April 13, 2017. Victim is removed from the site of the accident. Photo by a citizen photographer, special to Blogfinger ©
In recent days, workers have been framing two single family houses at the site of the demolished Whitfield Hotel (Surf at Beach.) This morning at about 9:30 am, a workman fell 10 feet into the cellar, sustaining head and neck injuries which are said to be non-life-threatening. We have no details as to how this accident developed.
His fellow workers could not help him out of the hole, so emergency services were called. The fire and police department responded along with emergency medical support. A witness saw a number of dark black vehicles as well as one marked “Homeland Security.” Our police information indicated that no one from Homeland Security was there.
The victim was transported to the Hackensack-Meridian Medical Center (aka Jersey Shore.) After that, work resumed on the project.
Blogfinger has been reporting on this project because it appears that Neptune Township allowed the developer to place four houses on undersized lots. Permission for a subdivision was not obtained, because, according to the Township, 4 lots were already approved (ie “grandfathered”) underneath the footprint of the old hotel. If that is true, than how did Neptune collect taxes for one hotel on 4 lots? And was the subdivision legally obtained?
Recently we observed the foundation work and the framing. The 4 houses seem to be crammed unusually close together. From a distance it looks like one big house.
Yesterday, while watching the framing , we noticed that there were quite a few carpenters in a relatively small space, working on the first level.
Kevin, you are correct, except the 4 lots you refer to as “non-conforming lots,” do not fit the State definition of “conforming” or “non-conforming lots”
“Non conforming” implies a “legal standing.”
More correctly the 4 lots could be referred to as “illegal subdivisions of land approved in a flagrant violation of State Law.”
Under the MLUL there is no such thing as a “Grandfather” clause. There cannot be a blanket granting of variances. When an applicant applies for a building permit a form must be filled out addressing all requirements, such as set backs, lot size along with other requirements. The applicant was by law required to submit the true lot sizes for these four proprieties. All four are non-conforming. It is required by law that the zoning official remand the application to the Board of Adjustment before a building permit may be issued. The simple fact is that, the zoning official has violated the law. That cannot be disputed.
The courts have ruled, as found within the MLUL, “when an applicant has failed to alert building and zoning officials to the clear-cut need for a variance then the applicant cannot make a argument that he acted in good faith.”
Neither the applicant, the zoning official, or the township in this case has acted in good faith towards the residents of OG.
Kevin Chambers
Praying for the man who fell from the construction site for healing.
Lynn
For more violations of law, take a look at 31 Surf Ave. Neptune’s zoning for OG restricts height to two and a half stories and 35 feet. The house is clearly a three and a half story house. Here is another case in which the zoning official has granted variances Again, this is in direct violation of law.
Kevin Chambers
“Homeland Security” seriously…………………..slow day at the airports.