Auction A Main Topic of Discussion at Committee Meeting
The parcel of land - at 1111 West Bay Avenue - was most recently owned by the now-bankrupt Shoreline Sand and Gravel
A 110-acre development parcel that will be auctioned next week was on the minds of the Township Committee and residents in attendance at the regular meeting last night.
The parcel of land - at 1111 West Bay Avenue - was most recently owned by the now-bankrupt Shoreline Sand and Gravel and will be auctioned off by Sheldon Good and Company through a court sale.
Attorney for Shoreline Sand and Gravel, Shoshana Schiff, of the law firm of Trenk, DiPasquale, Della Ferra, & Sodono, said in a press release about the auction: “The auction sale of this property is the most efficient and cost-effective method of liquidating the asset. It offers tremendous value to the buyers, and ultimately benefits all involved in the process.”
Some residents in attendance called on committee members to work with the Township Planning and Zoning boards to rezone the area as completely light commercial, but the property, as it stands now, is partially residential, including senior and nonsenior housing. The property was designated as an area in need of redevelopment last spring, which, will give the township a "substantial" amount of input once a bidder is named, according to Township Administrator David Breeden.
The site had been used by Shoreline for extracting and distributing construction materials. Breeden said that there are outstanding violations from the state Department of Environmental Protection and Pinelands Commission on the site, so cleanup will be needed once a bidder is found.
Barnegat resident Jake Taylor raised the issue of whether funds could be used for open space, but Mayor Al Cirulli countered that the funds that were remaining in the open space fund - $300,000 - would not scratch the surface of funds needed to obtain the parcel. Bidding is expected to start at $600,000.
Committee members also took the opportunity to address some in town who raised the issue that open space funds had not gone to the very purpose that they are named for - preserving open space - going first to recreation instead of preserving open space.
Both Cirulli and Breeden noted that the voter-approved 2001 referendum on open space had several aspects, including recreation, historical preservation and farmland.
"The township has been using those moneys in accordance with that referendum," Breeden said.
The auction of the parcel will take place on Monday, Sept. 24, at the Trenton United States Courthouse located at 402 E. State Street. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the auction will start at 10 a.m. For information about the auction, please call 800-532-7120 or visit www.AuctionBarnegatNJ.com.
john taxpayor
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I doubt the sand banks of that pit will ever grow more sand and become safe again to walk around or build a park by .Only thing that can be here a place for kids to get hurt or killed.....state should have stopped the digging years ago...
Howard Effron
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
This is an interesting scenario that played out here. Here was the perfect opportunity to use the "open space" money to preserve open space and stop future development of residential property in our town. But the fact that we blew all of the open space money on the Lower Shore Road project, that will not be possible. The 5 people and Mr. Breeden can keep repeating that the open space money was used in accordance with the referendum, but the fact still remains that the town strongly voted down a recreation tax of 1 penny per dollar. So our committe found this "loophole" and exercised it against the will of the majority of the people in this town.
Now I am not anti-recreation, but take a ride down to lower shore road and take a look at what is going on down there. It seems to me that the 6 year old turf is not going down as nicely as is should. What we have now is a new football field size curb filled with a gravel base. I hope this doesn't turn into a tremendous and expensive mistake. I understand that most of the labor is volunteer, but the hard goods and equipment costs money.
What about Bob?
12:17 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Give us a break Effron. Your ego has hurt Barnegat more than anything. You lost... badly. Now go the way of your election blog.
Howard Effron
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
continued... This has been going on down there for a year now and not one game has been played on that section of the Lower Shore Road "recreation" area. Meanwhile, right next door at the Jr Bengals area, children and families are enjoying the fruits of thier labor and having fun on an old time grass field.
So in closing, the bottom line is this. If our committee wasn't so fast to spend all of the open space money on this project that hasn't produced a day of recreation for the few that will use it, the open space money could of at least been used to attempt to buy this parcel of 111 acres and stopped the development of more potential residential housing in our town that in turn would help all. I do say attempt, because I have no idea what this will sell for. But I will guarantee that some developer will be bidding heavy on this with dollar signs in thier eyes!
Sal Sorce
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I was always under the rules
that land of this usage and
condition had to be remediated
and put back to a reasonable
condition as when ANYONE
who was provided such a permit
and LAND USE AGREEMENT?
WOULD A BIDDER BE UNDER
THAT CONDITION?
OCEAN COUNTY GOP RULES
ARE FOR THE BLESSED FEW!!!
