Design by Seasons General Store.
Those who attended that December 18, 2017 Neptune Township meeting are to be commended for taking an active interest in parking issues, but that workshop was a waste of time.
The basic premise of the session was to debate the merits of a permit plan put forth by the Home Groaners Ass. But their plan was an incomprehensible home-made mish-mash that was never going to be implemented. Permit plans can work, but that one would create chaos all over town. Thus, attendees would have been better off watching tweets at home.
The Groaners say that “something should be done.” and I agree with that, but there can be no solution to the chronic and worsening parking problems in the Grove without addressing the underlying issues, and those were ignored at the workshop.
The fact is that there are a limited number of parking spaces in the Grove and an ever growing number of vehicles. Another fact is that there is a community of residents in town who need some relief when it comes to times when there is parking gridlock, especially to the north and the south ends of town.
A limited parking permit plan could be conceived by an expert, but no one can expect to always get a permit spot, and certainly not one in front of your house. A little help from your friends once in a while is better than nothing.
It is time for the Township to face up to reality and to stop all zoning approvals for condominiums, multifamily dwellings, and hotels. In addition, the North End Redevelopment Plan should be nullified, and single family housing zoning be reinstated.
The OGHOA should immediately cancel its support for the NERP and get behind the citizens in totally opposing such projects. If the township refuses to take us down a sensible road, then we will know where their loyalties lie, and the same applies to the Groaners.
Jack Bredin has it right. According to the Bredin Bathtub Hypothesis, if you overfill the bathtub, the water will flow over onto the floor. So the water must be shut off now. “No More Condos and Hotels” would be a good slogan to put on a sign for picketing purposes.
And as for the propaganda put forth last night by Randy Bishop, he, of all people, has no credibility talking about the bureaucratic consequences of a permit plan. After all, he was the leader of the Township Committee in 2007 when they approved abandoning single family zoning at at the North End in order for that ugly NERP to be passed.
The Mayor is correct in looking for a professionally designed plan that would be reasonable and workable without causing any negative consequences to the “spirit” of our town while providing a helping hand to the residents who should be given an edge.
Perfection is not possible, so forget that.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
CLEFTONES:
Why does Neptune Township have to charge $70 To $90 For An Ocean Grove parking permit? At the low end, that’s $133,000 for the approximately 1,900 parking spots they are talking about. Where is that money going? This is nothing more than a money grab because it shouldn’t cost that much to administer.
I see a new government employee being hired.
Yet Ocean Grovers continue to vote for that Democrat machine. Sad.
My no vote is based on the premise that I will have to pay an annual fee for a permit to park on a public street, maybe or maybe not in front of or in close proximity to my house.
Regarding the annual fee, as one poster said above, we are looked upon as a cash cow, and what guarantees do we have that the permit rate will not continually rise yearly at an out of control rate, or any rate, much like property taxes do? Will there be an assessment based on the size of your vehicles or the amount of gas it guzzles? Theres no telling how wacky an elected buffoon can get given a long enough leash.
We got a taste of that when the Democrat machine at the Monmouth County level refused to reappoint Mary Beth Jahn to run for her seat on the Committee. She was a politician who would stand with the people and tell the truth as she did when she was the only Committeeman to oppose the NERP.
Long Time Lady: They don’t care about O.G. because we have almost no power; we have a population of around 4,000! Total Neptune population is 26,000. And a lot of our population is actually registered somewhere else. Do the math, there is a Democratic Party machine that runs Neptune, no one else allowed. They think we are a cash cow and should just sit still and be milked.
MANTRA – Everyone repeat wherever you are in the Grove:
“No More Condos and Hotels!” “No More Condos and Hotels!”
It’s obvious the Township looks at OG as an “annoyance” that they hope will fade away. Often comments like: “Those people in the Grove……” are heard, as if we weren’t part of Neptune, and as if we weren’t paying huge taxes.
No Committeeman has ever taken an active role in listening or acting on the Grove’s behalf except for Mary Beth Jahn and Randy Bishop.
They should start respecting the Grove, or they will find themselves not voted back in! We need new blood. And we need someone with brains and strength.
Slapping Forehead:
Brilliant observation! Too bad the Committee doesn’t recognize and acknowledge that they are the ones who have been causing the problem.
Witnessing the consequences of 20 years of RSIS neglect.
Mayor Randy Bishop and I disagreed on many issues, especially the NERP, however, he was the most knowledgeable member of the Committee regarding Land Use procedures.
With the question of solving the parking problem, we are both against permit parking.
The North end is impossible in summer and merely tolerable in winter. If nothing is done, more Asbury Parkers will take all our free spots.
Time limited parking along Ocean Ave and the commercial’ area around Main Ave.. Resident parking only from 6 PM to 8 AM everywhere else. Hotels and B & B’s can issue temporary parking ‘rear view mirror hangers’ for guests. Turn North End vacant lot into paid parking. Just imagine 20+ years of missed revenue in that area! Not complicated at all.