This is why Blogfinger must exist.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin, Reporter/researcher.
For many of us, the first inkling of a new ordinance regarding a 3 hour parking plan on Main Avenue appeared on May 10, front page of the Coaster. In that article we learned that such a plan would be presented at the May 14 meeting of the Township Committee. The idea would be that parking on Main Avenue from New York to Central Avenues would be limited to 3 hours from June 15 to September 15. The article did not say what the motivation for this ordinance was or how the idea came to appear on the May 14 agenda.
The Qoaster Quote said several other things: First it said that the idea would be discussed at a Workshop prior to the regular meeting. Vito Gadaleta, the Business Manager said that the plan probably would not be introduced as an ordinance. Secondly it did not disclose how this secretive plan could rise so quickly in the ordinary sequence of events for ordinances.
Third, no details were offered as to how such a plan would be implemented. And the piece did not reveal who leaked the information. Journalists should give their sources or at least say “anonymous” or “Deep Throat,” or whatever.
Fourth, the piece said that the Chamber of Commerce was encouraging its members to attend the meeting.
Also, Barbara Burns, the Ocean Groaner-in-Chief was quoted as saying, “If they introduce an ordinance, that would be wonderful.”
At the May 14 Committee meeting, the ordinance was indeed presented for a first reading, but no one from the public was allowed to speak directly to it. All five Committeemen approved it. The public can speak at the final reading on May 24. It seemed like this ordinance was set to be passed before anyone parked their car.
No details about this plan were revealed at the meeting including information about enforcement, fairness, necessity, and how the idea was introduced to the Committee in the first place.
During the meeting Committeeman Carol Rizzo said, “We are trying to achieve more turnover of parking spaces to preserve the business community.”
Committeeman Michael Brantley said, “I think we need more information.*
Committeman Kevin McMillan said, “This proposal is reasonable.”
Committeeman Robert Lane said, “How many homes above the stores will be affected?”*
Gadaleta said, “The residents that live in the area and work Monday-Friday will not be affected because the ordinance will be enforced only on weekends, and those residents can move their cars prior to the weekend..”
* Blogfinger awards 5 fingers to those quotes that actually made sense . There were two. Most of the Qommittee Quotes are open to criticism. BUT, in the end, they all voted “yes” to approve this first reading.
We have a few things to say about this gobbledygook:
a. Clearly the Chamber of Commerce is behind this plan, but how did they gain such rapid influence without so much as a study of the idea? And why are they so indifferent to the residents of this town? At least they could have paid for a study to investigate their biased ideas that dumps on those who make that business/residential zone their home.
b. There are 80 parking spaces available to residents in that zone. Where will they park when this ordinance passes? They will look for spaces blocks away, maybe by your house?
c. Why does the Committee jump through hoops for the merchants but not for the residents of Ocean Grove?
d. Why was no explanation given to the public or the press (or, for that matter to most of the committee) justifying such a plan?
e. Why was this “plan” put forth so quickly when there has been no actual detailed plan presented to the public first? Why weren’t proper procedures followed? This is legislative malpractice.
f. And the comment by the OG Groaners shows how out of touch they are with respect to the residents of the Grove.
g. And finally, where do the employees and owners of businesses currently park, and where will they park if the plan is approved? And how many people actually live in that zone where there are apartments and private homes? New Jersey law requires such details.
You could be a blind man and still see the stupidity of this process and this proposal.
Does the public care? You can bet that the shmoes on the Township Committee are certain that no one will object.
THE TRUE BLOOD PLAYERS: Township Committee theme song to be played at every Committee meeting.
This plan is designed to limit the supply of parking spaces in the commercial center. It will benefit businesses to the detriment of everyone else. I would be more supportive if it was part of a more comprehensive plan, but it’s not.
Now if they really wanted to manage the supply and demand for spaces, why not install parking meters? Then parkers would pay only for the time they need, and circulation of cars would improve.
But let’s not pretend this is a solution to parking issues here. The Committee sank that one.
I am in complete agreement with Doug.
Regarding Skeptical Bob – I don’t take offense to you having a second car if you so choose. No town has the right to deem your licensed, inspected and insured car “derelict” and tow it for no cause.
However, what OG needs to do is start a street cleaning initiative (like every other congested municipality with parking issues in this State) and force all residents to move their vehicle to another side of the street at least once a week for street cleaning or get ticketed. Our streets should not be an extension of one’s nonexistent driveway or storage locker. This would take many of the warehoused vehicles off our streets and provide us with cleaner streets to boot.
