Bothersome Rio Bike Path Resurfaces; Should Middle Committee Expand?

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Committee meeting April 4 saw public comment period used for extended discussion of the next phase of the township’s bike path. The grand dream remains a countywide bike path that will allow enthusiasts to travel a unified path from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry through Upper Township.
The path is largely dependent on use of Atlantic City Electric right-of-way in many areas and is funded principally by county Open Space grants.
That dream is a nightmare for some residents who live along the planned path for this next phase. Construction of the new phase of the path, from Satt Boulevard in Whitesboro to the Cold Spring Bike Path in Lower Township, will take it across lawns and side yards for a number of homes along Railroad Avenue.
Residents turned out Jan. 20 to protest the proposed path. Many of them returned April 4 only to hear that there had been no progress in getting approvals for alternative designs.
Several homes along the path lease land that is part of the utility right-of-way from the electric company and have done so for decades. That land makes up part of their front yards, driveways, or side yards.
Residents mow grass, pick up debris and, in all ways, treat the land as part of their property.
For some that has been the arrangement for 40 or 50 years. Now they find themselves faced with a plan for a 10-foot-wide bike path that will cut through their lawns and driveways.
“It’s a helpless feeling,” one woman said.
One after another, a group of residents along the proposed path at times pleaded with, and at times scolded committee. “This does not have to happen,” said Ann Fitzgerald, “Please reconsider.”
Her husband John was more emotional and confronted committee saying they let “ego” get in the way of service to residents.
Following the January meeting, Committee member Jeffery DeVico met with residents and tried to broker a compromise. 
He announced at the April meeting that the utility rejected changes to the currently-approved plan. The utility has final approval of any plans that will make use of its right-of-way and has repeatedly stressed safety factors and access for its crews when evaluating any plans to encroach on the right-of-way. The current plan, which meets the utility’s requirements, is the cause of the homeowners’ concerns.
Nothing has been settled, yet the feeling on the part of many is that everything has been settled.
The township has not formally given the go ahead, but the goal of the bike path is not one anyone is likely to give up. Committee member Timothy Donohue promised to again go to county engineers about the possibility of moving the path closer to the street, but he held little hope of any approvals.
Residents were promised by Mayor Michael Clark that they would be notified of any upcoming meeting that would have the project on its agenda.
Expand Committee?
Mentioning a recent email from a constituent, Donohue raised the issue of whether or not the township committee should expand from three members to five. Noting that he is usually an advocate of less government, he still argued that the concept is a “discussion worth having.”
Donohue said that the township is the county’s largest in land area and one of the largest in population. “I find myself wishing that I had more time to devote to issues for the township,” he said.
He argued that more members might mean more attention to township concerns. “I am not saying I have decided on my position,” he said, “but it is a discussion we should have.”
DeVico agreed that it would be a “good discussion to have.” He noted that the current configuration of three members leads to easy shifts in control of the committee and may frustrate long-term efforts.
Rio Grande Crime
Crime in Rio Grande was also a matter of discussion. Responding to a question, Police Chief Christopher Leusner talked about the many efforts to combat the level of crime there.
Leusner praised the impact of the newly-reinstated Street Crimes Unit there. “This will be a sustained effort,” Leusner said. Leusner reported police are working closely with the Probation Department and Department of Corrections, two positive outcomes.
Police officers will know individuals on probation in the area or being released from state prison. Leusner’s comments were greeted with applause. He made it clear his goal is to get the word out to potential criminals, “If you come to Rio Grande and commit a crime, we are going to find you and we are going to arrest you.”
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.