A Sharp Contrast Residents of Atlantic Highlands should take some pride and appreciation for one of their residents, Mark Fisher. They should also heed attention to information he so carefully learns then generously spreads to all are interested.
Fisher has no desire to run for any office, it seems. He has no political ambitions, happy as he is with his recreational activities and his efforts with the volunteer fire department. But it is obvious he certainly loves his hometown, follows every aspect of its growth and future carefully and does all the research to ensure he has all the facts. He even knows how to get all the facts if they are not made available to him through regular requests.
That is in sharp contrast to the Mayor indicating there is no need for the borough to get the opinion of residents on whether they want Sea Bright to be part of the regional school district.
It’s in sharp contrast to not getting updates on what’s happening with the Mother Teresa school property or the impact of all those new houses under construction along the waterfront, complete with oil spills.
It is in sharp contrast to the planning board setting aside a late-night half hour to hear a building owner explain what he wants to do with a building, one that has never endeared itself to the town since it was built a little more than five years ago. The owners sent packets to all the planning board members at least a week before the meeting. They did not pay any fees, give any notices to neighbors, or include the public in any information.
The building owners simply wanted to informally find out how far the planners will let him legally break the law before they spend a bundle of cash on officially presenting ideas for ten apartments, more stores, an indoor garage and brewery storage.
Even though it was informal, those testifying did not have to swear to tell the truth, and neighbors did not have to be informed; even those present at the meeting were told they would not get a chance to ask any questions or give any opinions. This was a matter just between the planners and the property owner, not the public.
The lack of transparency in so many areas makes the astute citizen even more curious, even more certain he has to pass information to residents who are not getting complete transparency from their elected or appointed officials.
The latest news Mark Fisher has learned concerns the next plans for Kalian, the contractor who built the large complex complete with apartments and shops but little parking on First Avenue. The contractor who has plans for a similar building next door, once the little but very popular liquor store and deli are torn down.
Kalian is scheduled to appear at the September 5 planning board meeting with proposals for the Masonic Lodge property.
Fisher, ever curious, dug deeper into the story before the meeting and has come up with a lot of information on Kalian’s need to secure variances to build what he wants with the approval of the town.
Which brings me back to legally breaking the law. That’s exactly what variances are.
The borough establishes regulations to meet the vision they have for the future of the borough. If someone wants to build something that isn’t within that vision, they appear before the planners, explain their ideas, answer a lot of questions, occasionally make an adjustment or two, and then, more often than not, are granted permission to break the law and go ahead with their plans.
Last year, the planners allowed the laws be broken on the west side of town. Someone purchased the fireman’s field house property. Then the new owner, who did not have to buy the land at all, decided he wanted to do something with it which was against the law.
On the property he had just purchased, the new owner wanted permission to build three houses where the borough regulations said should not be more than two.
He came to the planning board, answered all the questions, and boom, the planners gave him the variances, the right to break the laws, not for the enhancement of the area, simply because he as the new owner wanted to do something with the property the borough laws had said would not be a good idea.
So now, it’s Kalian who apparently wants to do the same thing.
He wants to put up not one or two, or even three single family houses but FIVE homes, each on lots the borough laws say would be too small. The news isn’t official, but if Fisher says it comes from a reliable source, he has a lot of confidence it’s accurate.
It also brings up another questions. By approving those smaller lots last year, has the planning board set a precedent that can be argued by every other person in the borough who wants to build undersized lots?
Where does it end?
When do the borough laws take precedence?
If the Kalian information is accurate, the neighbors within 200 feet will most likely be notified….it’s a requirement of anyone who wants to break the law in this manner to inform them officially.
So it is up to residents to show up for that September 5 meeting to hear the whole story, hear why five houses creating five undersized lots, would be an improvement for the borough, an improvement good enough to toss out the borough laws and legally create something that would also create the need for future variances, more permissions to break the law.