Sal Sorce
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
There was a recent developer
who dropped out of an agreement
and left the township with a
Performance Bond of about
$2+ MILLION ... YEARS AFTER
THAT SIGNED AGREEMENT
AND FACTORING IN THE METRICS
THAT TOWN CANNOT REMEDIATE
OR COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT ...
LEAVING TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS
WITH THE TAB ...
AGAIN FAVORED DEVELOPERS
ARE GETTING WHAT YOU AND
REGULAR FOLKS WOULD NEVER
BE PROVIDED ...
VOTE THOSE BUMS OUT OF OFFICE!
APPARENTLY IS DOES NOT A PARTY
AFFILIATION FACTOR BOTH ENJOY
THESE DEAL$$$$
Sal Sorce
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Last night while watching our
Televised Channel 22 Comcast Manahawkin
Township meeting, I was shocked to see
our township Engineers presenting a plan
to FIX an area of Ocean Acres.
For many years developers were allowed
to build and build and build and build
many homes with basements that now
after all the flooding and apparently flawed
land usage ... NOW at the expense of ALL
residents an over $2 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT
HALF PAID BY Ocean County and the recent
back off of land development and the fact
that such a flood condition under DEP rules
a system can perhaps be completed ...
IS THIS SILLY SEASON OR WHAT ???
THE PLAN CANNOT BE DONE UNTIL
ALL NECESSARY PLANS AND PERMITS
ARE ISSUED ... THAT COULD BE A YEAR
OR SO = BASED UPON THE TOWNSHIP
ADMINISTRATOR ... AND MAYOR ...
$$$$$ AS I PROJECTED OUR COSTS TO
LIVE IN STAFFORD ARE GOING TO GO UP!!!
Actually all of those homes that were allowed
basements have their OWN storm water basins!!
Sound familiar??? A developer is offering basements
in their new homes in BARNEGAT !!!
Sal Sorce
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
OH YEAH !!! FORGOT THE NOW 10-YEAR
STORM FACTOR HAS REPLACED THE 100 YEAR
AND THE CARL BLOCK 500-YEAR HISTORIC
STORM A FEW YEARS AGO...
WERE THE AREA INDIANS FORECASTING THE
WEATHER? OR JUST PLAIN OLD CANOEING
GET A KAYAK .. OR JET SKI NEAT FOR
STORMS ...
DID ANYONE SEE LIGHTHOUSE FLOODING???
LOOKED LIKE MOTHER NATURE WAS
TELLING US SOMETHING?
Capt Jacobsen Mey
11:33 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
So, it's said at the meeting and even in the article that Open Space Funds can be used for Historical Preservation. So, the. bigger question is why isn't the Cox House being restored with those funds? That IS a major significant historical structure to Barnegat.
Sounds like the Open Space Funds account is being used as a slush funds account where any schmo can dip into it and use those funds for anything OTHER than what those funds are really allocated, based on actual State guidelines.
I'm sure others will agree - Barnegat does NOT need another residential development, a senior development OR a Section 8 zone...
Oh - speaking of funds - its nice to see the Barnegat PD has purchased (4) Brand new Ford Explorers - funny, because in a previous Patch article, it was stated there was only enough money to equip EXISTING vehicles w/ new technology AND to buy (2) new vehicles - with what was $86k.... (4) new Police vehicles, plus equipment to outfit each, plus exterior decals is certainly a bargain deal for the price of 2... Because the cost of the 4 vehicles alone exceeds $86k...
Who's fleecing who in this town.
Mac
2:44 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Since when are we allowed to bond for police vehicles? I thought they were considered standard operating expenses, like pencils and pens, that had to be purchased with available money from the general fund.
Diogenes
1:07 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Howard is correct in his assessment. The Open Space Fund has never been used for open space but is a slush fund to be used for a few pet projects to satisfy the desires of a few vocal individuals. Most individuals that voted for this fund were under the impression that the intent was to protect and set aside land for the benefit of the entire community. It is now being conveniently interpreted as exclusively a recreation fund.
God Bless America
1:56 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Colleen, why is my comment still "Pending" while others are free to post. God Bless.
Colleen Platt
1:57 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
God Bless America,
Please check your email, I contacted you offline. Thanks - Colleen
God Bless America
2:43 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Colleen please explain to me and your readers why this quote from your story...
"Both Cirulli and Breeden noted that the voter-approved 2001 referendum on open space had several aspects, including recreation, historical preservation and farmland.
