Ocean Grove was founded as a religious summer community. It was run by Methodist ministers, and Alfred Cookman was one of them. His story has been told on Blogfinger. Do a search.
Blogfinger posted a piece on May 5, 2019 (scroll up) about the confusion in terminology for those who are unsure about the relationship of the Town of Ocean Grove to the Camp Meeting Association. The unique story of the CMA in OG, with its history of running the town for over 100 years, making laws, and prevailing here in so many ways, up to the present, has to be unheard of across the country. If anyone knows of some comparable place, please let us know.
That post is called, “How to Refer to Our Town.”
If you look at the comments section of that article, you will see a statement by Grover 13 who thinks he/she knows the truth. Jack Bredin was moved to try and explain the background of some of this, and his contribution below is very special–I’ve never seen anyone else take a shot at explaining that history. .—–Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net
To Grover 13 from Jack Bredin, Researcher/reporter/historian at Blogfinger.net:
“For over 100 years, from 1869-1980, the “Town” of Ocean Grove was first “illegally permitted” by Ocean Township in 1869 and then by Neptune Township from 1879-1980 to act as its own municipality. OG had their own police department, court, board of health, etc. The “Town” was operated pursuant to CMA rules and not State Law; and the OG residents could not vote for the OG “governing body” which was the CMA. However, the OG residents did have the privilege to pay taxes to Neptune and vote for the Township Committee.
“And so the residents in fact had two (2) governing bodies, both acting outside State Law, but I don’t blame the CMA for doing what the Township permitted them to do. However, in 1980, the NJ Supreme Court said this all must stop.
“Ocean Grove was also founded by the CMA as a Camp Meeting Ground for people who belonged to the Methodist Church, but the CMA is not the Methodist Church in town; St. Paul’s is the Church.
“The CMA registered with the NJ Secretary of State as a corporation. When the Corporation “divided” the land into 2,000 parcels, one (1) share of voting stock should have been issued to each “Lot Owner.” As a result, OG residents could not vote for their OG municipal governing body or at a stock holders meeting.
“As NJ State Land Use Law, State Land Use Standards, and State Land Use Procedures evolved over the years throughout the State, land use law and procedures in OG remained unchanged, and they are now interpreted by the Neptune Township “Land Use Administrator” who has no authority to make any land use decisions.
“Is it any wonder why OG has so many land use problems?
“Paul Goldfinger is one of the few people in OG trying to make sense of it all, and Blogfinger is the only one reporting on it.”
BEATLES: (Paul McCartney)
“The long and winding road That leads to your door Will never disappear I’ve seen that road before It always leads me here Lead me to you door”
Peter Tallman, Union Army soldier, 1861. Submitted by Peter Stunz of Ocean Grove.
We received this photograph from Peter Stunz of Ocean Grove. His email offers this explanation:
Just a side note: This is my great grandfather Peter Tallman (I was named after him, my mother’s maiden name is Tallman). He was a volunteer with the 127th Volunteer Infantry. He never saw a battlefield. He was severely injured when a tree limb fell on him while they were clearing a path somewhere unknown.
His past was one of many reasons that lead me to be a student of history. I would also like to add as a side note that the Tallmans have been living in Ocean Grove (renting) since nearly the beginning and we have had our summer home here since 1955. We love reading your blog and have been loyal readers since Sandy.
Editor’s note: Thanks to Peter for sharing. I love to hear anecdotes from those who have lived here and know the history of Ocean Grove. Of course, OG was founded after the Civil War (1861-1865.) But, the Methodist antecedents that ultimately led to the founding of the Grove, had their origins much earlier.
There were many Civil War soldiers from New Jersey and New York, and Peter’s great grandfather was a member of a volunteer regiment that was mustered in 1862 in Staten Island for 3 years service (until 1865). It was, as he points out, the 127th Volunteer New York Infantry Regiment.
