OG’s southern exposure at Fletcher Lake. This is what OG should look like. Somebody show this to the HPC, Neptune Township, OGNED, and CMA. Paul Goldfinger photo.
Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor, Blogfinger.net. 7/16/23.
Neptune considers Ocean Grove to be its “Historic District.” Did you see the sign on Rt. 33 as you approach the Grove? Are they serious, or do the Neptuners have some nefarious motives? After all, there are areas of Neptune that are older than Ocean Grove. (eg Hamilton.)
HERE ARE QUOTES FROM THE MASTER PLAN’S HISTORIC PRESERVATION ELEMENT: A large section is about Ocean Grove.
“The MLUL (Municipal Land Use Law) responds to a generally held belief that those sections of a municipality that still bear the visual imprint of the past should be preserved. The concept is that existing buildings in historic area should be retained, at least as to their exteriors, and that new buildings in such areas should be on the same scale and should have facades compatible with the older buildings.”
Goals of historic preservation:
……”encouraging new construction that is compatible in scale and design to the physical character of the surrounding neighborhood.”
……”Seek to ensure compatibility between new development and nearby historic sites and districts, in terms of both use and appearance”
“The continuing evolution of the physical context of Ocean Grove is shaped by evolving uses and evolving materials, as well as a continued commitment to the unique layout of Ocean Grove.
“The decline of the hotels and rooming houses that previously provided summer lodging gave rise to conversion to multi-family residential uses or provided additional rooming and boarding uses for the indigent. These changes had deleterious effects on Ocean Grove.
“Ordinance changes prohibiting similar conversions to multi-family use have limited additional deterioration and facilitated a renaissance of investment for single family housing, bed and breakfasts and historic hotels. These types of uses, in conjunction with and as shaped by the unique lay-out and civic design of Ocean Grove are more appropriate to the scale and character of the district and provide an appropriate type of growth and evolution that preserves the character and fabric of Ocean Grove.
“Through these efforts the Township has demonstrated a strong commitment to the protection of all properties designated as having architectural and historic significance.
—- “A key goal pertaining to sustainable land use is to efficiently redevelop land to not increase the amount of developed land, while preserving environmentally significant properties in strategic locations that expand the open space system.
—–“Goal in the historic district: To preserve and protect Neptune Township’s designated historic sites and structure”
ART GARFUNKLE:
The Township has written its new zoning to perpetuate illegal zoning encouraging nonconforming uses and nonconforming structures. This is in direct violation of law. What the planner has proposed has nothing to do with preserving OG but have everything to do with raping the community for the greatest tax dollars it can get out of it.