The North End property; a perpetually messy empty space. Paul Goldfinger photograph. © Blogfinger.net
From the Blogfinger Editorial Board:
The HOA announced today’s 2/27/21 meeting with a promise:
“We will have important updates on the two most important issues in Ocean Grove today: Parking & NE Redevelopment.”
This lead us to believe that some vital new information would be made available.
But, the announcements were not “important updates” at all. HOA Trustee Joyce Klein presented the “updates:”
#1 Regarding the North End Plan which has been stuck at the DEP in Trenton for months:
Joyce said, “…still no news.” She believes that they will make a decision by March 13, unless there is an extension.
She did mention that the neighbors near the North End site were unhappy about the lack of “cleanup.” They have been going to Neptune meetings to complain.
#2. Parking. Joyce said that she, the Chair of the HOA Parking Committee, would like to “re-invent” her committee, and she needs 1 or 2 volunteers.
Michael Badger, OG CMA, spoke at the meeting. He said that the CMA “is getting close” to a conclusion from the company whom they hired to solve OG’s parking problems. The company involved is “an industry leader”, but we all know that they have been stymied by this challenge.
He said that he has been “talking” to representatives of the Chamber, HOA, and Parking Alliance. The CMA wants to “emulate” other towns at the shore who have faced parking problems, but he is well aware that the Grove’s parking issues are very unique indeed.
About the only thing he seems to be sure of is that the business district should have some sort of “timed solution” to keep spaces available for shop customers.
We can’t wait to see what he comes up with for the rest of the town.
There are three subjects which he and the HOA will not discuss: The glut of tourists who often turn our town into the World’s Fair; the needs of the CMA to provide parking for their thousands of religious tourists; and the CMA’s conflict of interest in hiring the research firm.
The new mayor of Neptune must be so happy to be disengaged from the OG parking disaster area. But why doesn’t he ask why a private organization gets to lead an inquiry into Neptune public policy? Is this fair to the citizens of Ocean Grove? Is this even legal? Why is the HOA cowering in the corner over this subject?
And finally has the HOA decided to invent a new abbreviation? Have a little respect: NE is not a valid shortcut for North End. Do they have a proofreading committee?
SEAN HAYES: “Promises, Promises”
The CMA parking study is at best suspect and at worst a very significant conflict of interest. During the Zoom, Badger stated that he wanted to have a meeting to discuss the findings with all of the interested parties if I remember correctly. What is their goal? They didn’t fund a study for no reason. Does anyone think that the CMA is interested in anything but more availability of parking spaces for their mass events with Liquid and other groups? These events are an imposition on OG residents, and need to be controlled. There should be a requirement for the CMA to get a permit from the Township for these events so residents can have at least some input on how much disruption we have to tolerate. And the Township has shown no interest in parking, other than keeping parking free all the time. The last Township – sponsored study was a joke, and Carol Rizzo’s modest parking proposal was treated with disrespect and even some hostility by the Township Committee at the public meeting.