By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
Someone should buy a calendar for the HOA program director. The HOA scheduled a guest appearance for the President of the OGCMA, Michael Badger, to review all things CMA for a bunch of Grovers on July 28. But it sounds superfluous since on Labor Day, September 3, the CMA will have its usual end-of-season town meeting in the Tabernacle which will cover most of what was and wasn’t covered at the Groaner’s July 28 meeting.
Thanks to the Coaster, as they wrote down everything that was said at the meeting and crammed it all into a full page article guaranteed to render unconscious the worst insomniacs in town.
But, if you read the Coaster recitation, some interesting information can be found between the lines:
a. Badger said that he has been asked why the CMA owns the land and why they don’t sell it for a big payday. He said, “The CMA Board of Trustees owns the land, but we view this as a sacred trust on God’s land.”
So, evidently that sacred trust is the basis for wanting condos, shops and a hotel to be built instead of a park for all to enjoy or a neighborhood of single family homes. That was the same sort of answer that caused the CMA to refuse to allow a dog park in town. They said, “It is not compatible with our mission.”
b. Regarding the North End Redevelopment Plan, Nancy Clark of the HOA asked for an update. According to the Coaster, “Badger said that they are in a waiting period at this time. The Camp Meeting has signed off as the developers for this project, although they will continue to own the land. Permits and NJ DEP Coastal (CAFRA) approvals are being negotiated on at this time.”
He also is quoted as saying, “The developers and the Neptune Township Committee need to get together and review the process.”
Really?? What have they been doing the last 9 years?
And he said, “The North End development plan includes enough parking for those who will live in the single family homes, townhouses, and stay in the hotel planned for that location.”
So, evidently there is no concern about parking for all the car and truck traffic which will come and go into the North End development zone besides those mentioned. And what if some of those resident families have 3 or 4 vehicles? Will that have a ripple effect throughout town? You bet!
And do you think it is a coincidence that Badger never uses the word “redevelopment” when discussing the North End? Instead he says, “Development.” Does he know nothing about NJ Land Use Law or is this a devious way to make believe that no redevelopment ordinance was ever passed for the North End?
After all, what’s in a word?—-Oh, just the issue of the old single family home zoning or the free-to-be-you-and-me zoning free-for-all that is created in a redevelopment zone. And it’s about whether the Township is in charge or the secret “developers” group who’s identity he refuses to reveal.
And, here are some issues that he failed to discuss in front of the Groaners and the Coastericans:
a. Ground rents.
b. Maintenance of parks and curbs and sidewalks
c. The presence of a large community of residents in the Grove. Does he know that they exist, and what is the CMA’s attitude towards that largely secular group? Do they give a damn about the lifestyles and problems of those people?
d. Their opinions and rulings regarding parking and related issues such as their opposition to meters and permits for residents. And what are they going to do about parking gridlock when one of their giant events is causing the residents to suffer from Parking Derangement Syndrome.?
And they threatened Neptune with a law suit over parking permits. Is intimidation-by-lawyer one of the group’s values?
e. Why didn’t he address the subject of “blue laws? ” He mentioned it but failed to talk about it. Is it time to allow a liquor store in town?
f. Does the beach open on Sunday at noon, or, as he said, at 12:30? And why do they still insist on closing the beach on Sunday morning? Is it because they want to leave parking open for their religious services? C’mon CMA….come clean.
g. Why did Badger decide to attack the Airbnb renters as being a major cause of cars coming into town, especially on weekends? He said, “We have a relatively unregulated weekend housing situation.”
Doesn’t he know that there are many reasons why there are so many cars on weekends? Does he have any parking data to share with the town? How about the crowded CMA weekend activities such as Bridgefest and Choir Festival? Or the parking needs of all the tenters in the summer?
h . Someone asked if the public would have full access to a future fishing pier if a fishing club building were to be constructed. He said, “We are trying to maximize the benefit for all.”
Nothing-burger? (def: something lame, dead end, a dud, insignificant; especially something with high expectations that turns out to be average or pathetic, or over-hyped.)
At the end, a Neptune PD liaison officer spoke and said, according to the Coaster, “Smoking on the beach/boardwalk are banned in Ocean Grove,” when the signs on the CMA owned boardwalk only mention the beach?
