By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
As many of you know, Rev. John DiGiamberardino, COO of the CMA made a statement at the Neptune Twp. Committee meeting last night regarding permit parking for residents.
Since we do not accept press releases, what will appear below are excerpts from what he presented at the meeting, sent to us by the Reverend.
It seems that Committeewoman Rizzo (also a member of the HOA) shared some details of a permit plan with him, but no one from the HOA or the Committee shared such information with the public. We don’t know what he was shown. It is premature for Rev. John to draw conclusions regarding a plan which doesn’t officially exist. There is no specific plan on the table at this time.
We did allow some of his comments below because it is so unusual to hear from the CMA in this manner, but most of his conclusions seem to us to be bizarre and much too premature to merit debate at this time. And his threat below, based on such fake news, is wildly inappropriate.
If he wants all of his speech released, he will have to send a letter, as he did regarding ground rents and post it himself. Or those of you who want to see the press release in its entirety might be able to get it from the CMA on Pitman Avenue. Or the Coaster may have it Thursday.
“Parking Permits in Ocean Grove” by John DiGiamberardino: (an edited version on Blogfinger)
“Tonight I speak to you as a resident of Ocean Grove. I oversee the day to day operation as Executive Director of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and I own a home in Ocean Grove.
“I am against any form of permit parking in Ocean Grove. I also speak for the Board of Trustees of the Camp Meeting who discussed this matter at their recent Board Meeting and expressed their deep concern for permit parking in Ocean Grove.
“Permit parking will have a huge impact on the welcoming spirit of Ocean Grove, on the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, and I believe also will negatively affect property values. Such an action would detrimentally impact tourism in general and our many constituents attending worship services, concerts and special events as well.
“Reduced beach income could affect our ability to maintain the beach at the highest level. Allowing parking permits would make us an unfriendly, unwelcoming place for visitors. Parking permits will create bigger problems that have far reaching implications.
“I also should let you know that our CMA Board will be reserving the option to pursue legal remedies, if necessary, to protect its property rights and those of its constituents.”
Addendum: See comments for Rev. D. entire statement.
In view of the intense interest in this subject, we have decided to post the entire statement by Rev.John DiGiamberardino, COO of the CMA, which he presented himself at the Neptune Committee meeting of Aug 14, 2017.
We originally posted excerpts, but you really should read everything he said.
We do not know what plan he was showed by Committeeman Rizzo, but if it was the OGHOA plan from 2016, you can find that document on the HOA web site, for what it’s worth, since Neptune did reject it back then.
“Parking Permits in Ocean Grove
John DiGiamberardino, 147 Broadway, Ocean Grove.
Tonight I speak to you as a resident of Ocean Grove.
I have cross involvement in the Ocean Grove Community.
I am a member of the Home Owners Association, I am a member of the Chamber, I oversee the day to day operation as Executive Director of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and I own a home in Ocean Grove.
As council woman Rizzo mentioned we met and she shared with me some of the current ideas involving permit parking.
I want to be very clear tonight. I am against any form of permit parking in Ocean Grove. I also speak for the Board of Trustees of the Camp Meeting who discussed this matter at their recent Board Meeting and expressed their deep concern for permit parking in Ocean Grove.
Permit parking will have a huge impact on the welcoming spirit of Ocean Grove, on the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, and I believe also will negatively affect property values.
The OGCMA, founder of the community, has existed for 148 years as the leading organization and tax payer in Ocean Grove seeking the good of the community, residents and visitors.
Such an action would detrimentally impact tourism in general and our many constituents attending worship services, concerts and special events as well.
The beach is a blessing of living in Ocean Grove. As a seaside community we rely on the quality, beauty and use of our beach. Reduced beach income could affect our ability to maintain the beach at the highest level.
Allowing parking permits would make us an unfriendly, unwelcoming place for visitors.
People will come to the community and find open parking spots that they are unable to park in. As a result this would not only reduce the use of the beach but significantly affect all the businesses in the community, some of which are already struggling.
In addition, can you imagine the hundreds of additional signs cluttering our already visually overloaded, supposedly Victorian streetscape?
Parking permits will create bigger problems that have far reaching implications.
I also should let you know that our CMA Board will be reserving the option to pursue legal remedies, if necessary, to protect its property rights and those of its constituents.
Again…I am against permit parking in Ocean Grove and so is the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.”
The whole idea is eliminate Asbury Park patrons from stealing our spaces. Our land is a natural resource that belongs to Neptune Township, not Asbury Park. It is outrageous that the Township and the CMA let Asbury vacuum up our resource for Asbury’s profit and benefit.
