To the Editor:
Below is a letter we sent to the OGHOA regarding their being MIA on RSIS parking issues and asking what their strategy is.
I believe that, beyond contacting Mr. Lago at the Dept. of Community Affairs, we should encourage your readers to write to the OGHOA and ask/request that they initiate/increase their efforts on this critically important issue. Ocean Grovers need to begin to hold the OGHOA accountable for being our advocates. Let’ start a letter writing campaign/groundswell to get OGHOA moving.
Dear OGHOA:
We live in Ocean Grove. Parking is an important concern for our family and I found it curious, if not outright disturbing, that no representative of the OGHOA went to Trenton last week to lobby against changes to the application of RSIS standards within OG.
You are well aware that if Neptune Township is successful in negating these regulations, an explosion of condos will result, as will further exacerbation of the current parking shortage. These dynamics could well jeopardize our Historic District designation. This is an issue that is directly in the sweet spot for the OGHOA.
Further, I am mystified that you have not, to my knowledge, filed complaints/legal challenges with appropriate State agencies regarding the non-compliance of recent real estate projects. How many condos will you watch being built that don’t provide adequate parking before you act?
And, importantly, we have not seen evidence of the OGHOA being part of the dialogue for the likely non-compliance of the North End development (will an underground parking lot meet the full RSIS requirements? Not likely). To date, it appears that Blogfinger is the only entity that is fighting back
The RSIS regulations give you a very powerful tool to control development. What are you doing to assure these regulations are enforced and prevent circumnavigation of existing parking standards by Neptune Township and their crony developers (other than passively watching it all play out)? We need you to be activists on this issue. I’m sure all residents of OG would like to understand your strategy for managing this issue to OG’s advantage. Please let us know what you are doing.
Sincerely,
DAVID HEPLER is a resident of Ocean Grove
December 21, 2015
Editor’s Note: Here is the “hook” regarding the RSIS rules. If someone wants to put up a condo building with the RSIS standards in place, then it will be impossible for them to comply, because they would have to put the parking on their lot or lots. Since that would be impossible in most situations, then a single family house or an empty lot is the only option. Single family houses should get the exemption from the State because if someone wants to put up a single family house, there will be no room for the required driveway and parking. So the exemption for them would create a single family Victorian house with no driveway or garage, a situation that is not only historic but is very Grovey. —-Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
DAVID. Thanks for that constructive comment. We should ring some bells for you. Where are those Del-Vikings?
The letter by David Hepler, the Blogfinger Editor’s note, and the comment by Kevin Chambers, are exactly correct, but it is a condition of the Planners employment to have an opinion that is contrary to law.
Paulie: Our source within the HOA tells us that their Board has asked their members not to comment on or even read Blogfinger, but I know that they do the latter. —Paul
What is curious to me is that the Homeowner’s Association
does not offer a scintilla of information on Blogfinger. Much of the town considers Blogfinger their primary source of OG news as attested by 2.5 million hits. If the Association has some grievances with the Blogman, why not engage in robust discussion rather than placing Blogfinger on “Radio Silence”. Sharing of additional ideas would be of benefit to all.
In response to your Editor’s note. Why is it that you understand the very purpose of what our zoning requires, and Neptune’s Planner doesn’t. This is exactly what the Township Planner should be demanding, an exception to off street parking for single family housing, and only for single family housing. All other uses that are unable to meet parking requirements under RSIS should be, and in fact, ARE required by law to be eliminated from Ocean Grove’s zoning.
It is the job of the Township Planner to be the one to eliminate any use that is a true burden to the community.
I understand why residents are angry with the OGHA Assoc. but it is the Township Planner who everyone should be angry with. As a Planner licensed by the State, it is her job to uphold zoning law. Instead, she has failed to uphold RSIS requirements for each and every development that has come before the Board of Adjustment.
Residents of Ocean Grove should be angry because your tax dollars are not being spent to protect you, they’re being used to burden you.