Oakhurst begins development of a large property on Monmouth Road.  It will be a “community” of 18 single family homes. Paul Goldfinger photo. 1/22/22.

Sample design of Country Day Estates in Oakhurst.

By Paul Goldfinger MD    Editor   Blogfinger.net

Work has begun on a large property in Oakhurst (Ocean Township. ) This development is taking place on Monmouth Road, a mixed use area where there are private homes, shops, professional offices, small food stores, churches, day camp, and a municipal building.   There is nothing along that road that is higher than two stories.  Originally there was a school and a camp there.

The developers of this space did not strive to build condominiums, or a hotel, or more strip malls.  Instead the project is called “Country Day Estates” and will consist of 18 homes making up a  “community”.  The zoning is respectful of the surroundings, and there is no sign of a “redevelopment zone.” It will be a fine place for families to live.

Here is part of the Ocean Planning Board’s  discussion  (minutes) as this property was on the agenda in 2010:

You will see how local government is supposed to focus on representing we the people:

“Councilman William Garofalo gave the Board a brief history of the applicant’s
proposal. Mr. Epstein first came to the Town with a proposal for a more highly dense
development of 24 homes and 17 three-story townhouses on Monmouth Road. He was
told that his proposal was not in the best interest of the area. He changed his proposal
to what the Board was shown this evening.

Mr. Epstein met with the neighbors and showed them the plan and they felt that the second plan is preferable over the first.

Chairman Thomas Means said that he did not think the proposed plan is
consistent with the neighborhood and it is not consistent with the Master Plan. He felt
that if the subject site is developed as proposed, then it will be opening a door for other
tracts of land to be developed similarly.”

The CMA and Neptune Township should have insisted on a historic single family home layout for our North End.

The OG North End will have a 5 story hotel,  condominiums, limited parking and stores.  There will be 12 single family homes.

There is little in that North End re-development plan which can be considered to be a “community” or consistent with the historic precedent of OG.   The OG nomenclature of “historic district and master plan ” is  just a smokescreen for Neptune’s real agendas for the Grove.

And, as the Oakhurst “community”  starts construction, the OG North End remains stuck, but the public is clueless as to what is going on behind the scenes even though a re-development zone is the responsibility of the  Township, ie we the people.

It’s ironic that over 120 years ago a hymn was sung in the Great Auditorium called “Beautiful City of God.”  What design at the North End would have been preferred by the founders of Ocean Grove?

Ira Sankey  from Waxing the Gospel recorded in the Great Auditorium:

” Beautiful City of God,
Beautiful City of Light,
Where naught that defileth may enter,
Where none see the shadow of night.

Refrain:
Beautiful City of God,
Beautiful City of Praise,
Where the songs of the blest shall be ringing,
Through eternity’s endless days.