Do what must be done, but ceding a space I can use so some idiot can get smashed at Biergarten is outrageous.
Editor’s Note: Wisher –this post is primarily about the revealing reaction of the CMA at the Committee meeting, including threats of a possible law suit.
We are not now entertaining specific parking plans because the Township is not interested now, so why waste our time. They have shut down the permit plan concept for now and they will never bring it back—fake news.
The process is so ossified that “our own” HOA will not reveal their permit plan which they came up with in 2016 and then quickly abandoned. And by the way, who wrote that plan and who paid for it?
But, here’s a tip, you can go to the OGHOA website and actually see their plan, unless they take it down now. But if Neptune agrees to open discussions again, we would post that plan for your review and for alternative proposals.
And if Neptune refuses, then the HOA should acquire some courage and organize pickets at Town Hall, like the Shark River folks did, and they got results!
I was truly disturbed by the article in Blogfinger about the threat of a lawsuit from the CMA if permit parking was pursued. I don’t know if permit parking is the ideal solution but I do know it would alleviate the stress of parking for at least 1/2 the residents.
It seems clear in that article that the CMA doesn’t seem interested in the people who actually live in the town and support the local businesses and pay taxes. Instead they seem to think that the car with 3 people in it, who park and pay a whopping $8 apiece to get on the beach with their cooler (they are not dining in town) and already in their bathing suits,(so I guess they won’t be shopping on Main either) are more important than those of us who live here.
And don’t get me started on the number of people in full beach regalia walk past my cottage on a Sunday morning heading for the beach! Park free in the Grove and head to AP or BB for the day.
The CMA is no longer the dominant constituency here and have not been for many years. But they do have a major presence, and influence with the Township Committee (you could argue that the North End Development makes the CMA and Committee business partners). The threat of a lawsuit is insulting, and no more than a way to twist arms on the Committee, who want to avoid trouble and have no loyalty to OG residents. I am not in favor of the current parking proposal because it won’t solve the problem, but any progress is probably better than nothing. We need to have comprehensive parking restrictions to establish a market price for parking, and that means meters, zoned time restrictions, and resident permits.
Permit parking is off the table for now and forever because His Majesty, His Holiness, the Pope of Ocean Grove does not want it (no matter what the lowly peasants of the town want).
August 17, 2017. According to the Coaster today, “Mayor Michael Brantley said that permit parking is off the table for now.” The Coaster also said that the”special ad hoc committee looking into improving parking in OceanGrove did not support permit parking as a viable alternative but that the Township Committee continues to look at options.”
He must be referring to the NT Parking Task Force because the Home Groaners Parking Committee has alleged that it is pushing hard for permit parking.
Shelley: You are right. Once Neptune Township took over governance from the CMA in 1980, there was a void. The town was no longer officially a theocracy, but the citizens did not proclaim a new identity for themselves.
Instead things just evolved helter-skelter with Neptune Township, the CMA, and others taking advantage of the vacuum. The CMA may own the land, but they do not own the lifestyles and the minds of those who live here, nor do the commercial interests including the Chamber of Commerce and developers, nor do those private clubs with private agendas, such as the Home Owners and the Historical Society.
So nowhere is it written that we are destined to be a tourist town, beckoning large crowds to buy junk at flea markets and home-made lawn signs at craft shows.
And the CMA has no special mandate anymore to run this town as a religious enclave with giant festivals and religious events. That is why the CMA’s current threat is so obnoxious. They are not entitled to provide public parking for their visitors. They need another plan for that.
Unfortunately, there is no group in town to represent the interests of the residents. What do we care about besides parking? Parking is just a poster child issue—-code for what about those who actually live in this town?
On Blogfinger we have tried to enunciate that vision, but so far not much reaction from the people.
We have argued for some time that we do not need more parking spaces, as envisioned by the Groaners; we need less cars and more of the historic, culturally rich, family-oriented, and diverse town that Ocean Grove ought to be, at least as some of us see it.
But if the residents don’t organize to define a road map for Ocean Grove’s future, then it will continue to be a free-for-all and a much less desirable place to live. Yes, it will become Belmar, and the “historic thing” will go down the tubes.
We can’t expect much in this realm from Neptune Township, the CMA or the HOA as they are presently constituted.
Here’s a June BF post on this subject:
https://blogfinger.net/2017/06/17/tell-it-like-it-is-a-new-paradigm-for-parking-in-ocean-grove/
Unfortunately, our “welcoming spirit” has turned Ocean Grove into the Belmar of old with raucous parties lasting well into the early morning hours… houses filled with weekly renters and their vehicles who only want to party and have a good time…and beaches reminiscent of Coney Island.