That outfit did see some action, but I was interested, from a medical point of view, to learn that they lost 130 men—35 killed and 94 dead of “disease.” Conditions tended to be awful for soldiers on both sides, with malnutrition, poor water, bad hygiene and of course many communicable diseases before the age of antibiotics. The most common medical procedure was amputation of legs—a horrible chapter in American medical history, but combat medicine/surgery is so much better now. However, like all military preparations, we hope that the techniques will never be needed.
The photograph Peter sent is a daguerreotype, a process that was invented around 1840 by Louis Daguerre and used mostly for portraits. It was an expensive and fragile method using silvered (light sensitive) copper plates. These images are very collectible these days, especially ones that are of Civil War soldiers.
Below is a link on BF that discusses photography during the Civil War (the last part of a piece about a historic photograph from Ocean Grove):
Here is a re-post of part I of our research about the Embury Arms Condominiums posted in September of 2015. Time to re-read it now in 2020. The dots between it and the current North End Plan can be connected.
Recently a reader wondered about the Embury Arms condominiums. Her concern came about in the midst of our real-time discussions of the North End Project and Mary’s Place zoning. She asked how that large condo project came about and whether there were issues then similar to the ones that we have been considering recently.
Embury Arms condominiums on Whitefield Avenue consist of 112 units. It was built in the 1980’s. Old OG newspaper reports say that the CMA approved the project in 1978, and then the ground breaking ceremony was held in 1980. Those news reports never mention approvals by Neptune Twp. nor do they mention any concerns about historic preservation. They do talk about energy conservation measures that won awards for the developer.
These condos are 1 and 2 bedroom apartments within four large 3 story buildings. The complex sits in the middle of the Grove, surrounded by Benson, Delaware, Heck and Abbott Avenues. Embury and Webb Avenues stop short as they go west to Delaware Avenue, right at the border of the Embury Arms condos, and Whitefield Avenue goes straight through the middle, with private parking spaces on the perimeter of a public street.
Ocean Grove Times, August 25, 1978.
An ad in a 1982 local newspaper describes “authentic Victorian designs.” The apartments were starting at $49,900.00.
The official 2015 CMA summer guidebook map shows Webb and Embury going straight through to Lawrence Avenue, but they do not and they never did because west of Delaware, where Embury Arms now sits, there were stables, used mostly for storage by the Camp Meeting Association. Apparently some of the buildings were rented out for parking, but it was not an area for public parking.
It is not our intention to review the detailed history of this condo project, but anyone walking by has to wonder how the heck the developer got permission to do this distinctly un-Grovian style condominium complex. It not only is contrary to the Master Plan as we know it, but it takes up space that could have been filled with single family Victorian style homes in order to match the appearance of the rest of the Grove.
Embury Arms provides PRIVATE parking by allowing head-on placement of vehicles on Whitefield Avenue that is partly on private property (using the theoretical front yards of those lots) but it also allows the cars to stick out over where the public sidewalks should be. In other words, that parking lot violates the public pedestrian right of way.
Normally the right of way along a public street is 40 feet wide, consisting of the road (auto right of way) and the sidewalks (pedestrian right of way) measured together.
Yes they put some recessed sidewalks there, but that is private property, and public access could theoretically be shut down at any time. The Whitefield Ave. auto right of way is intact for cars driving through, but is not inviting for autos to drive through, and warning signs threaten anyone who would dare park there.
In addition, the project deprived Ocean Grove of many potential public parking spaces if private homes had been built on streets. Instead, all those curb cuts created a giant parking lot. Where else in town is a public street (in this case Whitefield Avenue) used for private parking?
The property was originally used for stables, so no private homes were demolished to make room. Undoubtedly the CMA, the Township, and the developer were in collusion to create this massive mistake, but the history of the time* indicates that OG was not as proactive in historic preservation then. It was a time when governance here was in a state of flux**, and the public did not protest much. There was a suit that delayed completion, but eventually the Embury Arms condominiums were finished. At least the condo developer of Embury Arms provided parking, even though the law was stretched to make that happen.
