Avalon Residents Continue Opposition Against Proposed Hotel

AVALON – During a relatively routine meeting of Avalon Borough Council Sept. 10, residents used the public comment portion “to go on record” voicing opposition to a proposed hotel complex at 21st Street. Wearing blue T-shirts emblazoned with “No 21st Street Hotel,” the residents spoke of Avalon as a place for families, a quiet and safe town with no need of such outside development.
The developer of the proposed boutique hotel project, a planned 38-room complex with an upscale restaurant and banquet facilities, has held an exploratory meeting with residents to gain feedback on the project. Located outside the area zoned for hotels, the complex would require zoning variances.
As a preface to the public comment period, Council President Charles Covington provided a detailed understanding of the process that would be taken with an application for those variances.
He noted that no application has been filed and that if one is, the most appropriate place for residents to take objections is to the Planning-Zoning Board. The likelihood is that the council would not be involved in those decisions.
A number of residents voiced concerns anyway. Many concerns over parking, noise and public intoxication, were expressed at the pervious council meeting. The new element in the discussion was a claim that opposition groups had enlisted support of “hundreds” of residents including those who do not live in the area of the proposed project.
If the allegation is true, those are big numbers in terms of Avalon politics. In the May 2011 municipal election, with Mayor Pagliughi and Council members Covington and Dean running unopposed, 245 of 1,330 registered voters participated. While any election with actual opposition might increase the participation rate, Avalon is a small municipality where a group of concerned voters can have a disproportional impact.
In a discussion following the meeting, Business Administrator Scott Wahl reiterated that no application from the developer has been filed.
“Do we expect one,” Wahl asked rhetorically, “if the borough receives an application it will be considered by the planning and zoning board.” Wahl explained that any application will be reviewed for completeness.
“There is a 45-day period for review,” he noted. If there are corrections needed, the application would have to be resubmitted and there would be another 45-day review period.
Following review, the zoning board would hold hearings and the public would have an opportunity to voice opinions on the project.
Members of the zoning board are appointed by the mayor in Avalon’s mayor-council system of government.
Sand on the Beach
Wahl reported on his recent participation in a meeting of the Jersey Shore Partnership which was held in Long Branch. The partnership is an advocacy organization with a 20-year history.
Founded after the 1991 “Halloween Storm,” the organization is dedicated to efforts to convince state and federal governments to protect and replenish New Jersey’s shore line.
Their campaign is built around the many social, recreational, environmental and economic benefits of the Jersey shore. The current level of state funding, around $25 million according to Wahl, is not sufficient to the task and the organization is seeking to raise awareness of the need for matching funds.
In a related issue, the working session of council discussed strong opposition to New Jersey Senate Bill S-648 which would require towns that accept Government Assistance for Beach Replenishment to have free beaches. Covington explained that it costs the municipality about $1.4 million annually to maintain the beaches. Wahl noted that the sale of beach tags bring in only about $1.1 million.
The bill does also dedicates “two percent of taxable receipts under the sales and use tax collected in the shore municipalities to the shore municipalities.” Covington invited citizens to “do the math,” saying that such a move would not make up for the sale of tags. Any deficit in the beach utility must come from the general funds according to Wahl. The impact of not selling beach tags would be significant.
Recognition for the Paper Peddler
The Paper Peddler, a long-time business here with 46 years of operation is closing down and council and the mayor took time to recognize its many acts of service to the community. A victim of changing times, the Paper Peddler found itself selling what people no longer bought – books, print newspapers, camera film and similar items. Even lottery ticket sales were declining due to competition from the nearby WAWA.
Owner Craig Cunningham and Deborah Martinelli were both on hand for the presentation of the proclamation by Councilmember Nancy Hudanich.
The plaque, which listed many contributions to the Avalon community, was presented to a standing ovation from the council and residents in attendance.
Cunningham thanks the council and expressed his mixed feelings at closing. One positive outcome he did note is that “Debbie and I will not miss getting up at 5:30 each morning.”