Manchester Inn,1880-2010, Christmas c. 1998. Ocean Pathway, Ocean Grove. c.2002. Paul Goldfinger photo. © Silver -gelatin darkroom print.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
The Manchester Inn was supposed to be turned into condominiums until it burned to the ground in March, 2010. According to zoning, it should have been replaced by a single family house, but the Board of Adjustment gave the owner variances to build two houses and to make them 3 1/2 stories high instead of the zoned 2 1/2 stories. The owner was also allowed to infringe on the flare zone.
The rationale for the variances was that the Manchester Inn was preceded by two historic houses which were replicated in the new houses. This is yet another example where zoning legerdemain prevailed over the protests of citizens.
MAUDE MAGGART sings Irving Berlin
Jack. To clarify my message, of course it is a cause for celebration that single family houses were constructed instead of condominiums.
I also wanted to point out that there were variances required for those single-family homes. That doesn’t mean that those variances were necessarily wrong, and I know that your position is that carefully placed variances are a proper part of the process.
However there was an Ocean Grove family that lost their home in the same fire and they were not granted the variances that they needed to increase the height of their new home.
I believe that our laws should be enforced equally and not selectively. I also believe that zoning and variances are sometimes awarded in Ocean Grove for improper reasons due to favoritism for certain privileged developers in town.
As for my remark that “this is yet another example where zoning legerdemain prevailed over the protests of citizens,” you should know that many Grovers attended the Zoning Board meeting where this developer received his approvals, and most of them who spoke were against the approvals.
This is a town that has a life, a history, and a spirit; and its residents have a good feel for what they want, so Neptune officialdom, which is known for its rigidity towards some and flexibility towards others, should pay attention to the people or be replaced. The citizens of Ocean Grove should demand that Neptune officials care about the people and their wishes for their town.
As for “zoning legerdemain,” there are those who are skeptical about this Ocean Pathway approval. I am also thinking about the North End “Area in Need of Redevelopment”—a hoax designed by private developers to get the township to implement a contrived maneuver to produce zoning changes that would give us 165 residential units, mostly condos and a hotel.
Jack, thank you for reminding us that this particular project was done properly and we should be thankful for it.
And thank you for your tireless efforts to demand that the laws be followed on behalf of the people and the history of Ocean Grove.
Paul
Paul: I am somewhat perplexed.
I think the redevelopment of the former Manchester Inn property is an example of proper planning and development in Ocean Grove.
Are you suggesting the property should have been developed as condominiums?