Fletcher Lake. Photo by Paul Goldfinger
By Charles Layton
Quietly, without publicity, a proposal is being advanced for a commercial swan boat operation on Fletcher Lake in Ocean Grove. This would be in addition to the one soon to open on the Asbury Park side of Wesley Lake.
The Fletcher Lake project, though, is more problematic because that area — between the boardwalk and Central Avenue — is not zoned for commercial use. However, the promoters may have a way around the prohibition of commercial activity there. One of the businessmen involved, Robert Hilton, formerly of Ocean Grove, told me that zoning would not be a problem because the business he and his partner are proposing would not be year-round. A floating dock would be installed in the spring and then removed in the fall, Hilton said.
Bernard Haney, Neptune Township’s land use administrator, also said zoning wouldn’t be an issue, but for a rather different reason: “The dock [would be] in the water; we have no control of the water.” If the promoters were building something beside the lake, on land, that might present a zoning issue, Haney said.
Hilton and his partner in the venture, Clark Cate of Ocean Grove, gave a presentation to the Fletcher Lake Commission about two months ago, in which they described pedal boats operating from a small floating dock next to Ocean Grove. (The Commission is composed of members from both Bradley Beach and Ocean Grove.) Hilton said he has also consulted with Neptune Township Committeeman Randy Bishop of Ocean Grove and various other officials and has received encouragement. “We wanted to make sure nobody had any issues before we started the project,” Hilton said.
However, those not consulted were the homeowners near the site of the proposed dock. Some of them do have issues, and they are complaining that they only found out about the plan two weeks ago, more or less by accident, and have had a difficult time getting further information.
Marilyn Laverty, who lives on Broadway directly across from the site, said a boating concession would harm the environment and would also “commercialize an area that should be preserved and in fact improved environmentally rather than damaged.”
Another neighbor, Carol Woidt, also worries about opening up the lakeside to business activity. “I don’t want that to be an opening for other commercial things over here like food or that kind of thing,” she said. “Also, I wonder how it’s going to be advertised, are we going to have big signs over on the lake or in that area?”
Jeannine Rudolph, who also lives nearby, said, “I’ve been involved in the annual community cleanup of Fletcher Lake for five years now. Every year, we find that people have used this protected wetland as a dumping ground — from beer cans to bicycles to tires.” She fears that a pedal boat business “will add to the pollution in this already fragile ecosystem.”
Cate said he and Hilton would not permit food on their boats and that they “would make a point of going around and doing cleanups. We want to keep the lake the way it is, it’s gorgeous.”
Cate said he expects to get the business going sometime this summer, starting perhaps with six pedal boats and expanding if needed to as many as 10. He said they were considering two-person boats or four-person boats. Hilton emphasized that “nothing is 100 percent finalized yet,” but he said that “everybody in the world is on board” including the state Department of Environmental Protection, the federal EPA and the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Some of those questioning the project say there is no record so far of the DEP approving a commercial enterprise on the lake. Some opponents also question the notion that the zoning issue could be avoided by having the dock float in the water rather than being attached to the land. Regarding that, Cate told me, “From what I understand, we have the approvals that we need from everybody.”
The Camp Meeting Association, which owns the land, won’t charge the operators for its use, said Rev. Scott Hoffman, the CMA’s chief administrative officer. “We’re just allowing them to do it because we think it’s a good thing for tourism.”
Hilton also argued that boats on Fletcher Lake would be good for the town’s tourist economy.
Cate and his wife, Margaret, owned the Manchester Inn on Ocean Pathway, which burned down last year. Since then, he said, “I have been trying to find some new, people-related business that I could get back into and enjoy… Right now this is not a big business for us, this is something we could actually run ourselves.”
I think I may explore the possibility of a towing service when these Fletcher Lake boats get stuck in the areas where the water is but a few inches deep, where the water lilies are so thick, or when some novice tries to duck down and go under the bridge near the Methodist Home, although if the boats are truly swanlike, one would have to nearly tip the craft to get into the western part of the lake that is the prettier section with the waterfowl and plantings along the shore. Excepting, of course, the drain section by the sewer plant that is slimy and reminiscent of a muddy delta when there hasn’t been recent rain.
Boating on Fletcher Lake is a VERY BAD IDEA!!!
