Internet photo
Musical selection from Avenue Q.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
If you rent out an apartment or a house in Ocean Grove, you are engaging in a business. And if your property is marked R (residential) on the zoning map, then what you are doing may not be legal. But have no fear, because Neptune Township allows you to do it, and it has been done for many years in this beach town.
Just get a Mercantile (business) license once per year. and have a CO inspection done whenever you have a new tenant. Such rentals in the Grove are not unusual, and it is not uncommon for vacationers to rent a place for a week or two. If you rent for over 30 days, then a lease would be needed. And note that you cannot rent out just a room unless you are a hotel with business zoning.
But what about those Airbnb people who are renting out houses and apartments on the Internet for short term use, down to one night. Currently there are 105 properties for rent on Airbnb in OG. Apartments rent from about $100 to $300 on average per night. Houses will be more. Some owners offer Airbnb rentals in more than one home in the Grove and sometimes in more than one town. This can be a significant money maker for some.
We have heard from Grovers who have been complaining about Airbnb renters who are not gracious visitors and who change the entire complexion of a neighborhood.
But at the last Township Committee meeting (June 11) another side has been heard from. Committeemen Carol Rizzo reported that she had met with an Airbnb businessman who owns a number of buildings for purposes of short term rentals, and some of those are in Ocean Grove. She said that he complained to her about all the red tape that he must endure whenever he has a new renter.
We are not sure why she brought this up officially, at his request; ie where does she stand on this issue? He also got to present his problem during the public portion. He had 5 minutes, and he said that the Neptune rules are too restrictive and complicated for his business; No one spoke up in response, one way or another.
The Mayor did not commit to placing this complaint on a forthcoming agenda, so we don’t know where he stands either.
Consider this:
a. Usually if a person is interested in a zoning ordinance change, the matter is referred to the Planning Board.
b. One of Ocean Grove’s most important citizens, David Shotwell, Sr., the former long-term COO of the CMA said this yesterday in a comment to Blogfinger regarding our article on the subject: “A helpful discussion of the short term housing situation. Much to be done to manage the situation.” I consider his interest in this topic to be a beacon that we all should pay attention and that active legislation may be needed on behalf of the citizens.
c. We can’t speak for Mr. Shotwell’s motives, but some of our readers are already alerted to a possible threat to our way of life in the Grove. As it is, there are other concerns as well regarding the quality of life in Ocean Grove such as gridlock. We have written plenty on that topic.
d. Any attempt by any citizen group or government entity to increase the crowding of Ocean Grove should be resisted by those who live here. Short term rentals will undoubtedly increase crowding of the Grove.
e. The Home Groaners are having a meeting next Saturday about the Neptune Police Department. How many of you think that we in OG have serious problems with our police? Shouldn’t the Groaners be addressing this topic—Airbnb. Where do they stand? They are all too often on the wrong side of issues that affect our lifestyles here.
f. From Airbnb: “What started as a simple platform to offer mattresses and home-made breakfast has today revolutionized the way people travel. Airbnb business model is unique, profitable, and has evolved to such a level that the brand is now the world’s most loved hospitality brand.” Each of the 3 founders now has personal wealth of $1 billion.
If you read their sales pitch, you will see that they want to invade small popular communities such as ours, and as they tout the profits to be made, they offer no interest in the towns themselves. And thus we will see more business opportunists coming into town to buy houses just for short term rentals profits, but with no concern for the Grove itself. This exploitation bodes ill for our historic district and its Master Plan.
Only Neptune Township can find ways to protect our lifestyles in this town, as did our neighbor Ocean Township. For a change Neptune should worry about us and act preemptively.
And meanwhile, is Neptune effectively enforcing the existing rules?
THE GRASCALS: “Stay All Night.”
