By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin, Researcher.
At the April 24, 2017 Committee meeting, Jack Bredin went to the microphone to ask about the recent Coaster ad seeking a redevelopment attorney for Neptune Township. He found out that the ad was placed by the Committee without a formal resolution to back it up. This is not a position which is part of the usual Township line-up of employees and consultants. The Township already employs very knowledgeable attorneys for the Planning Board and the Township who are currently on the payroll.
But evidently the Committee needs a lawyer who has a bigger tow truck to pull the NERP (North End Redevelopment Plan) out of the haze, smoke and mud it’s been stuck in for years.
Hiring for such a position, which undoubtedly will be costly for the Township, should be justified in a resolution, but Jack was told that no resolution was required. The Committee said, “We don’t need one.”
You might recall that the original NERP from 2008 was still in effect. It consists of 165 residential units (mostly condominiums,) an underground garage, and a hotel. Many are skeptical regarding the latter two components. You might also recall that no formal engineering plans have ever been submitted to estimate the costs and to explain the engineering challenges of the whole project, especially the garage and the pilings.
WAVE and the CMA are still listed as the redevelopers, although the CMA has said that it no longer wanted that job. WAVE has been promising to present its financing arrangements and to identify its investing partners, but that hasn’t occurred so far either. A redevelopment plan cannot go forward without those financial details. Also no formal re-developers agreement has ever been signed.
In January a newly enlarged redevelopment committee was announced which will not only deal with the OG North End, but with other redevelopment projects around town. No one from Ocean Grove is on that line-up. How about some affirmative action for the Grovers?
It would appear that the new lawyer will have a lot of ‘splaining to do.
THE OINKER SISTERS: The current NERP has been a dead duck for some time… or is it a pig? Well, it’s time for a new way to walk at the North End. (song by Joe Raposo on Sesame Street)
Seriously …. waste the money on a ground study?
The teacher is the Ocean and it will deal with anything built on it’s shore!
You’ve said it much better in terms of a moral obligation–religious or otherwise.
During 17 years of residence, it once took a hurricane for CMA to express some authentic community concern.
Radar: Is this a quasi-comment? Who’s to say that religious groups need to be open? Sometimes closed is better, as when the Jews were hiding from the Inquisition.
I would prefer to say that since the CMA owns the land, they have a special relationship to the town’s history and to the citizens; and a moral obligation to be more transparent.
CMA: Tell us what the Heck Avenue is going on at the North End and why are the NERP principals sneaking around to avoid the Master Plan, to disrespect the town’s history, and to embrace tricky maneuvers to skirt zoning laws which are supposed to protect the people of Ocean Grove from land use and historic preservation abuse?
A basic question: has a ground test ever been done–by anyone–as to whether the North End can support an underground garage? One can recall a former CMA executive indicating a lack of ground support for parking cars. (In spite of daily dump trucks present,)
Difficult to understand why a “quasi-religious” organization is not more open.
It is typical of the secretive, arrogant, non-transparent Neptune Township Committee to shut down a citizen who is asking a perfectly legitimate question in a public forum.
The Mayor should immediately and publicly explain to Jack and the rest of us why this extra lawyer is needed, and while he is at it, Mayor Brantley should finally step out from behind the curtain and tell us what’s going on with the North End.
There are unanswered questions out there which are laying around like a lox and which need to be addressed.
It seems as if all the developers are rushing to break ground. Perhaps they sense a citizen revolt brewing?
The 08 Nerp won’t happen and never would have.
Underground parking next to the Atlantic Ocean. Give me a break.