STONE HARBOR – If Paul Revere were to ride again, this time through the borough on April 18, he might shout, “The library’s coming! The library’s coming!”
On that Wednesday evening, and again on Sat., April 28, the borough will host public meetings regarding three tentative locations for the branch library.
According to a release, Borough Council’s Library Location Committee has identified three sites as possible locations for the borough branch of Cape May County Library.
Those sites are:
• The original beachfront site between 94th and 95th streets on the borough parking lot, a site spurned by many residents.
• Seng Place on 96th Street, between First and Second avenues.
• Second Avenue between 93rd and 94th streets on borough-owned land purchased years ago from the late Mayor Arden Hand for $1 million.
At both hearings, it is expected that local and county officials will explain the virtues of each location.
“We carefully examined every inch of real estate in Stone Harbor and identified three locations where a branch of the Cape May County Library could be located,” stated Councilwoman Joselyn Rich, chair of the location committee. “Now we are asking the county to thoroughly examine these three locations to point out the pros and cons that each location offers to the borough and library patrons.”
The three-member committee met twice during February to identify potential library sites. Seven borough-owned tracts were considered and the committee determined that the three that were selected for further scrutiny, did, in fact warrant such a closer look.
The Library Location Committee considered many factors prior to narrowing the list to three possible sites, according to the release.
The criteria included accessibility, availability, adjacent uses, environmental concerns, on site and off site parking, infrastructure upgrade requirements, and constraints on building design resulting from size and property shape, the release stated.
The borough requested the county to hold two public meetings in the borough to fully discuss the sites initially selected.
Meetings will be held in the Fitzpatrick Meeting Room, second floor, Borough Hall, 9508 Second Ave.
The borough has requested a facilitator to aid the county’s presentation and also asked that three-dimensional renderings of the proposed building be applicable for all three sites to assist the public to better visualize the library.
“This process is transparent and encourages public participation, input, and dialogue involving residents, property owners, business community and borough leadership,” stated Rich.
She added that the group’s responsibility is to “present every viable option” for the library’s location in the community to make the “best decision based on facts and the wishes of our community.”
Public input is still being sought by Borough Administrator Jill Gougher regarding the library project.
Input can be emailed to her at gougherj@stone-harbor.nj.us.
Every individual who emails a public comment will be automatically added to a distribution list for future press releases and information related to the library project.
Official dates and times of public meetings will be announced by the borough on its website: www.stone-harbor.nj.us.
Wildwood Crest – Regarding transparency in CMC; they need to look to Atlantic County a few miles up the road. Their meetings start at 4pm and citizens can remote in from the County website and listen or even raise an…