We have no information as to how the zoning was finessed to allow this, nor do we know what the Planning Board had to say. At any rate, it is a done deal, and nothing can be done about it at this point.
It is interesting that there is an earlier precedent. In 1964, across from Days, a large hotel burned down, and in its place rose the Arlington Court Co-op. consisting of one bedroom apartments for which no mortgages were allowed. This was a new idea for the Grove, and evidently no one cared that single family Victorian homes were not built. The CMA was in charge then and they must have supported the idea. (? sound familiar)
However, now we are in a position to do something about the largest condominium development in the history of Ocean Grove—the North End Redevelopment Project. But there is concern that public apathy will once again allow a wrong-headed condo project to go ahead. We have seen this illegal process before. If no one takes legal action when work begins or sooner, then, as with other projects in town, nothing can be done after the fact.
The CMA and the Township are counting on public inaction. Will we let them do it again?
CREDITS:
Ted Bell*, Ocean Grove historian
Jack Bredin, Blogfinger researcher
Tom Constantino, Blogfinger researcher
** In 1980, governance of Ocean Grove was turned over to Neptune Township by the NJ Supreme Court. That transition must have taken years to work out, but the Embury Arms project took hold during that delicate time.
Here is a link to Part II of this Embury Arms historical review.
We wrote about James Bradley as part of our Ocean Grove history trail. Bradley was a wealthy New Yorker who was a huge fan of Ocean Grove. He not only founded Asbury Park and Bradley Beach, but he was the first person to buy a lot in Ocean Grove (1870) when Rev. Stokes, placed the lots “for sale.”
Now, a group in Asbury wants to take down the statue of James Bradley that has a prominent location in the park to the rear of Convention Hall/Paramount Theater. It was placed there in 1920 for the city’s 50th anniversary.
Quote from the Asbury Park Press (APP) 9/29/17: “Randy Thompson, founder of “Help not Handcuffs,” an organization that says it promotes drug policy reform and social justice, claims Bradley promoted bigoted policies on the boardwalk and the beach.”
“He helped segregate the town,” said Thompson, 43, of Asbury Park. “That was his business model.”
That group says that Bradley was a racist, but others in Asbury disagree with the notion that his statue should be taken down. Werner Baumgartner, AP historian is quoted in the APP: “I don’t think you can call the man a racist, when society kind of dictated certain separations,” Baumgartner said. “It might have been business pressures more than anything else, rather than a personal desire to segregate races.”
Baumgartner said the city erected the statue in honor of Bradley’s philanthropy and said that the founder donated money to local black churches.
Other leaders in A. Park also oppose taking down the statue, including the Asbury Park Historical Society which said, “People should never forget the city’s late founder James Bradley’s ‘advocacy of segregation,’ but it draws the line on removing the statue erected in his honor near Convention Hall. ” (quoted in the APP)
Don Stine is President of the AP Historical Society, and he is quoted in the APP:
“If you’re going to take down the statues of people who were segregationists in the United States, you would have to take down just about the statue of everybody,” said Stine said. “It was a segregated society. It just was.”
Stine said he favored keeping statues and monuments in place so that people can “learn lessons from the past.”
“He said the Historical Society is conducting a review of all statues and monuments in the city to see if it can help with their preservation. ‘We believe all monuments in this city are worthy,’ Stine said.”
An academic paper about segregation in AP 1880-1890 by David Goldberg (see link below) points out that there was “Jim Crow enforcement*” in both the North and the South, and James Bradley was pressured by white tourists into segregating the famous resort. Here are a few quotes from that paper:
“By 1887, however, Bradley responded by officially restricting all African Americans, both those who worked as well as those who sought to vacation in Asbury Park, from the beaches and other shore facilities. By posting signs throughout the community and stationing officers at pertinent shore locations, Bradley prohibited all black citizens from the beaches, bathing houses, pavilions, and promenades.”
