By Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net
The North End site was an empty lot on this historic 1881 map. Look at it closely. Supposedly they wanted to build some single family houses for clergy, but there is no mention of condominiums, retail or hotels in the OG history sources. The so called historic hotel of the past came many years later and was south of the site. Ask the HSOG and the HPC if the new plan is “historic.”
Today, March 27, 2021, The HOA held a Zoom meeting, and Frank’s sentiment “It’s just a joke” can also apply to this organization’s lack of progress in dealing with North End and parking.
PARKING: Joyce Klein, chair of the HOA Parking Committee, again had little substantial news to report, although what she did present she called “real news.”
She revealed that the CMA had presented their professional parking study to Neptune Township, but that the Neptune Comedy has little interest in the report or OG’s parking problems.
Neptune Mayor Brantley evidently offered to review the complicated study at a future Workshop, but who knows when or if that will happen, and, as Joyce pointed out, the public may not speak at such a workshop session. She obtained a copy of the CMA report, but she hasn’t yet studied it.
Joyce promised to read the ”huge” report and get back with her analysis. She said, “There’s a lot to absorb.” She also revealed that a summary will be posted on the HOA web site in the near future.
The CMA report can be obtained from the Neptune Clerk through the Freedom of Information act.
The CMA offered to bring an expert from the study to make a presentation to the Township, but the Mayor evidently was not interested.
The Parking Committee has two new members, but the committee currently has nothing to offer other than encouragement for citizens to attend Neptuner meetings.
She did say that the study offered the “possibility” of permits, “some meters,” and time limitations on Main Avenue. So far it seems that there is hardly a tangible crumb on the table for “we the people.” And we don’t know what the study says about the CMA’s voracious appetite for parking spaces for religious tourists. Oh, the Better Parking Alliance was barely part of the conversation.
Joyce was discussing how to put pressure on the Neptuners, but she thought that such pressure should come from a combination of “stakeholders.” She didn’t define “stakeholders” but evidently she was referring to the HOA and the CMA.
But Joyce, how about recognizing “we the people”—residents who suffer due to parking problems. The HOA never mentions the largest community group in town—those of us who pay taxes and could be a force if only they were to organize.
Your group has lacked forcefulness and activism, so the HOA won’t be much help in exerting pressure unless they can mobilize the citizens to flex some muscle towards the fabulous five on the dais.
Honestly, the CMA should not have unilaterally embarked on their expensive study. That was presumptuous and out of order, and it’s no wonder the Neptunites are indifferent.
She also admitted that a parking solution will not be forthcoming this season.
NORTH END: presented by the committee chair Joan Venezia. Joan announced that the DEP approved the CAFRA application—something that was not news to Blogfinger readers.
Mr. Gaciofano complained that there is a flood plane issue at the North End creating a flood risk at the site, despite what the DEP says. Joan agreed with him.
The HPC ZOOM meeting on April 6 will address the plan, and a citizen can attend, but you need to register at the Neptune web site by clicking on “agendas and minutes.” The reason for the registration is that the HPC Zoom meetings were hacked in the past.
As we have pointed out, the HPC rejected the North End Plan design last year. So the HPC assessment may take more than one meeting.
Interestingly, the HPC discussion at this HOA meeting indicated that the HPC would assess variables such as the height and bulk of the buildings, but no one mentioned the fact that the HPC should concern itself with the historic characteristics of the plan and whether this plan would reflect the true historic look of the Grove. New construction, according to the Master Plan, should reflect the existing structures in the town and neighborhood.
We are on the State and National Historic registers, and this ersatz “historic” design will hurt our chances for retaining those designations. Do you think the HSOG will conduct historic tours at the North End after OGNED gets done? Who wants to come here to view condos and shlock stores.
Joan also mentioned that the Neptune Fire Department must conduct a review. Blogfinger pointed out the fire risks in the past. Access will be a huge issue. Remember the White Whale fire where equipment from multiple towns were paralyzed in a line on Ocean Avenue, unable to turn around; and also there is the fact that the boardwalk and Lake Avenue are not streets, a fact that Jack Bredin has emphasized over and over again since you can’t construct a building unless it is on a street.
At the end of the meeting, two HOA members tried to talk about engineering design variables such as elevations which they say were being changed in the DEP plans, but they were inadequate to that task, and the HOA should hire a land use lawyer and/or engineer to provide meaningful assessment. Money for such help could be raised from OG citizens.
CAROUSEL: “Blow High, Blow Low” Good advice for the Groaners.
“Blow high, blow low
A whailin’ we will go
We’ll go a whalin’ a sailin’ away
Away we’ll go
Blow me high an’ low
For many an’ many a long long day
For many an’ many a long long day!”
The question is, was the OGCMA’s parking study done conforming to state mandated RSIS parking requirements for their development and their buildings or was their study done using Neptune’s invalid and illegal doing for OG that has been in violation of RSIS as mandated by the courts? I doubt, and that’s why neither will follow through with it.