The Ross Bathing Houses, 1878. North End, Ocean Grove Beach. From the Atlas of the Jersey Coast. Blogfinger copy.
From Mello:
My family loves Ocean Grove and appreciates all efforts to preserve the beauty. Of course, to do this requires an academic degree in historic preservation.
Does any active member of Ocean Grove’s historic board have the qualifications required in the bylaws?
With our unique town at stake, it pays to be certain the most qualified people are making the decisions.
Thank you
AL MARTINO: “An Affair to Remember.”
Radar. Thank you
I believe HPC “quieted down” after its chair was provided an opportunity
“to look at” applicants. Nowhere in procedure of engaging consultant is HPC really involved. It was reported at last OGHOA
meeting: four applicants, one is familiar with Ocean Grove.
Bigger question–yet unanswered–who does consultant serve ?
What’s bothering me is that the Township was planning to bring in an outside consultant to revise the HPC Design Guidelines. The HPC Chairwoman was furious saying that this was a threat to historic preservation in the Grove and would benefit uncaring developers.
It seemed like the Township wanted to take power from the HPC—a group that was supposed to protect the architectural treasures on our behalf.
Then the HPC went silent on this matter after promising to explain their position for publication on Blogfinger, and no one from the HPC, to our knowledge, has added anything to the public conversation since then.
There seems to be some sort of coverup, and the public has not been advised regarding this alleged threat. Has the HPC’s silence been coerced by a Township which can dismiss all of them?
To my knowledge, there has been no resolution at the Township regarding fundamental changes to the HPC Design Guidelines.
Does anyone have any updated information, since the HPC has gone to ground on this?
Ned, I was comparing all the agencies in OG that make decisions regarding land use procedures that protect “our unique town.”
If you take the HPC out of the mix, developers will be popping champagne corks, and Mello will be wondering what the heck happened to “our unique town.”
Jack,
I think that is an statement which many in OG would dispute given the number of questionable projects approved by the HPC over the years. I have been before the HPC to have renovations to my house approved and I found some of the discussion to be high handed, unprofessional and not very informed by some of the members. However, full disclosure, my experience was several years ago, so maybe they have improved.
Also, as you did not list any supporting facts, your statement above is in fact simply your opinion.
Mello,
The Historic Preservation Commission is the only qualified Board, Committee, or Commission in Neptune Township.
This is not an opinion. It is a fact.