Jack Bredin goes to the microphone wearing his favorite shirt. 4/4/17. Blogfinger photo ©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
The owner of 27 Heck Avenue, Ocean Grove wanted to obtain 2 variances. The first was to get permission to build a new driveway. The second was to allow the driveway “structure” to extend into the flare where it would cross property owned by the CMA. The room was filled for the Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing, and quite a few Grovers were present.
The stage was set for a chaotic session when the lawyer for the applicant brought on a historic preservation expert to be the lead-off witness who would try to offer a historic perspective and to convince the ZBA that a new driveway should be permitted at 27 Heck Avenue.
Using presentation boards that no one in the audience could see, the consultant tried to persuade everyone that allowing that driveway, which would stick out into the OG sacred-cow—the flare, would somehow be a good thing for our town’s historical preservation.
Her confusing presentation was interrupted by some Board members, and then later she was challenged by members of the public. There was plenty of negativity towards the application, and no one seemed to believe that the driveway should be allowed. The consultant said that her research included reading “all the Blogfinger posts,” a revelation resulting in a burst of laughter in the audience.
The shaky presentation left swirling clouds of doubt causing a bit of chaos in the discussion and questioning. And other planned witnesses never got a chance to speak, and members of the public who had opinions, never got a chance to express them. The lawyer for the applicant, Jennifer Krimko, was on the defensive and found herself actually giving testimony, which isn’t supposed to happen.
What we did learn was that there were many driveways in town, but almost all ended at a garage. This proposal would just offer a private parking space for the homeowners without a garage, a layout only seen twice before in the Grove.
27 Heck Ave. Is that “curb cut” really historic? The homeowner offered to settle for a 12 foot curb cut, giving up most of what is existing. What you see above is not a driveway. That would have to be built and moved towards the rear to keep a car off the flare. Blogfinger photo © 4/5/17.
In addition, the ZBA attorney, Monica Kowalski, established that the original situation at block 210, lot 5.05, going back 50 years, did not include an actual driveway and was, at best, a driveway “apron.” There wasn’t enough room for a driveway due to the presence of a Sampler kitchen building in that location..
And the current “curb cut” may not be an actual curb cut after all. There even was some doubt that the original “driveway” was ever used to park cars and that it was in reality merely a dropping- off point for trucks to pull up to the Sampler’s loading dock.
So the idea that this new driveway would be a continuation of something historic did not seem to hold up.
This 2009 photo shows that building (R) which blocked the wide “driveway” path onto the Sampler property. The building on the left was derelict and was the site of today’s #27 Heck Avenue (above). Daniel Beaman photo.
The HOA talking points never got off the ground, because the case for the new driveway never had a chance to be fully developed.
Actually, one of the best moments at the meeting was when Jack Bredin went to the microphone wearing his Blogfinger T shirt. Other Grovers who went to the mike to ask questions of the witness included Kevin Chambers, Ken Buckley, Debby Osepchuk, Joyce Klein, Jay Shapiro, George Germann, and Dan Beaman.
Chairman Paul Dunlap had his hands full trying to control a session characterized by harsh words, shifting topics, strange questions, misunderstandings, straying from the rules, and deficiency of focus. It was a bit of a circus—the only thing missing was somebody selling hot dogs or knishes; and maybe some Dr. Browns cream soda.
At any rate, it was satisfying to see Grovers showing up to protect their town’s promised historic future.
MILDRED BAILEY:
“I would do most anything at any time.” Wow, nothing sad about that.
OhGee: She seems to be the go-to attorney for these kind of land use cases. I have been told that she is a very smart and effective lawyer. PG
How is it that Jennifer Krimko always ends up representing those that want to circumvent OG historic rules/regulations? I don’t know how successful she is, i.e. her win/loss record, but clearly she makes a living from it.
Karen and Robert – Your house is beautiful. Hope everything works out for you.
Tom and Charlotte, 93 Main Avenue.
Hi – Thank you to those that previously came by the property. We welcome a visit by homeowners of Ocean Grove. – Karen & Robert, 27 Heck Avenue.
The applicant tried to assert that a new driveway would have no adverse impact on the neighborhood and could even cause a positive benefit.
And it may be true that the negative impact would be small, but the real reason to oppose this application is that we all should support obeying the law and historic preservation practices in our town.
It’s like the broken window theory of law enforcement. This town has too much favoritism, broken laws, insider trading, shady dealings and double standards, and the citizens need to oppose all examples of that to save Ocean Grove as we want it to be.
Paul @Blogfinger.
Someone once told me there was a list of “approved” OG curb cuts somewhere at the Township office. Does anyone know if this is true or is it an urban legend? Can one tell from drawings or maps held by the town whether a curb cut is approved?
Do the faces of the board members in the picture look like they care what the public has to say???
This is how variances should work: apply, have a hearing, and decide.
This driveway request doesn’t seem to benefit anyone but the property owner; it removes a public parking space and creates a private one.
Point of order: Doc Browns Black Cherry is the best Doc Browns.
Editor’s note: The celery version is what my mother’s family (from the Boulevard in Bayonne) liked, especially when having, for example, a hot pastrami sandwich. Eileen buys the diet version, which does save calories and sugar content, but what me worry? when I’m eating a Kosher hot dog (with deli mustard and sauerkraut,) or a corned beef sandwich on Jewish rye with black seeds. Oops, I’m drooling on my keyboard.
However Joe, you are correct—black cherry is the best, and we just bought some for Passover. Wegmans has it.
And, speaking of Passover, if you like half-sour pickles, they just got in a truckload of superb Ba-Tampta brand Kosher half-sours in glass jars from Brooklyn. They are crispy and so good–find them in the Kosher freezer section, but now there is a display cooler filled with them near the dairy department.
I have changed my mind about this one. The evidence including photographs of the Sampler loading dock is helpful to fully understand the situation, very convincing. Kudos to the persistent citizens that are resisting the application with facts and evidence. If the rules say no new driveways, then why issue a variance? I am always against unfair building restrictions that make no sense – but you need to have a case, and present it effectively.