate Planning Board’s goal of bringing permanent residents to the community. You haven’t addressed it.
Atty Eric Goldstein, thinks this is a win-win. I don’t think so. I think it’s a lose-lose, says public commenter.
NOTE: The Margate Master Plan is seemingly, always in need of updating.
Margate Planning Board Accused of Spot Zoning
Attorney Goldstein is a clown who takes money from all the shore developers . He’s built some client list of the years.. What a racket .
So you’re expecting a lawyer to NOT take money to represent his clients on legal matters, transactions and documents? Be critical, but be reasonable.
I am saying that it’s sleezy.. This crap goes on in places like Philly. It shouldn’t happen here. The pols, the developers, the attorneys and real estate agents are all in bed together, to the detriment of the community.
BEST attorney in South Jersey. Probably why everyone hires him. And yes, lawyers get paid to work like everyone else does.
The attorney for the Tequila Bar people was rude and made the board look like fools. They seemed afraid of this verbose lawyer and obviously, the board also lacks representatives who can take a stand against powerful local business people.
The Tequila Bar owners simply snubbed their noses at these easily fooled Margate City officials.
Margate needs to elect better officials who are educated and who have the concerns of all the citizens in their best interest.
This board was easily duped by the Tequila Bar attorney and it was almost humorous to watch them cower under the pressure of the T Bar power brokers.
It was almost sad to see Margate City turning into Dodge City at this meeting.
Margate’s board fell like a row of dominos at the end. How sad to see democracy crumble in our fine city.
Best attorney in South Jersey? Look, Pee Wee Herman could have won this approval if he represented the Tequila bar crowd. This was signed sealed and delivered before the meeting even started.
What I don’t understand is how the owners of the Tequila bar were able to violate code on numerous issues, then get get fined and continue to violate code.
All this as the board seemed to actually not care. Am I missing something here?
Could some of the board members face personal legal trouble for violating the laws they are responsible for enforcing?
Maybe Margate’s board should face an investigation by a higher authority.
Now that would make for some entertaining testimony.
Tiny Tom Collins needs to be removed from the Planning Board. Can’t trust him. At all.
Mike Richmond is one of a few Margate Planning Board members with integrity, and a spine. The rest are weasels.
Richmond is one of the BEST, most honest builders on the island.
Richmond actually stands up against Tiny Tom Collins and his cronies.
You do know that Mike Voted to approve the project
Instead of attending a meeting remember to vote next time. I wonder if the mayor can be recalled? If the year round residents can vote and that’s where the main voice of concern is then get the signatures started. Otherwise, I’d bet more of these adult fun plexes will open.
The locals can’t manage to get out to vote in reasonable numbers in an actual election, and those who do don’t have issue with the elected officials… nice try though.
Wondering if you guys have covered the Sunrise Tequila Bars Instagram page. One of the points in the meeting on Wednesday was about safety where Attorney Goldstein made a point to downplay the concern.
If you go to the bars instagram page you will see a post about them offering “Sunrise Sips”. The ads don’t say explicitly that the pouches have alcohol in them but it is inferred that it is an alcohol drink.
This strictly goes against Margate law as well as most shore towns that there is no drinking on the beach.
Encouraging drinking on the beach sounds like a major safety issue, as well as the fact that many people already bring drinks illegally to the beach that adds to litter on the beach already that has been seen on our beaches this year.
The post shows three ladies drinking out of the pouches on the beach.
Many people bring cans and bottles of alcohol (and regular drinks including water), juice boxes and pouches for kids. Alcoholic beverage are consumed either in plain view or in koozies or wrappers. But the potential for some pouches from Sunrise is the straw that breaks the camels back for you as an alcohol and trash issue? Your hypocrisy is astonishing.
I’m not sure you understand the meaning of hypocrisy but okay pal. If you want alcohol to be brought onto the beach illegally good for you, but some of us actually give a crap.
Why should they add to an already ongoing issue?
Why do you not care about people littering on the beach? Seems the issue here is you.
Let’s have people destroy the whole beach while we’re at it.
Wow, let’s exaggerate while we’re at it. Anything for a bunch of miserable, disgruntled locals to try and align against this place.
Perhaps you haven’t been on a beach here lately. There is tons of alcohol – which there SHOULD NOT be. But predictably trying to rally against this place over pics on Instagram under the guise of alcohol and trash is lame.
Laws, codes, regulations, etc.?
Follow the money.
Margate use to be such a nice place.
Glad I no longer live there.
I feel for the few “locals” that are left and reside there year round.
You have been and continue to get sold out.
If building codes were violated, perhaps the State should investigate this as this could be a safety concern, etc.
I mean do you expect these Margate officials to investigate themselves and actually do the right thing?
Heck, one would speculate that they are in on it?
Good riddance to you and your negativity. Sunrise will be a fabulous addition to our town!
People hire great lawyers that (shockingly) get paid to work. The planning board has made positive contributions to Margate.
Change happens. The dinosaurs didn’t change. Look what happened to them.
Man, I wish there was a like button. You hit the nail on the head perfectly. I always have to laugh at the typically miserable and mostly elderly locals lament the loss of the way things were 50+ years ago. Newsflash: without taxes several fold higher on small, old house, the beach towns would flounder. Welcome to the real world.
Without taxes, the beach towns would flounder? Can you actually point out a beach town that has floundered in New Jersey or on the East Coast with your reasoning?
These beach towns survived with a lot less tax revenue decades ago with less tourism.
A major issue with beach towns in New Jersey and the East Coast is that these towns are pricing people out to be able to actually live there and raise a family.
Maybe that is what people like you actually want?
Tired,
elderly or young, locals are Tired of the lack of respect and rudeness displayed by some of the summer visitors. Perhaps you should take inventory of your own behavior the next time you are enjoying the local attractions.
People (shockingly) , have a right to hold elected officials accountable. Sure change happens, but it comes with a price sometimes. I don’t object to the project, I object to how things are done around here. Drive by , look at the footprint. That design should never have been approved. Great lawyers? Lawyers are the cost of doing business, they shouldn’t have so much power, as this one seems to have.
Good Riddance
You most likely are one of those people with wealth that buys a big second home in Margate that thinks you own the city?
Change happens but change is not always better.
I was raised in Margate and my parents still live there.
My family has been in Margate most likely longer than you have been alive.
I moved away but I am there often.
Let me take you to school here…
It was a spectacular, wonderful place to grow up in.
Have some respect for the locals and people that were born and raised there and some locals that still live there.
Trust me, Margate back in the day was much better than the Margate of today.
Amen to that. The arrogance of some people is breathtaking. We don’t all need to agree but anyone with eyes can see that things are heading down a slippery slope.