a. What will happen to the “White Whale” property at #4 Boardwalk where the April 2019 fire destroyed the entire building? The site is owned by the CMA according to an article in today’s Asbury Park Press, and the building had been constructed on the sand.
But the “Pavilion” was owned by Robert Dweck of Maplewood-Ocean Grove Associates. That owner told the CMA and the APP that he plans to rebuild, but there are no details according to the Press.
President Badger of the CMA told the Press that “while he didn’t know what was planned for the property, he hoped it would stick with the character of Ocean Grove. ”
What does Badger mean by the “character of Ocean Grove?”
Is that all the input that the CMA will have in the planning of that site? You would think that they would be intimately involved as they have been with the OGNED project at the North End. Doesn’t the landowner (the CMA) feel some responsibility for what might occur at that sensitive location?
Mr. Badger may be playing it coy by acting like he is at the periphery of any discussions regarding the White Whale site.
In a post which we published on the day after the fire, this is what we said, “We did speak to those CMA workers, and they told Blogfinger that the CMA was conferring with the building’s owner, Bob Dweck.” It was the CMA, not Neptune, which had that conference with Maplewood-OG Associates. Those April, 2019 discussions about managing the rubble show that a pre-existing relationship does exist between the CMA and Mr. Dweck.
Here is a link (below) to the last BF post on this subject from May, 2019. You will find some important insights in that article which is not found in this APP piece. In fact, Gadaleta had some pertinent information to share at that time, and there are also some other Blogfinger staff and reader comments as well.
In addition, 9 months ago, we said this on Blogfinger, “If they plan to rebuild the Pavilion property, site of the recent fire, then will they get permission from the CMA to provide access for trucks and other vehicles? Will they provide parking as required by RSIS? That property, east of the Boardwalk, would not get parking access to the new garage.”
And, by the way, when the Maplewood-OG Associates appeared before the HPC in 2014, this was found in the minutes:
“Administration of Oath to Mr. Robert Dweck and Applicant’s Attorney, William P. Gannon. Mr. Dweck and Mr. Gannon came forward and was sworn in by Jersey Shore Reporter.”
Does one hand wash the other at the North End? Do we have a threesome at #4: Dweck, Gannon and Badger? Do the North End tentacles extend in all directions over there?
b. At the January 13, 2020 meeting of the Neptune Committee, there were some interesting quotes from the minutes:
1. “Joan Venezia asked if OGNED has made application to the HPC for the North End project. Mr. Gadaleta stated he does not know.”
Is that all that Mr. Gadaleta can say about that important next step in the North End sequence? Is he telling us the truth?
2. Ms. Venezia introduced herself as a citizen from Mt. Hermon Way, but she is an official of the HOA. Why doesn’t she identify herself that way? She also questioned the Committee about fire safety at the new North End. She was told that the Planning Board would be looking into that.
3. “Barbara Burns, 4 Ocean Avenue, asked how much was designated for the parking expert.
“Mr. Gadaleta responded $8,000. A proposal was received; however, the Township will be asking for a proposal on a revised scope of work including a review of the recent Better Parking Alliance proposal.”
“Ms. Burns stated that the Township needs to get someone who knows about parking, not just count parking spaces. The Specialist should put together a plan, review economics and manage the demand.”
She also did not identify herself as being President of the HOA.
It should be noted that the CMA is itself hiring a parking consultant.
4. “Ms. Rizzo (Committeeman) stated that there are now over 200 Airbnbs in Ocean Grove with multiple cars. This will cause people to sell their homes and change the atmosphere of Ocean Grove.”
“Chris Jensen, 90 Mt. Tabor Way, asked if the Committee is doing anything about regulating Airbnbs. Ms. Rizzo is talking to Bernie Haney, Land Use Administrator, about the issue.”
Talking to Bernie about this? Pathetic!
5. About the HPC: “Mr. Jensen asked for the longer range goal of the HPC membership in light of the removal of James McNamara.”
“Mr. Gadaleta stated that the Land Use Team made a recommendation to change the make-up of the Commission. Issues were brought to the attention of Administration about the management of the Commission and the Guidelines are being redone.”
“Mr. Jensen stated that the complaints are being received from violators. Mr. Gadaleta disagreed with that assessment and added that the HPC is an advisory board and not about personal opinion.”
It sounds like there is trouble over there at the HPC. Why doesn’t the HPC/Township explain what’s going on to the public? It affects all home owners and prospective home owners in town. Why the secrecy? Why haven’t the new guidelines been revealed?
And what is the “Land Use Team?” What is their purpose and why has this not been made public, and if it has, how and when was that accomplished?
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Yard Sale music: GRANT PHABAO with “a Message to You Rudy.” from the movie Chef.
The North End Hotel was the principal use. The building on the sand was only an accessory use. Once the principal use was removed, the accessory use should not have been permitted to continue.
The accessory use must also be a part of the lot that permitted the principal use. There never was a legal subdivision so only the owner of the undivided land may apply. That is the OGCMA.
The OGCMA had no legal right to create its own subdivision to sell the accessory use as a principal use or as a separate lot.
The Township is knowingly being deceitful and dishonest about the North End Development and is withholding the fact that none of the North End land has been legally subdivided to permit any of the development that they are pushing.