Seeking the truth on Blogfinger. Paul Goldfinger photo. 2014. © Ft. Myers, Fla.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger

Our recent articles about the Neptune Township application  for a Special Area Parking Standard  (ie an exemption for all of Ocean Grove from the current RSIS regulations) indicate that the Township’s application on December 17 was dismissed “without prejudice,” and the Township was told that they had to start the process anew.

We don’t know exactly why Neptune Township failed to show up that day, except for their stating that their attorney couldn’t make the meeting at the last minute. It was the planner who was supposed to make the presentation, but she wasn’t there.    The SIAB refers to what happened as Neptune Township “withdrew the application.”

We were told by a resident of Ocean Grove that she was informed on December 16th  that the Dec. 17 meeting was to be cancelled and that the SIAB would hear the application again on Jan. 13.  Her information was wrong and she never revealed  her source even though we asked for it.

The  truth is that there is no way that the process can be completed again in January, and no SIAB meetings with Neptune Twp. are scheduled in January.

Even if the Township were to submit another completed application, the Board would have to publish it in the New Jersey Register and announce a date when the streets and parking committee will meet.  This cannot happen until at least 15 days after the publication date.

Township officials may go to Trenton to meet informally with the Board. Working meetings might occur, usually regarding a general strategy about what is required to complete an application.  But there are no  working meetings currently scheduled in Trenton with the Township.

In fact, per Mr. John Lago of the Dept. of Community Affairs, “The staff has not heard anything from local officials since they withdrew the application.”

Note that part of the process which has to be followed includes public meetings.    When the Township Committee schedules those meetings, we plan to be there and we will encourage a large number of you to join us.  Last time around, the Township announced the application and quickly swept the subject under the rug so that no one could oppose their plans.  For some reason, the SIAB let that pass then; but not next time. We emphasized that point in Trenton on Dec. 17 when some of us got to speak to the Board chairman and others.

At last night’s Committee meeting, Jack Bredin of Ocean Grove requested that when the public hearings are held, that they be held in Ocean Grove.

ACADEMY OF ST.-MARTIN-IN-THE FIELDS (London)   Canon in D  by Johann Pachelbel.