“Viewing the shifting racial landscape throughout the nation, Asbury Park’s black leaders saw the resort’s emerging Jim Crow character as part of a disturbing nationwide trend toward racially-defined public and commercial boundaries.”
“Since Asbury Park served as a Diaspora for the North’s geographically-diverse white citizens, their protests against integration highlights the racist and unreconstructed sentiment of the North after emancipation.”
“As Jim Crow became permanently enforced * throughout the North and the South after 1896, these tensions would prove central to African American’s struggle for “integrated leisure,” which became an important part of the fight for racial equality and social acceptance.”
From the book Ocean Grove in Vintage Postcards by Bell and Flynn (2004,) Asbury Park was a segregated resort in the early part of the 20th century. African-American residents and visitors were not allowed to bathe on the city’s beaches between the Casino and Convention Hall.
“They had to use the so-called “black beach” located between the Casino and the North End Pavilion (OG).”
“Interestingly, Bradley, a devout Christian, initially resisted segregating Asbury’s beaches but finally he did so reluctantly.”
Blogfinger agrees with Mr. Stine, but, given the current political trends, will it come as a shock if somebody wants the Stokes statue removed?
We know that black workers were hired in 19th century Ocean Grove (and later) to work in the hotels and restaurants. They often stayed in segregated quarters, and there are old photos which show blacks posing with guests and other workers. We also know that black gospel singers and preachers performed in the Great Auditorium.
But we don’t know if African Americans came to the Grove for recreation such as the amusements at the North End, the boardwalk and the beaches.
We also don”t know if Ocean Grove’s leaders took any inspiration from the segregationists in Asbury Park or if they resisted segregation on moral grounds. Goldberg’s paper doesn’t mention the Grove. We do know that Stokes worried abut secularism, but we found no references to racial issues in his autobiography.
Ocean Grove in the 19th century was a white Methodist town, but that was due to their trying to establish an enclave for Methodists, so the Town tried to limit its home-owning citizens by excluding all sorts of groups including Roman Catholics, Jews, and blacks.
And can we call that racism since the basis of exclusion was not color but religion—-unless they did exclude black Methodists. It’s probably more like isolationism rather than exclusionism. It was more about keeping to themselves rather than keeping others out. And it is certainly not segregation such as Bradley is accused of.
Stokes is probably safe from the 21st century witch hunters who are prowling around the Jersey Shore.
If we can find any other information, we will post it. Meanwhile this seems like an issue which we should follow.
ALISON KRAUSS From the movie O Brother Where Art Thou: “Down to the River to Pray.”
“O brothers, let’s go down Let’s go down, come on down Come on, brothers, let’s go down Down in the river to pray.”
This page is from the F.W. Beers Monmouth County Atlas of 1873. It shows portions of Ocean and Shrewsbury Townships. Presented by Paul Goldfinger @Blogfinger. Click to study this map.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
When Ocean Grove was founded in 1869, there were very few towns nearby. Among the towns that did exist were Long Branch, Shrewsbury, and Farmingdale. In 1869, no one lived in what became Asbury Park. In 1871, Asbury Park was founded. Shrewsbury Township was subdivided into Ocean Township and Wall Township. Ocean Grove was initially part of Ocean Township. In 1879, Neptune was carved out of Ocean Twp. and was incorporated by the State of NJ; Ocean Grove was attached to Neptune.
Many places had different names then. For example Wesley Lake was Long Pond, while Fletcher Lake was Goose Pond. The road that we now call Route 71, ie Main Street, stretched from Long Branch to Squan (now Manasquan) and was called “The Turnpike.” Bradley Beach was called Ocean Pond, Avon-by-the-sea was still by the sea when it was called Key West, Belmar was Ocean Beach——but all those towns came after OG. Deal Lake was the Great Pond.
