Redevelopment Zones in Cape May = Anti-Small Business Areas – Developer Welfare
Redevelopment would be terrible for small businesses in Cape May. Cape May has become the envy of so many other towns. Its success has been shared by many entrepreneurs and small business owners who make up the back bone of this community.
We should thank our local Zoning, Planning and HPC, and all the volunteers that over the years have turned Cape May into something truly special, authentic and like no other place in the world. No, we have not always agreed. But the overall results have provided many folks with a nice mix of successful businesses and a good quality of life for our citizens.
This success has been noticed by several investors and developers who would like to take advantage of our hard work. We need council members who recognize our town’s worth and recognize the hard work so many people have put into it.
What does a Redevelopment Zone do?
Bottom line, it provides incentives for developers like:
- Takes away the right of a public referendum – meaning, after a Redevelopment Zone is made, the public cannot stop it. Even plans aren’t disclosed before.
- Tax abatements for 30 years.
- No bid contracts.
- Avoidance of existing Zoning, Planning and HPC.
Why is a Redevelopment Zone in Cape May bad for existing businesses?
A Redevelopment Zone would force existing Cape May businesses to subsidize new competition. Not only would this new competitor not have to play by the same rules that we do (Zoning, Planning and HPC), but WE, the business owners, would be subsidizing their endeavors.
Duplication:
A plan that was the origin of the Redevelopment Zone not only had taxpayers paying for a new City Hall, a new Fire House and the Police Station to be moved to make way for the new development, but also new retail with over 30 stores. Do you think those new 30 stores would all be original? Do you think none of those stores would be gift shops, coffee shops, restaurants, hotels… and yet with a Redevelopment Zone, we would be subsidizing our new competition.
Redevelopment Zone areas do NOT use locals:
Look at examples of Redevelopment Areas across the state. They don’t use local contractors, realtors, plumbers, electricians, etc. While many of us local business people are proud to support our local construction and real estate people, they are rarely ever used in Redevelopment Zones.
Don’t let a simple three-person majority take such far reaching and anti-small business actions.
I believe our City Council should be fighting for our existing businesses and our hometown, not fighting for Developer Welfare.
Ask not what we can do for developers, ask what we can do for Cape May.
Vote NO for redevelopment. Vote for a Cape May business owner. Vote for Zack Mullock.
Ordered and paid for by Friends of Mullock for Council, 1149 Lafayette St., Cape May, NJ 08204
