Auditorium Park by Paul Goldfinger. The OG Homeowners Assoc. needs to do more to protect our historic town. © c. 2014. Click to enlarge.
Editor’s Note: Really Barbara? The HOA is bragging that they “support strict enforcement of the Neptune Township Land Use Law.” In addition they now believe in “strict enforcement of zoning regulations” in order to retain our historic designations?
Talk about jumping on the bandwagon! The track record of the HOA has been either to ignore land use abuses in OG or to participate in the mutilation of our town as when they joined with the Township to promote the high density, unhistorical North End Redevelopment Plan.
They also were nowhere in site over the Warrington, The Park View, and the Whitfield. They even wanted to allow parking on Lake Avenue in front of Founder’s Park. And their most recent contribution is to praise the new diagonal parking in residential areas of town.
And where are they regarding the plans by the Township to change the HPC guidelines? They also spent $7,000 of the group’s money to hire a lawyer to investigate ground rents, but they refuse to make public that lawyer’s findings. They claim to have negotiated a deal with the CMA over ground rents (see their web site about this,) but nothing has really changed with that issue.
This is a group that has a large membership and a potential to exert some pressure on behalf of Ocean Grove to deal with land use travesties. But they seem to be comfortable with just their Board floundering around and doing whatever they please.
So maybe they have had a slight change of heart at the HOA, deciding to be for the people instead of being for the developers. But we need more evidence of their sincerity.
Yes, they did step up in a minor way regarding the driveway saga on Heck Avenue. They wrote some talking points which were never talked about at Town Hall. We’ll see how strong they are as other land use issues emerge, especially regarding the North End’s alleged springing to life once again.
Meanwhile, we will continue referring to them by their nickname “Home Groaners” because they have not proven themselves when it comes to protecting the town, its zoning, its plans for the future, and its historical preservation. They need to do more and stop dancing in the dark.
TONY BENNETT:
Independent: most of us have a 30×60 foot lot, but for the 60 x 60 foot lot at 27 Heck Ave, they should be permitted to put in a driveway and a garage without filing an application for a use variance, or any other type of variance.
If the owners of 27 Heck do not have a driveway (like most of us), no problem! There will be plenty of vacant spaces on the streets this summer.
Thanks to the Ocean Grove Parking Task Force (including HOA members) and Neptune Township Committee we are getting 18, YES EIGHTEEN, new parking spaces!!
Ms. Burns has implied that Neptune has strict land use laws for Ocean Grove. This must be a joke. Ms. Burns, an officer of the court, is fully aware that Neptune’s ordinances are in direct violation of law and in contempt of a direct court order.
This is very serious, The Township’s Attorney’s have been holding hearings and approving variances fully aware that Neptune’s zoning is in direct violation of law. In fact, as officer’s of the court, it is the duty of every state appointed attorney to uphold State Law and enforce the rulings of the court. This has not been happening in Neptune when it comes to applications for Ocean Grove..
I am putting the township on notice, that I intend to challenge in court the next variance application within Ocean Grove that comes before either the Board of Adjustment or Planning Board. I will be charging either Township Attorney and its Planner and Zoning Official with fraud and perjury with the intent to deceive the Superior court if the Township refuses to first, bring its zoning for Ocean Grove into compliance with the State Law that mandates RSIS compliance as required within the MLUL and mandated by the courts.
Kevin Chamber