Ocean Grove consisted of dunes and trees extending from the Ocean to the Turnpike. The Camp Meeting Association team, led by Rev. Wm. Osborne, bought parcels of land from quite a few families, and it was a big job to stitch together and finance the purchase of OG since many land owners lived elsewhere, even in other states.
Look at the map to see a large dune, north to south, towards the southern part of town. Goose Pond (Fletcher Lake) was partly filled in to make room for more housing.
The first permanent cottage in OG was built in 1870, and by the time this map was made, there were many tents and cottages around town. *A large park-like area was called “Sea Drift Heights” and within it was “Gentlemen’s Walk.” It bordered Pilgrim Pathway and Main Avenue. It was near the Tenting Grounds and Church Square. Nearby was a “Ladies Walk.” Another large park was near Broadway and was called “Central Park.” Streets and houses ended at Delaware Avenue. West of there, near the Turnpike, was Evergreen Park which also bordered Wesley Lake. Stables provided parking outside the western gates. An ice house was also over there.
*The earliest map of Ocean Grove, from 1871, can be found in Ted Bells’ book Images of America–Ocean Grove. That map is titled Ocean Grove Camp Ground. Other old maps can be seen at the Historical Society of Ocean Grove on Pitman Avenue near Pilgrim Pathway.
HAVANA CARBO. OG isn’t exactly Paris, but you can substitute the names in your head. It’s a fine waltz.
The public is invited to view this Sandy exhibit at the Monmouth County Historical Association at 70 Court Street in Freehold, NJ. They are open from Tuesday through Saturday 10-4 until October, 2018. Parking is easy.
The exhibit is impressive, with slide shows, videos, oral history recordings, scientific explanations, and special displays. About 15 Blogfinger images by Paul Goldfinger were chosen largely because of our work in Ocean Grove. Most were seen in a slide show organized by towns. Another feature used 6 of our photos of volunteers at the OG beachfront. (see below)
One of our images was used large, (see below) depicting a Neptune Comitteeman, Randy Bishop, comforting a resident of Shark River who had to put out most of her first floor furniture and belongings to the curb. The residents were upset in large part because scavengers were showing up to take some of their curbside belongings. We will show some of our Shark River images from November 1, 2012.
Bob Bowné says, “Speaking of fishing piers… I have heard that OGCMA has been completely stonewalling the the OG fishing club pier and club house rebuild.
“Does anyone have any further info on this? What is the agenda here?”
Editor’s note: When Bob says “Speaking of fishing piers…” he is referencing his photograph which appeared earlier this year. Below is a link to that post:
The issue boils down to a more specific question: Is the Ocean Grove of 2016 a community of like-minded groups and individuals that would work together to block condo and commercial development at the North End?
A Grover who lived here in 1986 tells us that the many voices who pushed back against the South End project contributed in a significant way to the failure of that plan. But he doubts that we have similar conditions now.
Concept drawing 1986 of South End condo project, 7 stories.
THE SOUTH END IN 1986:
As you know from our prior pieces on this subject, in 1986 the Camp Meeting Association made a deal to sell their open beachfront property at the South End to a developer who would construct a 7 story, 53 unit condominium building at that location. The voices of those who had opinions about the issue were heard in the videos which we posted (see link.)
What is clear from the videos and some personal conversations, is that a groundswell of opposition was heard in 1986 which contributed to the defeat of the project. and we are now left with the beautiful open natural area which can be seen today near Fletcher Lake and the beach.
We also know that the State was claiming riparian rights, and the developers were finding that to be a formidable roadblock, but listen (below) to some of those Grovarian voices that were willing to speak up against the South End condominium Plan. Then ask yourselves whether there is any comparable push back today, 2016, from Ocean Grovers who want to block the North End Redevelopment Plan (NERP.)
