Dennis Resident Raises Campground Concerns; Committee Quizzed on Vacant Property Rule

DENNISVILLE – During the public comment portion of Dennis Township Committee’s April 25 meeting, resident Carol Donovan asked the governing body for its help to “better monitor” what is going on at a campground. 
Donovan said “We’ve been living with their abuse for decades and now they’ve cleared trees to build more cabins and three bathhouses. Is anyone from the township making sure that all this is OK?
“Neighbors are really concerned that with the new septic system and water line they are putting on we will be negatively affected. I am especially concerned because the campground adjoins my property.”
Tozer said he would look into whether the campground has an existing permit to build a certain number of cabin sites, including the new ones, or whether the campground owners should be doing more to follow township regulations.
Vacant Property Question
Another resident asked about the status and implementation of an ordinance which concerns vacant properties.
“I buy vacant properties and rehab them, but many times it takes more than two years for the bank to even sell it to you. And even though I might only have been the owner that day, I’m asked to remove an old trailer, for example, and pay a fine.
“I want to help the township with immediate rehab and also would like to get a list of vacant properties that might be available.”
In response, Solicitor Marcus Karavan said, “When properties are up for sale as vacant or for a tax sale, we publish the list from the township assessor. Regarding the ordinance, we are in the process of revamping this ordinance. There were a number of difficulties and questions regarding enforcement and the practical implementation that were raised especially by our construction code officials. So right now we are not proceeding with enforcement, and I’ll be doing a memo to the committee with options and how to evaluate these options.”
Fee to Serve Alcohol
The committee passed on first reading with no public comment, an ordinance regarding licensing fees to serve alcoholic beverages which will have a positive impact on the request of the Belleplain Veterans of Foreign Wars post to serve alcohol.
The committee received notification, according to Clerk Jacqueline Justice, of a suspected hazardous substance discharge.
“This notification has to do with the old Café 47 on Route 47 which at one time seems to have had a gas tank. The remediation company has on-going testing that it does and wanted us to have this report on file.”
Students Report
As an outreach, two sixth-graders from Dennis Township Middle School presented a report from the student government about its activities.
“Even though we were on spring break we still were very busy,” reported one student. “We handed out seeds for everybody to plant for Earth Day; we are working on a school dance May 5 with a Hawaiian theme; May 7 we are helping with the PTA’s Community Day and May 18 is our school concert.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.