Doo-Wop League

Doo Wop League wants change in CAFRA rules
By TRUDI GILFILLIAN Staff Writer, (609) 463-6716
Published: Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Updated: Tuesday, April 4, 2006

WILDWOOD — The Doo Wop Preservation League hopes to convince the state that the Wildwoods need their own rules to encourage preservation of the island's aging doo-wop motels.

Architect Richard Stokes, a league member, suggested special Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, or CAFRA, rules should be created to make expansion and renovation of existing doo-wop buildings financially feasible; otherwise owners might sell or see their properties turned into condominiums.

The new rules would also support the development of new properties with doo-wop architectural features.

League President Dan MacElrevey said Monday that the league is asking the island's mayors to meet and reach agreement on what needs to be included in the rules, then the island's municipalities can propose the changes to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

He compared them to the so-called Atlantic City rules that permitted the development of that city's high-rise casinos.

In particular, the league wants existing motels to require only one parking space per unit to allow for expansion on properties of limited size instead of two spaces per unit.

The league proposes reducing the on-site parking requirement through a program that would instead allow owners to receive credits for contributions to a parking fund and for doo-wop design features.

The Greater Wildwoods Hotel Motel Association has proposed similar rules to encourage hotel renovation and construction.

Jack Morey, of the preservation league, said he is particularly concerned that the state encourage “unique, playful ‘Wildwood' architecture” in both the buildings and their signs.

Morey said the small motels and the new high-rises planned in Wildwood can co-exist and at the same time maintain the island's doo-wop flavor.

“The world has lots of different types of consumers. Big hotels, little hotels — there's a market for all if they're good ones,” Morey said.

To e-mail Trudi Gilfillian at The Press:TGilfillian@pressofac.com