We have also included below some local 1986 voices that supported the project. They may have opposed the citizens, but at least they were willing to speak publicly. Today, the developers are anonymous and never say a word to the public:
1986 quotes:
———-CMA President Truitt admitted publicly that this South End plan was because the CMA needed money to pay for the beachfront expenses.. He said, “We are trying to merchandise the property.” The CMA recruited the Schneider group to find a way to make money through development. Truitt said that “residents are concerned with preserving the historical beauty of the Grove which may be threatened by condominiums.” But he liked the plan design.
—–Ocean Grove Homeowners Association was represented by President Bill Benford. He said that the project is “totally unacceptable.” He voiced his concerns about density, bulkheads, storms, shadows and environmental issues. He said, “This structure is totally out of character for the rest of Ocean Grove.” Today the HOA stands in opposition to the citizens.
—–Norm Buchman, President of the OG Historical Society and a member of the CMA Board: “Many of our members object to this project. It’s too large..” He added, “I don’t like the project.”
—–Ocean Grovers come out in force. On January 28, 1987, over 200 OG residents met with the Board of Adjustment regarding their opposition to the project expressing concerns about the height, fire safety, congestion, blocking views and breezes, flooding, parking, foundation design and Victorian features. The next meeting was scheduled for February, but we don’t have those records.
—– A group of citizens got together and pooled funds to pay a lawyer who showed up and pushed back on behalf of the Grove.
—–Ed Handler, Grover worried that the plan “lacked the ambience of Victorianism.”
—–Business community. Owner of Nagle’s and resident, John Gross, was totally opposed and said so publicly. He spoke about the loss of air, light and open space. He said that there would result “a loss of quality of life.” Also said, “In the long run it would change the town and discourage visitors. OG would not be as attractive a community to live in.”
—–HPC (BAR) turned down the preliminary design. Then, no final site plan was ever submitted.
—–DEP claimed a “State riparian interest” because tidal water was involved. Fletcher Lake (aka Goose Pond) had, at one time, opened to the sea. The lawyer (Schneider”) said that this posed a major obstacle” and that he might have to sue the State.
—–An outside environmental group American Littoral Society fights/lobbies to protect shorelines. They were watching to see if the developers in OG were to get a NJ “coastal permit” for projects over 25 units. Their spokesman said, “Our reaction is very negative.”
—–Resident Kevin Chambers said that “the structure is out of place for the community.” He said that they would build “right on top of the dunes.”
—–Resident and historian Ted Bell: “OG is something very unique in the US (a planned community in the 1870’s) and has changed little over last 100 years.”
—–Resident Jim Garley of Broadway said, “I’m against the CMA for recommending this building.”
—–Resident Victor Burke said “This will definitely change the quality of life. We will have excess housing density and utility overload (more police, trash, electric and water)
—–A Fire Department representative worried about a “disaster” in a building over 4 stories.
—–The Board of Adjustment preliminarily said that the design was “inappropriate to the style and scale of Ocean Grove.”
—–Vito Gadaleta, Neptune Zoning Official: “Project violates zoning rules for historic and recreation zones—need multiple use variances.”
—–A developer from North Jersey’s Schneider Group admitted that Ocean Grove already has a “very serious problem with congestion” in the summer, but he denied that this project would make things worse. Yet he was willing to speak publicly about the matter. He also spoke about his “option agreement” to buy the land from the CMA. He admitted that he needs DEP and Zoning and Board approvals.
—– Architect for the project H. Robert Yaeger spoke out and defended the proposed sprawl along the South End Boardwalk, Fletcher Lake and Broadway.
In the end, the South End project was never approved.
THE NORTH END IN 1986:
CMA President Truitt also admitted in 1986 that they were planning a large building at the North End with over 200 units (4 times the size of the South End building). Some say that it was to be a nursing facility. He said that there would be a large increase in congestion.
It was never built for reasons which are unknown to us, but the CMA was willing even then to overload the North End, and so what do you expect now from them?