What made this town special is disappearing with each passing year. The emphasis is all on cash, not quality of life on the part of both the Camp Meeting and “beach fees” and Neptune and taxes. Parking, while horrendous, is not the only issue that’s troubling here.
It’s time to settle this parking permit issue in court .
The CMA has seemingly had some sort of control over the Neptune Twp. Committee for a long time, and even after Neptune took over governance in 1980 when Neptune tried to find a way to continue Sunday closings through some legislative legerdemain. (It didn’t work thanks to a suit filed by former Mayor Joseph Krimko and others.)
Look how the Township Committee accommodated the CMA/WAVE group in 2007 when that consortium asked for a drastic and, we think, illegal zoning change in order to plan 165 condos, etc. instead of the Master-Plan- inspired 25 single family homes zoning at the North End.
As for the current brouhaha, it sure seems like the CMA thinks it can intimidate the Township and the rest of us Grovers as well. —PG
I am not at all surprised that OGCMA opposes parking permits. What I find intriguing is the threat of a lawsuit. OGCMA “claims” to own the land in Ocean Grove, but they certainly do not own the avenues.
Perhaps they think that they can intimidate Mike and the Misfits, ie The Neptune Township Committee, who will not want to spend money for a lawsuit over parking permits in Ocean Grove.
If condos are built in the North End they should make space on the first floors to enable parking spots as is done in other cities. If you have 165 condos build spaces for those cars and not in our already burdened town
Only homes should be built in our town as was planned years ago.
We need parking permits NOW.
Paul, you are correct. However, a property owner or developer should not be criticized for developing their property as permitted under the zoning.
In this case, the zoning change from 25 to 165 units and the entire redevelopment process was done illegally.
It’s time for the Township Committee to pull the plug on their ill conceived Asbury Park style North End proposal, and the zoning will automatically revert back to detached single-family homes, as it should be.
Jack: The CMA continues to negotiate with WAVE. So they will be complicit in whatever plan emerges.
What welcoming spirit? Have you seen the OGCMA summer booklet? The cover was ONLY directed to those who believe in Jesus. Have you seen the ad on CNN or billboard on 35? Beckoned only Christians to partake in OG. And what concerts is he talking about? Most were canceled this year. The only negative impact on real estate is the ground rent they charge condos and the taxes we pay. Why doesn’t the Reverend work with home owners to figure out solution to reduce taxes. Use his legal money for that.
Penny, the plan for the North End is not a OGCMA plan, it’s an illegal plan prepared by the Neptune Township Committee.
And, I also do not support a plan for permit parking that does not exist and was prepared by a group pretending to be a Homeowners Organization.
There you have it in black and white in their own words: The CMA is all about the money.
The Reverend is making a point about the welcoming spirit of our town. I have been here for 25 years and for many of those could welcome friends and family on weekends during the summer to share a day at the beach a cookout at my house and a walk around my glorious town. That became impossible about 7 years ago. No-one wants to come and drive around for 45 minutes to find a parking space across town. The ridiculously high taxes I pay here don’t make the situation easier to swallow. Are we the residents really feeling welcome in our own home? There is a risk that in order to maintain beach income, the very people that moved here because they loved it will leave it.
As a full-time Realtor for more than two decades, I can tell you that resident permit parking will help, not hurt, home sales and thus,values. It is precisely the gamble of whether or not a person will be able to find a place to park that dissuades people from buying in Ocean Grove.
On weekends, they know it’s a losing proposition. It’s the #1 deterrent for OG sales and rentals, in my experience. People don’t want to deal with it, they just buy elsewhere.
It is quite reasonable for the OGCMA, Ocean Grove Counting Money Association, to oppose parking permits. They cannot survive merely on the residents of Ocean Grove: going to concerts, going to church, buying beach badges, paying land rent.
They need lots visitors to drive into Ocean Grove. Those visitors are already frustrated by the deplorable parking situation in Ocean Grove, especially North of Main and East of Central during summer weekends (as we are equally frustrated trying to park near our homes).
For the record, I don’t think the parking problem is that bad. But sometimes it can be a bit annoying. (I live in the moutains)
But, I do think its kind of funny that the implied mission of the CMA is too provide free parking to Asbury Park visitors so they can imbibe and party.
The Reverend doesn’t seem to care about the residents of Ocean Grove or their needs and lifestyles. He seems only to be interested in the CMA and its requirements. It’s about time that the CMA’s role in Ocean Grove be re-defined to meet the realities of the 21 st century.
If the CMA really cared about this town,they would not be so eager in considering a huge commercial development at the North End.
And the threat of a lawsuit over this is atrocious. Bring it on—The OG Homeowners will pay to defend it.