By Committeewoman Mary Beth Jahn

Greetings, folks! Spring has wafted into Neptune and deposited an approved North End redevelopment plan, a countrywide economic recession, and absurdly inflated fuel prices stabbing us in the wallet. It seems that spring 2008 has usurped winter as the season of our discontent.

Of the three aforementioned items, the one that was most personal and most disappointing was the approval of the North End travesty...er, plan. It is tiresome to hear lip service given to historic preservation, the concept of being good neighbors, and tales of impending economic woe when all three topics plus more are thrown out the window when they become obstacles.

According to the Zoning Board records, it was determined that this plan had negligible public benefit in 1989 and 1990, and in my opinion, it has even less now.

What's next? A South End hotel at Broadway and Main? Converting the tents to townhouses? Nothing would surprise me at this point. Time tells all stories; it will tell this one, too. Ugh.

On a positive note, there are good things brewing in Neptune. Two visioning sessions for the proposed Transit Village for the Bradley Park section of Neptune were held, with some great feedback from residents. Now, a Transit Village does not mean we're building a parking garage across from the Bradley Beach train station! Transit villages, as defined by NJ Transit and the Department of Transportation, promote walkable neighborhoods and increasing the amount of and promoting the use of public transportation.

The township is now looking at pursuing grants for streetscape projects, like better sidewalks, curbing, lighting, and street trees. It also involves the use of an overlay zone to convert light industrial zoning to residential and commercial, if the owner desired, to allow better opportunities to develop or sell, if they so choose. That's the key phrase -- IF THEY SO CHOOSE. We want to allow property owners to do, or not do, with their property as they desire.

The streetscape project in Ocean Grove has been a real asset, and we hope the one underway in Midtown will be, too, when West Lake Avenue redevelopment and streetscape are completed.

Speaking of West Lake Avenue, a busload of citizens, MURC members, the Mayor and myself traveled to the NJ Economic Development Authority Meeting in North Brunswick on Tuesday, April 8 to hear the Credit Committee recommend that the funding for the West Lake Avenue project be approved by the full EDA board. Not only was the recommendation made, but a full percentage point was dropped off the interest rate and the EDA deferred its fee to make this happen. (HUGE thanks to Mayor Bishop for making the right calls to the right people to eliminate the red tape!) Commerce Bank has already approved the bulk of the funding for this project and is eager for the loan to close. If all goes well, we may see a groundbreaking in June or July, and another one for Ridge Avenue later in the summer.

Staying on the topic of Midtown, MURC will be holding their annual Beautification Day on Saturday, May 10, and no matter where you live in Neptune, we want you to come out, join the party, and show your support for our neighbors in Midtown!

Ocean Grove Academy Bus commuters, breathe a sigh of relief: rumors of the demise of service to Ocean Grove are greatly exaggerated. There was a problem with buses on Central Avenue; however, Academy worked with the Neptune Police Department and have rerouted to alleviate the problem. As a matter of fact, service to Ocean Grove and Asbury may increase - good news in this time of exorbitant fuel prices!

The foreclosure crisis is hitting close to home, and Neptune Township wants to help our residents keep their homes. The Neighborhood Preservation Program is sponsoring a workshop by the Affordable Housing Alliance on how to avoid foreclosure and work with your lender. Seating is limited to 30 and the workshop is free. If you or a friend or neighbor needs help figuring out their options, please call Ollie Jordan, Neighborhood Preservation Program Coordinator, at 732/988-5200, x298, to reserve a seat! MURC will be presenting a first-time homebuyers' seminar on a date to be determined in June.

With groundbreaking approaching on the Ridge Avenue project, this is a great opportunity for those who are interested in entering the lottery for those Neptune-affordable units to find out what they will need to purchase a home. As soon as there is more info, it will be passed along to the Record.

Switching gears, let me throw something out there for your consideration: what do you think about the township acquiring the empty lot at the intersections of Routes 33 and 71 to build a parking garage? The county has offered the use of a rubber-wheeled jitney to run into the Grove - similar to the old Belt Line - and it would offer some parking relief during the summer and for special events. We might even be able to use it as a park-and-ride for the Academy bus year round, to make it pay for itself. I'd love to hear your thoughts and concerns on this, and any other ideas you might have.

E-mail me at mjahn@neptunetownship.org - I promise to read all comments and suggestions and to bring them to the Township Committee.

Regards, Mary Beth Jahn
Committeewoman > Police Commissioner Neptune Township