So, in conclusion, the Ocean Grove of 2016 is nothing like the activist community which existed in 1986.
Too many citizens and organizations in the Grove in 2016 are apathetic as they pursue their own singular agendas, with little interest in the town’s history and future.
The future of this town is endangered, and it looks like we have no cohesive community to stand at the barricades. If the NERP is built, the Grove will become a much different place. Do you want that?
I have experienced apathy in our democracy before. It happened in 1999 when corporate raiders tried to close a fine community hospital. They had no interest in what was best for the community, and the politicians were on the side of whoever showed them the money.
We went to Trenton where we met a brick wall at the Department of Health. The Governor’s office turned its back. We tried the NJ Medical Society, but they didn’t care. About ten local mayors joined us, but they had no real power.
But what hurt the most was the absence of community support by citizens who were too busy to get behind a hospital that delivered their kids and cared for their relatives and neighbors. In our democracy, the power ultimately resides with the people, but the people often don’t try to assert that power—they depend on elected officials, but they often fail the public.
We put together a community coalition, but only a small group actually turned out. We lost the battle.
In Ocean Grove I am seeing the same sort of thing. Citizens are too busy to do something to save our town. There are no leaders to carry banners, to demonstrate, to come to Committee and Board meetings, to pressure politicians. There are no activists (with a couple of exceptions.)
Did any of you see the footage of activism in the Ukraine when people risked their lives because they wanted freedom? That story is awe inspiring.
So is the story of the OGHOA from 25 years ago which showed courage and determination in the early 1990’s when they marshaled a variety of forces to turn the tide and bring the town back to recovery. Of course now is another story.
On Blogfinger we are trying to provide information and interpretation of what we see. One person is actually putting his personal money on the line to challenge the Township.
But based on the history in this town of elected officials ignoring state laws, favoritism for insiders/developers, marginalizing the taxpayers of Ocean Grove, and community organizations which are failing to address issues that affect the town’s future as a historic place, the slipping and sliding will continue, and this town may be OK in the future, but it will lose its soul.
The New Jersey Site Improvement Advisory Board (SIAB) will meet briefly on Thursday, December 17, 2015 in Room 129 of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. The meeting will begin at 10:AM and should be over by 10:30 AM. The agenda is attached.
Immediately following, the streets and parking committee will discuss the special area application for the Ocean Grove neighborhoodin Neptune Township, Monmouth County. This meeting should end by noon. If more time is needed for testimony, the committee will meet at a later date. Note that there will be an opportunity for public comments.
This is a chance for citizen activists to voice their concerns that an approval of the Neptune application might make it easier for condo conversions without parking to continue in Ocean Grove.
And,incidentally, Blogfinger will attend the meeting, and jack Bredin, our researcher will present a novel idea to the sub-committee. Some of you should come just for the shear spectacle of it all. Maybe the Home Groaners will show up along with other do-nothing representatives of OG’s citizens including the Township Committee.
NEW JERSEY SITE IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY BOARD. Streets and Parking Committee:
Meeting Agenda for Thursday, December 17, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
OLD BUSINESS
Ocean Grove proposed standards to be discussed by streets & parking committee
Take a look at the link below and pay attention to the permitted uses in the historic district, especially the ocean front area. This is what was submitted to the Federal Government in the 1970’s when permission was requested for the historic designation. What would they think now if they saw the NERP plan and the condos in that area?
Below is a portion of the above document (screen shot) which describes how the North End was when Ocean Grove was first developed—-this is the true OG history which should be emulated with the same spirit, including nothing residential east of the boardwalk and nothing west either, although a hotel was later built over there to the west.
Do you believe that “anything goes” when it comes to Ocean Grove zoning issues? Well, most Grovers do not trust the Township to do what’s best for OG. You might consider going to this meeting.
This is Part V of a series of articles about the North End Redevelopment Plan in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.