Fletcher Lake is certainly too small a lake to share with the wildlife that resides there with the introduction of pedal boats. Having worked closely with the Fish and Wildlife Dept., I’m very sure the INTRODUCTION OF THE BOATS WOULD EITHER HARM OR FORCE THE BIRD POPULATION SOMEWHERE ELSE, LEAVING LITTLE TO NOTHING FOR “TOURISTS” TO SEE WHILE PEDALING! As this lake boarders on Bradley Beach, I imagine most visitors will come from that town with easy access from the boardwalk. THEY WILL MOST LIKELY GO BACK TO BRADLEY BEACH when done after wasting money with nothing to see as they spin around the OVER ADVERTISED LAKE!
Not venturing into the town of Ocean Grove will not benefit the resident merchants there making this action a poor choice for the town.
OCEAN GROVE WILL GAIN MORE ATTENTION if they promote boating on Wesley Lake as it offers easy access to Ocean Grove and the lake will offer a more scenic and pleasant experience!
Very concerned,
Barb
I recall several previous attempts at this. Pedal boats on Fletcher Lake is just the latest.
There was the mini-golf proposal for the south end lot between BROADWAY and Fletcher Lake; selling ice cream on the beach by “hawkers” going from beach-goer to beach-goer and from carts on the BOARDWALK (until stopped).
During the previous Master Plan Revision there was a proposed expansion of the Main Ave. commercial zone all the way to OCEAN AVE., and designating the entire length of OCEAN AVE as a commercial zone which, coupled with another proposed change, would allow all hotels to sell merchandise in the lobby and porch (think about that one a bit…the old time “Belmar” Ocean Ave. effect: sales of post cards, sunglasses, lotions, towels, T-shirts, ice cream, pretzels, soda, etc…, rentals of boogie boards, bikes, whatever).
Then the one that actually started—the rolling chairs for paying tourists. A mercantile license was issued, and the carts rolled on streets and on the BOARDWALK. Successfully litigating to stop the carts cost the OGHOA many thousands of dollars in legal fees.
And don’t forget the sub-rosa plan to construct a high-rise building (9 story) out into Fletcher Lake that was killed when a BROADWAY resident exposed it.
Try imagining Ocean Grove today if all these were on-going…boats on the lake would actually provide an escape from it all.
ken
As there are already going to be pedal boats in Wesley Lake is it really necessary to have pedal boats in both lakes ? A bit much I think and too touristy and commercial. Must everything in Ocean Grove be about tourism ? What next – Segway rentals ? Souvenier stands ? Jugglers on the boardwalk ?
To Anonymous Today, when I pointed out to NEPTUNE’S Land Use Administrator that Fletcher Lake, Block: 15.01 Lot:3 is Zoned as HD-R in the Township records he told me that is for assessor’s use, NOT for zoning.
Speechless ken.
BTW The public can legally row, canoe, even pedal boat (if they own one) on the lake for free.
I hope someone is considering the brackish water as an “attraction,” complete with rubbish and what I think were dead fish floating at one point. I mean really, great idea, but pls. tell me someone is looking into making it somewhat palatable to want to ride on that type of water? All the best!
I agree with anonymous. We didn’t come to Ocean Grove for commercial rides and boardwalk attractions. ( We assumed they would be in Asbury Park if needed.)
There is sufficient activity–during season–for our young people to groove on.
I think this is a neat idea. Bob and Clark both value what Ocean Grove is all about and that is why they are taking the proper actions to make sure those values remain a constant. It’s people like these men who have their ‘hearts’ in Ocean Grove whom we WANT to build businesses here, and I feel this venture could add to the charm and character that makes the Grove so very unique. Good Luck guys !!! I hope to be ‘swan-peddling’ soon capturing photos !!! 🙂
The bottom line is that this commercial boating company must get a zoning variance because it will be located in an area that has a township designation of HD-R which is a historical district recreation area-no commercial businesses.
Also, they are saying that Ocean Grove needs tourism. Ocean Grove is doing pretty darn well in the tourism area. Please check the beaches, auditorium, stores, restaurants, boardwalk and especially the parking in the summer time. We want to keep this town special, not make it a tourist trap.
Finally, they need DEP approval for this business/temporary dock. The DEP approval and permits are not easy to get. There are all sorts of rules, dock/pier specifications and laws that regulate the building of a dock, and it does not matter whether it is a temporary or a seasonal dock.