This is the Esperanza, a leftover skeleton in Asbury Park, 2011 Blogfinger photo. The Neptuners had better not leave us with a similar rotting skeleton at our North End.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, Editor Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove. 11/16/23.
It’s always a treat to view the various press stories about the Grove. They usually get our history and issues wrong.
The latest brouhaha resulted in the Township’s joining with the developers to force a newly amended North End plan to be finalized at the Planning Board even though the HPC refuses to award their approval.
It’s hard for the average Joe to comprehend the dynamics of the latest situation, and the language of the changes. (ordinance, resolutions, settlement agreement, redevelopment agreement, amendment and more) is difficult to understand.
So what are we hearing now from a variety of news sources regarding the recent Neptune Committee public meeting on 11/13/23.
It seems that this complex matter is causing the press to spin their wheels.
a. The OGHOA will have a meeting on 11/25 where some “experts” on two HOA committees will try to explain it all and come up with a strategy. It’s ironic that the HOA, which has failed to block the plan since 2008, now has discovered the need to do so.
b. Yahoo:News:
“The Township Committee was asked by the developers to approve a pair of resolutions and an ordinance. The first resolution would authorize a new settlement agreement and a new amended redevelopment agreement between the Township and the developer— OG North End Development LLC (OGNED).
“The second resolution would refer the amended redevelopment plan to the Planning Board for review.
“The proposed ordinance would adopt the amended redevelopment plan.”
c. Coaster: “Not one person spoke in favor of the planned development at the North End
“Mayor Cafferty admitted that approval would provide a new revenue stream for the Township.”
Evidently he could find no benefits for “We-the People.”
“Chief among the concerns was the proposed roof top decks for the hotel and condo building.”
“The HOA President complained that the Township failed to allow enough time for “the public” to review the support documentation which might explain how the new plan would be different from the old.”
“The mayor warned that if the court went ahead and ruled, the decision would be taken out of the hands of the Township.”
The Coaster, so far, has provided the best coverage today, front page, 11/16/23.
d APP. They had little to add. They quoted a citizen, “During the public comment portion of the Nov. 13 township committee meeting, Ocean Grove resident Andy Levine said ‘there are 100 reasons to vote no’ on the resolutions.”
e. Blogfinger:
“There is much to unravel, and the Township was correct in deferring the decision to proceed. It’s time for all of us to understand this collection of gobbldygook. This steamroller is looking to smother all of us as these “players” get what they want using all sorts of phony baloney methods.
“Let’s begin by finding out if the “Re-develpment” designation was legal.
“The financials must be certain so that OGNED doesn’t leave town in the middle of this ambitious plan as occurred in Asbury Park over 20 years ago. And the Asbury plans for their south end need to be considered as well when planning for the North End of OG.
“We will continue to monitor the press coverage of this disagreement in town.”
DANIEL AGEE. From the movie “Big Little Lies.”
I was always curious how OG residents had a community pool and now has no recreation space allocated in that whole area for residents.
Can we have the OG pool back?
When I read this article ‘The Press Awakens to the Latest North End Brawl at the Neptune Township Committee’, What I see is the foundation for a RICO ACT (Racketeering complaint) involving the Governing body and the Planning Board.