And how come smoking isn’t banned in CMA run parks other than the beach? Actually, the Township ordinance bans smoking on the beach and in public parks. A number of OG parks are not public; They are CMA owned and do not have “no smoking” signs.
Here is a Blogfinger quote from 2015:
“No smoking on the beach. CMA allows smoking in their parks, but they probably made this specific area smoke-free because people pay to get on; they don’t pay to visit the parks, including Auditorium Square Park which, strangely, allows smoking despite the big wooden structure next door.”
So, can boardwalkers smoke on the boardwalk or not? The NTPD needs to find out and tell us the truth.
And finally, when will the Coasterican reporter actually stand up and ask a question to help clarify and challenge some of these issues? Or is the Coaster merely a journalistic copy machine and press release duplicator?
THE BAMBI CHORUS:
@Canna – Your statement “It is uncivilized to buy (or rent) a home at the shore only to become a prisoner in favor of outsiders” really hit home. Simply put yet so impactful.
Part of the money we pay to Neptune for taxes goes to maintain the avenues of Ocean Grove.
So, we who live on the north side of town are actually paying for Asburian intruders to take our spaces, parking on our avenues for free.
Doug–Reducing this to simple math, there are only so many parking spaces in town, so on a busy gridlock weekend or holiday, residents should get parking preference. After all, we actually live here and pay taxes. There is nothing wrong with preferences of this sort.
After that, whoever gets here first gets in. And when we are full (as estimated by the NTPD at the gates) then the “door” is closed.
It is uncivilized to buy (or rent) a home at the shore only to become a prisoner in favor of outsiders.
–from Blogfinger.net: Who will want to come over if parking is unavailable?—–and what a shame that would be! (Thus the musical reference by The Velours—- “Can I Come Over Tonight?”)
A starting discussion on permits was introduced months ago, it was not discussed at all, just attacked from most of the Committee, the CMA and blind followers. So I doubt if anyone is going to jump into that issue again for awhile!
Too bad; it is in the long-term best interest of the Township and CMA to NOT have people parking here who do not live, or shop or go to CMA events.
So … plenty of parking for the North End (re) development? What’s to prevent the Asburian parking scoffers from taking those spaces? Permits? Ha! I’ve still never seen any sane plan that takes into account how you get there, let alone deal with the increased traffic issues cause by construction vehicles. It’s one of the least accessible areas in O G.
Don’t get me started about OGCMA, Ocean Grove Counting Money Association:
a. Why pay ground rent? I know 3 homeowners who stopped paying years ago. No consequences. Try not paying taxes and see what happens.
b. Previous head of CMA said ground rent is used for maintenance of grounds. They hire people to cut grass (and grass by boardwalk is lousy compared to Bradley) but flowers are maintained by volunteers on beautification committee with no money from CMA.
c.. Be happy to live in OG. Sometimes parking is a bit difficult, but we should welcome visitors. By the way, shut up!
d. No alcohol will be sold in OG as long as CMA exists.
e. CMA changed Sunday opening to noon several years ago to make more money. Probably will change to 9 am next summer to make even more.
g. Pass the blame for parking on Airbnb. Does he think we are that stupid?
h. Pier to the people! Sandy was 6 years ago. We will probably NOT have a full pier next summer. Other shore towns restored years ago. OGCMA makes lots of money on the beach. Let’s see them do something useful with it!
I agree with Lady above: hit them where it hurts. Boycott concerts. Go to the beach free after 430 pm (sun less intense then anyway). Don’t pay ground rent! And, if you have some extra money search out a DESERVING charity!
So it seems you’re doing all the work, organizing questions, advising the residents.
Why do they continue to hide….. about everything. 90% of the visitors and new residents don’t even know who they are. And, to be so greedy as to let people still come in the gates when there is absolutely NO parking, is poor management. All it takes is a police electronic sign saying “Town is full, no parking” at the entrance. This past Saturday I personally was asked six times where there was parking and,there are skeleton handicapped spaces.
But aside from the parking, perhaps the loyal long time residents who donate to the CMA should reconsider. Hit them where it hurts. Quality of life for residents is INCONSEQUENTIAL to them as long as they get their religious programming out there to bring crowds in. But…… they’ve lost their foothold. And isn’t it strange that they can’t keep a Director on staff?
Power to the people.