North End Hotel, c. 1911. From the Historical Society of Ocean Grove.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Some people in Ocean Grove believe that all “approvals” for the NERP have been obtained, and that includes the NJDEP. But as we recently reported, after checking with the NJDEP and with Neptune Township, no approvals have been obtained because no final plans have been created for the project, which will be built in an environmentally sensitive area between the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean Grove beach, and Wesley Lake.
Then there is that big dirt lot which is apparently riddled with tunnels and thus unsafe to put anything heavy on top. This latter issue, however, is not part of what the NJDEP would concern itself with.
Basically, the NJDEP is interested in two categories : land use and contamination, and these are separate programs with separate regulations and laws. The entire process is governed by the statutes and rules of the 2012 New Jersey Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA.)
When the time comes, State law requires that NERP developers review all the laws and regulations that relate to environmental protection. According to a DEP official, “They must do their homework and then they become an applicant for a DEP permit.”
Then they must obtain the services of a licensed remediation professional (LSRP ) who will do a preliminary assessment of the site and recommend remediation if needed. The use of LSRP’s was part of a new program established in 2009 to expedite the correction of environmental site issues.
The LSRP would probably do analyses of ground water and soil samples. They will be looking for pesticides, oil residues, and any other contaminants. Land use laws are primarily involved with protecting the Jersey coast. The NJDEP will monitor all steps in this process including any remediation work if issues are found.
At the time of the assessment, the LSRP will look at the prior uses of the site which included a large hotel (built in 1911; damaged by fire in 1938, torn down in 1978) a theater, amusements (including a shooting range) along the shore of the Lake, shops, use of electricity, and fresh and salt water pools.
But, in addition, they will be interested in even earlier uses of the property during the years prior to 1911.
According to the Township Attorney, who spoke to a public session question at the Committee meeting last night, there are no time limits in which the NERP must be implemented, so it may be some time before we get any data on these DEP questions.
Editor’s note: This article was verified by a discussion today with an official of the NJDEP.
ASTRUD GILBERTO
Jack: If nominated I will not run. If elected will not serve. And anyhow, an honorary official has no power, right?
We need local officials who will serve on behalf of the people who elected them or who pay their salaries.
No inquiry from a citizen should be treated with disdain, disrespect, or untruth by anyone working at Town Hall.
The Mayor should guarantee this and should offer contact information for citizens to communicate with her confidentially about such matters. The integrity of representative government should be one of that office’s major priorities.
Good job BLOGFINGER!, and I tip my hat to Dr. Paul Goldfinger and make the following proclamation:
Whereas, if you are looking for “the truth” from the Neptune Township Committee, you will find the truth at the bottom of a bottomless pit.
I had asked the Committee three years ago if they had DEP approval and they said “yes”.
Therefore, be it resolved, that I nominate you Dr. Paul Goldfinger as the “Honorary Mayor” of Ocean Grove.
Thank you,
Jack Bredin
Bravo Blog, on the comeback……….Brought a smile on a cold morning.
Now your cookin’! A shame we don’t have a crystal ball or is there a shop in town I’m not familiar with? Almost forgot Madame Marie! Does she have winter hours. NERP needs a session or three to make a decisions.
No, the first thing Columbus needed when he arrived was a date and a lemon. Once he cured his scurvy, he partied for weeks, nonstop. After all, he was on a rickety ship for nearly 3 months with a crew of lonely Spaniards.
When he returned to Spain, Queen Isabella said, “Get your hands off me Columbus, you discovered enough for one day.”
And it was Osborne, not Stokes who discovered Ocean Grove. And the first thing he wanted were tickets to the Doo Wops.
Stop with this underground parking. Everything is coming down including the pathetic shops at the north end, the past due Casino shell, anything resembling a hollow ground will be politely imploded, then the three story Ocean Park parking facility will become your view of the north end.
Nice, clean and it will never burn down. Can it be any more simple than that. It’s 2015. You should know by now nothing lasts forever, except a nice concrete parking garage.
The first thing Columbus looked for when he came to the new world was a parking garage. Stokes was looking for one but decided on a insect free town along the coast and you know the rest of the story.
A few years ago when I suggested using the entire exposed area–after the warehouse fire–for temporary parking relief to the Camp Meeting Association top executive, the response: “Oh, the land could not support such weight. We’d have a liability problem.”
Now: there has never been a study done. What does CMA say today for sustaining such a massive building effort–and underground parking?
Early maps (1870 – 1880) show the North End to be a tent area.