By Jack Bredin. Look over the roof of the Aurora to see the empty North End site. The location is critical. ©
Jack Bredin, Blogfinger reporter/researcher.
The Neptune Committee meeting of November 26 contained a resolution about the North End. It was buried inside the “consent agenda,” making sure that it will be approved quickly, and that is what happened by a vote of 5-0.
There was a heavy rainstorm with flooding last night, and only about 6 Grovers showed up including Reporter Jack Bredin and Kevin Chambers.
The OG residents all went to the microphone to express their concerns with the sheer size of the condo project and the traffic congestion it will create on the Grove’s historic narrow streets, in a town zoned for single family homes.
Of course the usual group of Committee cheerleaders from the Home Groaners Assoc. was at the meeting, but they have supported this proposed project from day one. The Township’s Redevelopment Attorney did speak, and we will post some of what he said in a couple of days.
What is more interesting than those who did show up is those who did not show up. As the Township failed to advertise a “Request for Proposals” as required by law, and the new LLC just picked themselves as Redevelopers to the exclusion of every other interested developer, the new LLC Developers did not think it would be necessary to appear in person with their experts, with a Site Plan on an exhibit board to explain to the OG residents just how they intend to put an underground parking garage below sea level at that location.
If you are keeping score, it was Developers 5, OG residents 0, when the Committee voted unanimously to approve Resolution 18-395 that would “grease the skids towards a Redevelopers Agreement.”
But perhaps there is some hope since the next mayor will most likely be Ocean Grove’s Carol Rizzo who currently is the Deputy Mayor.
We expect her to ride into Ocean Grove through the Gates on a white horse and save the town; or we could declare independence and become an English colony. That may be our only hope.
ZERO MOSTEL: “Comedy Tonight.”
Paul, You are right. Now I miss the good old days when Dr. Michael Brantley was Mayor.
Reblogged this on Blogfinger and commented:
Jack wrote this article in November 2018. If you check the end, he expresses some hope for the next Mayor, Carol Rizzo. Jack…you evidently missed the boat on this one.
It’s time a blunt letter was sent to the Twp. Committee and Mayor. i.e., ……”We’re mad as hell and we’re not gonna take it anymore.”
They need to be threatened for not abiding by laws and ordinances.
Withhold taxes? Protest with signs at the entrance? Strong article in the AP Press? Something. The arrogance is astonishing.
Gentlemen: Your advocacy on behalf of Ocean Grove is consistent and gratefully admired. Milking of the Ocean Grove “cash cow” by Neptune Township Committee is also consistent but deeply destructive. As we all know, this is not the first time it misuses or ignores statutory requirements.
Who will organize an impressive herd of “horse riders” at a July meeting to confront those milkers on site ?
The Land Use Law is carefully crafted to ensure that all lands developed in the State are properly developed to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents.
Every section of the law has a specific legislative Intent, as with “the Local Housing and Redevelopment Law'” which is the process of developing areas of ‘blight’ that cannot be developed by the property owner. So, as such, must be developed by the local government. There are no such areas in OG where that criteria would apply.
In Neptune Township, the Township Committee is either unfamiliar with the intent of the “Redevelopment Law,” or they are misusing the Law to benefit developers to the detriment of the OG residents.
There is a serious problem here that Mr. Bredin’s letter to the State about the Geen Acres program reveals. We now know that there was never a legal five acres for the North End development that could be used for the Area in Need of Redevelopment.
All testimony given at the public hearings in 2008 by the Township in order to create the area in need of redevelopment REQUIRED five acres. Mr. Bredin’s letter to the State has now shown that Neptune’s testimony was based on a false amount of acres.
This new proposal for the North End by Neptune is therefore a fraud since its very inception was and is based on the now known false testimony and studies from 2008.
This puts into question as to whether anything being done here by all the Township’s attorneys is being done legally and for the public’s best interests. I think not.
Jack’s painting of the Aurora and surrounding buildings should be titled “Pure Bliss”. Any development should echo the detail and refinement of the existing structures.
The drawings of the proposal appear to lack desirable Victorian details. I would prefer single family homes. If this project moves forward, the Historic Preservation Commission must make sure all guidelines are followed.