Since the OGCMA would have been able to develop the North End on its own, and since the North End was no blighted, crime-ridden, disease-laden, drug selling, rat-hole dilapidated slum in need of immediate rescue by government, why did the Neptune Township Planning Board fudge its way through the criteria in order to enable the North End to become a congested, money-making, commercial zone—-an “area in need of redevelopment,”—- which was not in the best interest of the people of Ocean Grove?
In the Resolution document they listed everything that was wrong over there that justified the creation of a redevelopment zone. Those were code violations which were corrected as soon as the CMA was cautioned by Code Enforcement. Thus the result was no code violations and thus no valid reason to declare the North End property an “area in need of redevelopment.” The CMA was perfectly able to work on that property itself.
To argue, as the Planning Board did, that there was some sort of emergency in 2007 is a joke. The North End in 2015 is no different than it was in 2007 except for some 2012 Sandy damage and a burned out storage shed from a few years ago.
Surely the Planning Board realized that the reasons they gave (including a few crummy abandoned unsafe buildings, a wreck of a swimming pool, over growth of vegetation, lack of utilization etc) were a joke and that the real purpose for the Township’s request was to achieve a dramatic change in zoning.
The Planning Board said that redevelopment at the North End was “necessary and overdue.” OK, why not tell that to the owners in 2007 and skip all the rest? Is the project still “overdue” or is it not convenient now to say “overdue?”
Whether there were hidden financial motives, we cannot say, but for the Planning Board to conclude that the positives outweighed the negatives; that a hotel and condos would be better for the whole town than single family homes, is clearly, to any objective observer, a hoax.
On February 28, 2007, at a meeting of the Township of Neptune Planning Board, the Resolution 07-12 was presented, and a motion to approve was offered, and a vote was taken.
Resolution 07-12 is a “Resolution recommending that the Township Committee of the Township of Neptune designate certain properties as being in need of redevelopment (North End Ocean Grove.”)
That 22 page document mentions all the experts and citizens who spoke either for or against the plan, all the dotted i’s and crossed t’s, all the photos that showed how crummy conditions were at the North End, all the lawyers who weighed in, and the sworn witnesses which included Peter Avakian, the Township engineer.
The Resolution papers also mentioned that there were those who submitted written objections to the Resolution including former Mayor Joseph Krimko (now deceased,) Richard Seltzer, Esq., and Edward V. Kolling, PP, AICP (professional planner.)
The motion to approve the resolution was offered and then 5 Board members voted “Yes” including D. McCarthy, M. Hood, J. Shafto, W. Lapp and M. Golub. The Resolution needed 5 out of the 11 Board members for a legal vote.
No one voted “No” but there were six members of the Planning Board who were absent: R. Ambrosio, L. Berardi, A. Cardinale, W. Gizzi, J. Kortenhaus and I. Calderon. Why were so many board members absent for this vote? Can you guess?
If Dennis McCarthy, a Trustee of the OGHOA had voted “no” or even, along with the six others, had not shown up, the Resolution would have gone down to defeat.
Finally, on page 19 of the Resolution, we have this quote:
“The Planning Board is of the unanimous belief that there is an immediate need for appropriate development in the subject North End/Ocean Grove (as referenced herein)— and that appropriate redevelopment is beneficial to the Township as a whole, and the residents of Ocean Grove.”
Editor’s Note: Here is a quote from an October 2012 editorial by Blogfinger: “We urge the people of Ocean Grove who care about preserving the charm, character and livability of this community to start paying attention to this process now…”
The Planning Board vote described above was borderline and was suspicious. Most members of the Board did not even vote. Eight years have gone by, and the current NERP should be trashed now, and the process, beginning with the Planning Board vote, should begin again—-this time with hundreds of Grovers attending the meeting.
Maybe this time we can get that “old black magic” working for the people of OG:
MICHELLE WILLIAMS. From the movie My Week With Marilyn
Credit: Mr. Jack Bredin of Ocean Grove for his invaluable research.
