Looking north!    It’s time for Grovers to speak up about the North End. This scene is from when the White Whale went up in flames. Don’t wait for the North End to be consumed by commercialism.    Paul Goldfinger photo. ©. Spring, 2019.

As most of you know, the NJDEP has been considering the North End Plan for CAFRA approvals.  CAFRA is the Coastal Area Facility Review Act of 1973.

OGNED, the “re-developers ” of the Ocean Grove North End Redevelopment Plan, are awaiting approval of their application.  Many of us have been concerned about the environmental impact of that project, nestled between the ocean and Wesley Lake.  The plan calls for an underground garage, condominiums, private homes, retail, and a hotel.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the NJDEP.  Their web site says, “Celebrating its 50th birthday in 2020, the DEP makes New Jersey a stronger and fairer state by protecting our environment and public health. With hard work, exceptional knowledge and expertise, the DEP’s men and women have made the agency an unfailing guardian of New Jersey’s precious natural and historic resources.”  (our italics)

The public is now invited to express their concerns to the NJDEP.   The DEP has no plans for public hearings on this topic, but any of you are in a position to communicate with them as individuals or as a group.

At Blogfinger we know about the Ocean Grove public’s opposition to the project, so now’s the time to send an email to the DEP. We know that the DEP is interested in what the citizens of Ocean Grove have to say.

Blogfinger has obtained the contact information below, thanks to the Press Department at DEP in Trenton:

“Residents wanting to comment on the proposed project may email the project manager at becky.mazzei@dep.nj.gov or send their comment to this address:

“New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Land Use Regulation

P.O. Box 420, Code 501-02A

Trenton, New Jersey 08625

Attn: Neptune Supervisor “

Editor’s Note:  If you send BF a copy of your note, we will post it on this site.  Using your real name is most effective, and we will collect those notes in our comments section.

For those of you who belong to organizations in town which profess to care about the Grove’s history, safety, welfare, health, and future, you should urge them to pressure the DEP to reject this application.

The Homeowners Assoc. is planning a town-wide survey because they don’t know what to do to keep busy, so here is something that they should support forcefully. It’s about time they gave a damn!  Others which should step up include OG United,  Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce, and the Better Parking Alliance.

Approval of the North End as a Zone in Need of Redevelopment was illegal to begin with,  and  the Plan can still be turned back on those grounds alone, notwithstanding the environmental concerns.

This plan is not in the best interest of the people of Ocean Grove.  Speak up now or regret it later.  The DEP can stop this ill-conceived project.

Write an email. You have until Dec. 21.

–Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net.

HARRY NILSSON.  from Midnight Cowboy;