Are we having fun yet? Paul Goldfinger photo. Long Beach Island. © Blogfinger.net
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net. December 17, 2015. Trenton, NJ
The stage was set in a conference room at the Broad Street headquarters of the NJ Department of Community Affairs in Trenton. This was to be an important session of the Parking and Streets Committee which was to consider Neptune Township’s application for a Special Area designation in Ocean Grove.
Joseph E. Doyle, Jr. , Chairman of the Site Improvement Advisory Board (SIAB) was seated around a rectangular table with his colleagues. They began the meeting with some brief business. Kevin Chambers, Jack Bredin and I were in our seats after having taken a walking tour of historic downtown Trenton as we made our way to the big white building.
Jack Bredin (left) and Kevin Chambers in Trenton, waiting for the SIAB meeting to begin. Dec. 17, 2015. Paul Goldfinger photo. Breaking news.
Sitting with us was Dr. Carol Livingston, the only Grover to show up. We noticed that no one from Neptune Township was present, especially the Planner who, we expected, would present the Township’s application for a special RSIS parking area standard. As the Chairman announced that he was ready to begin the Ocean Grove application, two men entered the room.
One was Vito Gadaleta, the Neptune Twp business manager. The other man was not identified. Gadaleta did not look happy; it seemed clear that he really didn’t want to be there. “Mr. Chairman,” he said, ” We cannot go forward today because our town attorney had to be at another case.”
The Committee looked startled at this revelation. After all, there were other incidences in the past where the Township began this process but, each time, failed to finish. This time they had jumped through enough DCA hoops to get to this point. This meeting of the Parking and Streets Sub-committee wouldn’t have resolved the matter, but it would have created the groundwork to have Neptune’s request decided upon by the big dog—-ie the SIAB.
Chairman Doyle is a calm, experienced and cheerful Board chairman, but he is very professional—-so he did not react emotionally. After all, the Township was wasting everybody’s time including not only his people’s, but the OG contingent as well. He merely looked at Gadaleta and said, “Your application will not be considered now. You are being denied without prejudice. If you want to continue applying for the special standard, you have to start the process all over again.” Chairman Doyle struck me as being in the same mold as George Washington who spent time in Trenton. You can’t help but have some 18th century thoughts as you walk around Trenton.
Mr. Gadaleta stood there and heard that the Township must resubmit the application, make changes if they wish, again obtain a Township resolution, explain again why they want the exception, and finally they must have public hearings and publicize the hearings so that we can bring a crowd there if we wish. Then he turned and vanished into the gloom (It was a gloomy day outside, matching Gadaleta’s mood.)
Team OG did not despair, because Chairman Doyle and his committee were gracious enough to let us speak to them as they do care what the Ocean Grove citizens have to say. He did not permit any detailed technical discussions about the matter, but we were thrilled to go on the record, in general, about the topics of the day.
Each of us spoke briefly and we also had the chance after the meeting to talk with some members of the Board. We found them to sympathetic and interested. We even got to have coffee and some outrageous baked goods including, gulp, chocolate eclairs.
This is a summary of what the 4 members of Team OG got to say to the Board:
Neptune was secretive when they submitted their application last summer. None of us were given the chance to tell the Neptunites about our concerns, and we want that to change if there is a next time. We want to bring a big crowd to that meeting in Neptune if it occurs.
No one seems to know why Neptune wanted to push their application and then why they failed to show up today. None of us on Team Grove believed Gadaleta’s excuse.
I told the Board that Neptune is “playing them” and “disrespecting” them and our fellow citizens back in the Grove.
We asked that they get a clear answer next time as to the real reason for the application since historical preservation is a ridiculous excuse.
We told them about our Blogfinger poll where 300 people took part, and 86% did not trust the Neptune Committee to do what is “fair and right for Ocean Grove.” I got to explain that Ocean Grove is a special place with our own culture, demographics and concerns. Both Mr. John Lago of the DCA and Chairman Boyle told me that have been following Blogfinger regarding this matter.