I have reported two cars that had expired inspection stickers in the last 5 years to the police. In both cases, the police called the owners, in both cases the cars disappeared within a couple of days. If OG were to require cars to move once a week (or even once a month) for street cleaning, this would get rid of most of the problem of derelict cars. (would also keep the streets cleaner, debris out of the lakes, better drainage…..)
Re: “warehoused” cars. I did not think that it was legal to park an unregistered/uninspected/uninsured vehicle on a public street anywhere. Don’t — or can’t — the Neptune police scan license plates for unregistered (and abandoned/stolen) vehicles?
I thought that almost all police cars had that capability.
I have a 20+ year old trusty, rusty Volvo that I keep to drive down to the beach on bad weather days. It’s registered/inspected/insured. If I found that it had been towed away as a derelict, it would make me very unhappy.
This is not a solution, it will only make the parking issue worse/intolerable. How clueless are these officials?
This is solely for the business community and out of town visitors, and not for Ocean Grove homeowners. (P.S. I am sure everyone has noticed the number of stores for lease on Main Avenue.) Drivers will park on the nearby streets because Main Avenue will be off limits. Who will enforce/police this ordinance? It would be better to address the “warehousing” of cars – limit how many days/months a car can be left in one parking space. I know of one renter’s car that will be in the same spot throughout the summer without moving and this has been going on for years.
Gate the bridges at Wesley Lake permanently! This would free up around 100 spaces from the Asbury “cheapos” who park in OG to save a couple of bucks.
(I would not award this ordinance 5 fingers, but I would certainly give them 1 – not much of a guess to figure out which one.)
The copied ordinance does not agree with most of the comments from committeemen. Quote only weekends is not in the ordinance; one says Pennsylvania to Central, the other New York to Central. How can the Township not know or understand what is written in black and white?
Editor’s note: Thank you for the correction. It is New York Avenue, not Pennsylvania—our error.
Exactly! So parking will be limited to 3 hours in the core of Main Ave…yet people can continue warehousing several old cars, motorcycles and mopeds a couple blocks away on Main between Beach and Ocean for MONTHS and nobody bats an eye. How is that a sensible policy?
The parking situation needs an overhaul that can be a win for both residents and the town. It exists! Get a professional in here to study the situation and find it.
Editor’s note: We have 2 and maybe 3 warehoused cars in spaces my neighbors and I used to use adjacent to our houses. We have requested the ordinance on that problem. I think there is a 30 day limit, but we will report back. Paul @Blogfinger
There is something that Jack pointed out: The Zone HD B-1 (historic district mixed use) which is the zone in question here, is larger than the area “roped off” for this 3 hour rule.
So how did the Township decide which part of that business zone would benefit from the 3 hour rule? Any favoritism in OG?
That is very interesting. As usual, a foggy veil obscures what happed and how it worked (or didn’t.) Does anyone know?
Ocean Grove use to have 2 hour parking in the Business Area ..It was still enforced up until about 2002 .. Then the signs came down and never went back up..
My first reaction was apathy: a few blocks on Main Avenue, who cares?
But, you raise some interesting points:
We know that this Neptune Township Committee is never going to fix the parking problems of OG residents. We had hoped they might at least try to improve the situation, but we lost hope last Fall. Let’s face it, the Neptune Township Committee is hopeless!
So now, the NTC works to help the businesses of OG with their parking issues. And the OG HOMEOWNERS association fails to stand up for the homeowners/residents.
What about people who live in that area? Gadaleta said that the ordinance will be enforced only on weekends. But, that is not the way it is written: from May 15th to September 15th 8 am to 5 pm. That means daily. And to say that people who live there will be working weekdays is disingenuous.
Probably there are some retired people and people who do not work 8 to 5 daily. What is going to be done for them? Special parking PERMITS?
Best to become an untourist town and drop anything that can attract outsiders from coming in. 3-hour parking……………..get real………………get a parking facility and be done with that.
RM. Perhaps the Home Groaners can hire a rocket scientist to help out our elected officials.
Are they serious with this?!?! The town of Ocean Grove needs a parking plan for the ENTIRE TOWN not just two blocks along Main Avenue.
I’m not against 3-hour parking limits if it helps our business district…but other towns that have 3-hour parking limits on their streets also issue parking stickers to homeowners (for a nominal fee) so they are exempt. Who is putting these “plans” together? This has the potential to make our collective parking situations worse along the side streets.
People have a right to park in front of their home wherever it may be without limitations if they can find a spot. Who is proposing these plans? Has Neptune/OG officially hired a professional parking consultant to look into our situation? This isn’t rocket science.