"The township has been using those moneys in accordance with that referendum," Breeden said."
And the fact that the statement is not true based on what the money was actually spent on. Landscaping in front of town hall. A barge for Pirates day fireworks , Garbage bags, ect., is a violation of your TOS???? Thanks and God Bless.
Colleen Platt
2:59 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Your first comment was flagged for violating our terms of service, this one did not. Again, I direct you toward your email for further explanation. Thanks for reading - Colleen
Mike Howard
4:15 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The Open Space Fund has been used for everything but OPEN SPACE. So far, about $600,000.00 has been spent on the mess down at Lower Shore Road. And it is a mess. Take a ride down there and see for yourself. As far as the Cox House I say Barnegat should return it to the County or to the family that gave us that "white elephant".What a mess that poor house is. Right now there is no electric hooked up to it. The roof is in need of over $125,000.00 worth of work which Barnegat Taxpayers can not afford. Go inside, another mess. I'm just estimating but i'll bet $500,000.00 wouldn't put a dent into the repairs the house and out buildings need. The Committee bought the Police cars, not the Police Dept. The two ex-mayors voted to bond for over two million dollars to pay for items they wanted to buy, including the Police Cars. The town bought the 4-wheel drive cars, not for the reasons they like to state, but they can bond for this style car and the Taxpayer will be paying for them for about 13 years. We'll be paying for these cars long after they are no longer servicable.
Mac
6:22 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
So what you are saying is instead of paying for four police cruisers at the special government rate of around $100,000 or so, using budgeted money from the general fund, we bonded at least twice that amount because of a loophole that doesn't recognize SUVs as standard police vehicles subject to COD principles? Hasn't it been standard and responsible procedure throughout Ocean County, at least in the past, to replace a percentage of the police vehicles each year out of each year's budgets? Why is it that this township can't be upfront with how it pays its bills? If the police need a dozen SUVs, then buy them. However, pay for them in a responsible manner, one that has worked well for decades. That is what government is supposed to do, right?
Capt Jacobsen Mey
11:53 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Mike -
Your info is always valuable. Thanks.
If the Cox house is in disrepair, the question being - how come the Open Space Funds are not being used to preserve it, since it is of Historical significance to the town? More so, the $600k spent on Lower Shore *could have been* allocate for such repairs at the Cox site (OR other sites/areas of the town).
I'm also not saying the $600k should have been spent directly on the Cox house, BUT as we all agree, the funds are being spent frivolously on things in and around the town of which by definition, are not applicable to THAT fund. Agree?
Also, don't we as Tax payers have any say or vote with regards to buying new SUVs for the Police Dept? Not saying the dept is not deserving of replacement vehicles, however based on the prior Patch article, it appeared due to funding constraints, Barnegat could only afford (2) new vehicles AND equip EXISTING w/ updated equipment for $86k.... Now there's (4) brand new Explorers badged to Barnegat. Where did the $$$ come from to cover that cost and how did 2 turn into 4? What was wrong with the existing fleet vehicles?
The town can't say on one hand "we need to cut services and employees" then on the other spend like crazy on non-essentials with the other hand. How many sports fields does Barnegat really need, seriously?
God Bless America
12:57 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Colleen could you please clarify that the following quote from your story is an accurate statement based on the facts...
"Both Cirulli and Breeden noted that the voter-approved 2001 referendum on open space had several aspects, including recreation, historical preservation and farmland.
"The township has been using those moneys in accordance with that referendum," Breeden said."
For some background please go to this Patch story and to see what the open space money was actually spent on.
http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/articles/barnegats-open-space-fund-spending-criticized-by-resident
Is the above quote from your story factually correct, based on what the Patch has printed in the past? Is landscaping in front of town hall the proper use of our money "in accordance with that referendum," ??? Also could you tell us why the fireworks for Pirates day were canceled this year? Did it have anything to do with the fact that (according to the story in the Patch) thousands of dollars have been taken from the open space fund and spent on this event?
Thanks and God Bless
Colleen Platt
1:07 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Hello God Bless America,
For information about pirate's day, I'll direct you to this story I wrote before the event. http://barnegat-manahawkin.patch.com/articles/avast-ye-maties-pirate-s-day-kicks-off-tomorrow. As for your other question, as reported in the story, the "in accordance with the referendum" was the response Mr. Taylor received from the township committee during the meeting. If you have evidence that it was not a factual statement, I would like to discuss it further with you, off the comments section. You have my email address. - Colleen