Jack Bredin got to review some of our unique history which makes OG a very special case with regards to zoning and RISS standards. He also presented his unique recommendation to exempt the standards for single family homes but not for multi -family buildings such as condominiums. More on this idea later.
Carol Livingston gave a short but powerful description of what she , a grandmother in the Grove, has to go through to deal with parking problems in season. After the meeting we got to tell Mr. Doyle that our “season” now lasts about 6 months. He said that he visits OG often, and he did experience parking trouble when attending a summer event at the Great Auditorium.
Kevin Chambers got to tell the Board about some of his ideas regarding illegal activities involving the Township in relation to zoning and RSIS regulations. He told them about his Main Avenue law suit.
We asked the Chairman to explain how Neptune could ignore State laws about required parking and that such disdain has resulted in the rise of a number of condominiums built without parking. He said that his Board deals with RSIS standards, but they are not an enforcement body. If we in Ocean Grove want something done, we need to go through the courts or to go to other State agencies to complain.
My comments were read and then handed to the secretary to make part of the minutes. Jack and Kevin put away their written comments for another day.
Team OG left feeling that we had a successful day despite the no-show crowd from Neptune. We thank the SIAB members who were so kind, hospitable and caring. As Jack said, “Democracy in action, even though there wasn’t much action.” I felt proud to be there, as we actually got to experience representative transparent government, unlike what we get in Neptune.
Cast of Hamilton: “History has its eyes on you.”
Thank you for providing the email address to Mr. Lago. I will write first thing in the morning as additional support.
To check for updates on the OGHOA’s activities in connection with parking and the NERP, I went to their website and the minutes of their November 28 meeting are posted. The minutes include an update on their recent parking survey and some NERP discussion. Just sharing these here in case Blogfinger readers haven’t seen them.
http://oghoa.org/minutes/november-2015/
Paul, the music from “Hamilton” is so relevant to the subject of your article. You ask the question, will Ocean Grove continue as a place “where hearts blossom by the sea” as described by the Poet Elwood H. Stokes.
Dr Stokes and history has its eye on all of us.
Waterseller: How many times have you seen Les Mis?
Mary Ellen: The SIAB was ready to go that morning, so there seems to be some communication issue. We spoke with Mr. Lago before the meeting, and he gave no indication that he knew the OG part of their meeting was cancelled.
But even if we knew your information, we had to go in case your info was trickery by Neptune to fool us into staying home.
However, out of curiosity, where did you get your information? You can send that to me privately at Blogfinger@verizon.net
When I said in the comments that it was shocking that so few Grovers came to the meeting, that was my reaction and not an insult; Public apathy is a fact of life in our democracy. I learned that when I was part of a grassroots coalition to save a community hospital in Morris County. But even then, we had more participants at public meetings and demonstrations than we had here.
If you want to get something done, the more that show up at events, the bigger the impact. But, in this case, even the four of us were able to get the message out. After all, Paul Revere was just one guy on a horse, but he made an impressive contribution to American history.
Here’s another suggestion to go along with Frank S’s idea : Get a horse and a few neighbors and sympathizers and make signs. Then picket outside town hall when they are having a Committee meeting. When they all go into the building, picket outside the doors of the room. Bring the horse along to channel the spirit of Paul R. Then chant “No taxes paid without representation.”
If the HOA were doing its job it would enable the citizens to find ways to be heard. It seems like they are not interested in your opinions unless your opinions agree with their’s. In this case,they have no opinion, so you definitely get no help from them.
Blogfinger would report on such a demonstration, and the message would go out on the Internet.
Also, you can still share your opinion with the NJ Site Improvement Advisory Board (SIAB) by emailing Mr. John Lago (john.lago@dca.nj.gov or call him at 609 292 7898.
We believe that OG’s chances to influence the SIAB would be improved if more Grovers wrote to them. It will all become part of the record.
—Paul
I think you may be a little harsh on your fellow Grovers who did attend the meeting. I had planned on attending with my husband. Even posted here saying that I had three extra seats for people to join us in a carpool. On Wednesday night we learned that the township had said that the meeting in Trenton had been cancelled and rescheduled for January 13th. Therefore, we should not attend.
Today I read on Blogfinger that the meeting did in fact take place and if I had been there, I would have been able to speak. I was very disappointed that I did not get the opportunity to speak on behalf of frustrated homeowners such as myself. We are “snowbirds” and will not be able to attend the meeting in January.
WLS- To the barricades Allons enfants de la Patrie…………………
Nice idea, but who is supposed to implement this suggestion? It’s the same with other ideas put forth on BF. Who is supposed to do these things? We need some activists in town who will be leaders and doers.
This issue is too important not to make a simple suggestion: Make up buttons/badges and bumper stickers saying : OG Says No To NERP (or something of the sort) . A good designer could (pro bono?) make a neat graphic design and costs would be cheap (probably under $100) . Stores in town could sell them for a buck or two.
The Twp. Adminstrators/Departments/Committeepeople think they are cunning and wise. What they don’t realize is that people can reach a limit of being bullied and kept in the dark. Word to the wise Township employees– a revolution could occur and you could be in big trouble. Just sayi’n.
BF, I got the same note from John Lago also, nice of them to let us know what is happening and also good that they are tracking interest!
I like Team OG better than Team Grover. OK—that’s our name.—Thanks, Paul
Curmudgeon. Does right make might? If a massive tree falls in the forest, it is possible that someone will hear it. We should continue making noise. You never know who might hear it. Jack Bredin and fellow citizens fought similar battles with developers building high rises over the Hudson River. Somebody went to jail. If we can block this special area parking standard, it might help protect the town. —–Paul
Editor’s note: Some of our readers have been emailing their opinions to the SIAB. One of them shared the response he got from John Lago, a DCA official:
“Thank you for your input on parking in Ocean Grove. Emails on the application were shared with members of the Site Improvement Advisory Board (SIAB). Your name was added to the interested parties list. If you do not wish to receive more emails on this, let us know, and we will remove your name.
“As you may know, Neptune Township withdrew its application for a special area parking standard. SIAB dismissed the proposal without prejudice at the December 17, 2015 meeting. The Township intends to resubmit. We will notify you if and when it does. Township officials should publish public notices about the proposal, too. This is specified by the Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS).
A copy of RSIS provisions on special area standards is below. Please call or email if you have questions.
“Again, thank you for your participation.
“John Lago
(609) 292-7898”
Mr. Lago attached a detailed copy of RSIS provisions. Email Blogfinger (Blogfinger@verizon.net, and I will send you a copy. —Paul
I am going to agree with Blogfinger’s statement that “What we have is a breakdown in representative local government”. This is indeed a matter of representation, or lack thereof. No public forum to discuss the application. And who is there to listen to the current citizens at the Township? Apparently no one. Their interests are elsewhere, as are the votes. I really don’t see any recourse other that to resist this application in whatever way will work. The Township Committee could care less about the residents of Ocean Grove.
Bravo Team OG.
Once more, onto the breach…
SG
How can we get the OGHOA to initiate a lawsuit? I’d be willing to contribute financially to such an effort. I’m sure if they passed a hat for this specific cause they could collect enough money to make something happen. Can we bring this issue up at the next OGHOA?
Also, I’m wondering if there is a State level advocate who would work on our behalf on the issue of non-enforcement of RISS regulations — such as our State Representative in Trenton? Seems to me that OG needs to pull all the levers.
As it was explained to me with the repairs done on the storm damaged pavilion on the beach at the North End, it was less involved and cheaper to ignore the regulations and just pay the fines, if any, than to apply for and obtain permits.
Ignoring the RSIS regulations must be the same process since enforcing the law has no ‘teeth’ anyway it seems.
Mike: If the Township is not granted their DCA “get out of jail” card, they still can do just as before and grant approvals for condos. According to Mr. Doyle, the only way to call them out on their illegal activity is for the citizens to sue in court (eg the Home Deniers Association—ie, OGHOA or Kevin Chamber’s courageous suits) or for some other agency to investigate, but he was not specific on the latter point.
I suppose there could be an investigation by the State Attorney General, but they don’t consider such lawbreaking as a big deal. What we have is a breakdown in representative local government accompanied by a disgraceful ethical/moral (and perhaps legal) lapse on the part of the Neptune Township governing body. I hope the Neptune Township schools do not point to the NT Committee as ethical roll models. —Paul
PS I like “Gang of Four,’ but the moniker “Team Grover” does allow for more citizens to join us when we next create battle plans to protect our town from predators.
Much thanks to the OG Gang of Four for representing us yesterday. I submitted an email to Chairman Doyle prior to the meeting. What is not clear to me is who is locally responsible for enforcing RISS standards, is it Neptune itself? If so, what is to stop them from continuing to ignore RISS?
I can only suspect the real reason Neptune Twp decided not appear before the committee hearing was they knew they would be challenged by concerned Ocean Grove residents. Thank you Team Grove for representing OG residents in a very professional and logical manner. It appears you made an impression that will impact future discussions. You should be proud of your efforts today……I know many OG residents will be!
I’m amazed that Neptune Township didn’t show up. The town attorney “had to be at another case”? They didn’t know that until this morning? I think they realized that the jig was up. Mr. Doyle told you that he and Mr. Lago both follow these issues right here on Blogfinger. No doubt the Township is doing the same. i think they realized that they couldn’t, in fact, pull the wool over the Committee’s eyes–thanks to this forum, Dr. Blogfinger — and made a last-minute decision to bail. Too many politicians in this country assume that we the people are ignorant sheep, easily fooled. That doesn’t describe Blogfinger readers! I don’t think the Township will be applying for this exemption again.
I am writing to oppose the request by Neptune Township to waive the RISS regulations for Ocean Grove, NJ.
Ocean Grove was originally founded as a religious community in 1869. Through the years it has evolved into a multi-cultural residential community. One constant has been its base of single family historic houses..
The community is unique in that the whole of Ocean Grove is on the National Historic Register. This was done to preserve its historical significance. The proposal today will allege that it is being presented to continue to preserve that significance. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Ocean Grove is less than one square mile in size and most of the land is now densely developed with residential historic housing. Most lots are 30 feet wide. There is virtually no off street parking and there are only only 54 driveways. The advent of the automobile as the primary mode of transportation has completely saturated the available parking. Street parking is almost exclusively the only source of parking in the community. As a resident, I can attest that it is often difficult or impossible to park in close proximity to your own house.
The proposal today would allow the development of a major multi family/commercial complex and future development of complexes as well with no consideration of the parking needs or requirements and the impact on the community. It’s motive is money driven and in no way serves the interest of Ocean Grove..
Approval of this request puts the greed of a select few above the needs of an entire community. It will irreparably denigrate the community’s historical integrity and significance and it will destroy the the quality of life for all of its residents. I ask that the request be denied in the best interest of the community and the Sate as a whole.
Caesar Iacovone
Paul, Thank you and the fellow Grovers who carried the ball for the whole community at today’s meeting. I was not able to attend but I did e-mail the above text to the Committee. Again, thank you!
Caesar.
Tomas: The HOA should have been there. But I am not surprised. They ought to be the ones leading this fight. They should all be forced to resign and a new board installed. But first you have to find some people willing to work to save the town. It is shocking that only one OG resident besides our threesome showed up. As for the HPC, they should weigh in, but they won’t. —Paul
I am amazed that nobody from the Homewners Association or the HPC came to testify. How can that be? This issue is really important.
Thank you very much for representing the sentiments of us Ocean Grovers … I am unfortunately not there full-time and unable to attend such meetings similar to the one held today. Thank you for being our voice.
Thank you for your time and effort in representing us in Trenton today. Your dedication and resolve is greatly appreciated.
Although you did not accomplish what was hoped, your appearances created a greater awareness of our concerns in Trenton. As the saying goes, “a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step”, and today was an important step.
Bravo, Now anyone who comments after me and does not send letters really is not displaying care for the outcome. I wrote the state board . Please do so too