Cape May County Herald, 22 July 1981 IIIF issue link — Page 1

At Worst Intersection Get Ready for Traffic Lights

News Digest

The Week's Top Stories

LOWER TOWNSHIP - Traffic signals were turned on the Blinking mdde Monday at the newly revamped intersec^oh of Route 109 and Ocean Drive on the north side of the canal bridge near Cape Mdy. BiU the Fbng awaited traffic lights aren’t expected to go into full red-yellow-green operation until early August. In the meantime, officials are complaining and motorists continue having accidents at what is considered one of the worst intersections on the Jersey Cape. Since the first of the year there have been 13 accidents in the area — 4 within a four-day period alone last week. That is, reported: most (the very minor ones) aren’t. Since the Route 109 canal bridge was erected in ^the mid-1960s the screeching of tlres\ gnashing of teeth, heart flutterings and so-called fenderbenders have been commonplace at the heavily traversed intersection. It’s located near the end of the Garden State Parkway where southbound motorists have the op(Page 18 Please)

Toxic Proximity SWAINTON — A recent report compiled by the County.Health Dept, and the County Planning Board reveals that some 14,000 residents drink water from wells, located within a three-mjle radius of a tox waste durflp located here Included in this radius is the Crest Haven Complex, two schools and the county park The study results have been forwarded to the stale Dent of Environmental Pri> lection to provide figures necessary in its attempt to obtain federal funding to clean, up the contaminated dump off Siegtown Rd An earlier request from the DEp for federal funding to clean up the site was tmmed down Funding is provided under t*federal superfund bill. * Pkw. Strike Still Some 750 toll collectors and maintenance, workers remained off the job earlier this Wqek after striking Garden State Parkway employees turned down thr> latest offer from the N.J. Highway Authority. The employees, on strike since JulfrZ, arc seeking parity with their counterparts on the N.J. Turnpike. According to one source, N the union members rejected to $1,40 wage hike over two years which would havq brought the average toll collector's pay up to $9.42 ah hour Temporary employees have handled toll collecting without major problems; the most noticeable effect of the strike being litter and .unattended trash receptacles at parkway rest areas. Last Call 2:30 a.m.

Campground in Meadows Touted by Attorney

by Bob Shiles S. CAPE MAY - Although the township’s new zoning ordinance specifically designates the South Cape May Meadows as a conservation district, a proposal to use as much as 60 acres of the environmentally sensitive area for a campground has once again been aired before the Lower Township Planning Board Representing Middle Motor Court Inc., attorney Mike Fiarulli of Cherry Hill appeared before the board July 14 to argue that zdning the area conservation — which prohibits campgrounds as a permitted use — denies the owner economic use of his

property. Middle Motor Court Currently holds a purchase option with the owner of the 150-acre tract, Yara Engineering Corp. of Elizabethtown. •I THINK THE CONSERVATION designation effectively deprives the owner economic use of his property,’’ the attorney said. “My opinion is that this would require some compensation to the owner. '' As proposed, the campground would occupy about 60 acres of relatively high ground located in the vicinity of Sunset Blvd. and the Cape May Point State Park. The rest of the 150-acre tract would be conveyed to the township for open space.

’Camping facilities would be used only during the summer — the rest of the year land would be left undisturbed for use by fall and spring migratory birds. "We feel a campground is the most consistent use with this area and what the township wants." Mr Piarul|i said, adding that with development of the tract, other property values in the area would increase. He also emphaslZed'yiat the increased cost benefits of development would encourage the state and federal governments to target money into the (Page 18 Please) T

County Landfill, Transfer Sites Picked

SWAINTON — A site on. the Upper Township/Woodbine border was unanimously selected last Wednesday as the location for the new interim sanitary landfill in Cape May County In choosing what is designated Site 17, the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority agreed it has the best combination of factors contributing to good sanitaev landfill engineering. “I concur with the staff, consultants and Cape May County Planning Board's recommendation that Site 17 answers the needs of the county and is the least disruptive," said MUA chairman John Vinci. “It is the highest elevation of all proposed sites, has the greatest depth to ground water and is the most accessible, causing the minimum traffic disruption. Environmentally and in cost effectiveness, the site also was the leader."

SOLID WASTE COORDINATOR Theodore O’Neill, dn recommending Site 17. told theauthorjfy, "considering the impacts on water quality, transportation, Idnduse and the community, this site is the most desirable. Our consultants, Pandullo Quirk Associates and the Cape May County Planning Board also recommended the Upper Township/Woodbine location." The former Menhaden plant site on Rt. — IN OTIC E — Effective immediately, the deadline for placing classified advertisements wHI be 3 p.m. Friday for the following Wednesday’s publication. To place class ads, call 967-3312,

47 between Middle and Lower Township was also chosen Wednesday's the location of the solid waste transfer-station. Communities in the southern part of the county will deliver refuse to the transfer station. It will then be moved by lareer vehicles to the interim landfill. "The fact that the menhaden site is already owned by the MUA. and is very accessible led us, to conclude it is the best transfer station location." Vinci remarked. IN A RELATED development, the authority directed its staff to make ap plication for a state grant to secure equipment and a facility to begin recycling papVr % glass, and aluminum. "The MUA is committed to developing a source separation program. Bight municipalities have already agreed to par (Page 18 Please)

Hughes Hits New Boat Tax

WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Bill Hughes (D-NJ) has sharply criticized a proposal now pending in Congress to impose a new, three percent tax on boats and certain boating equipment At the same time, Hughes has called upon the administration to turn over to New Jersey and other states funds which have been collected through a four cent per gallon tax on boat fuel. These funds were earmarked by Congress to finance state-run recreational boating safety programs, but the administratioa has not yet distributed them to the states. SPEAKING AT a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife

Conservatidn, Hughes said the new boat tax proposal, and the withholding *of revenues from the boating safety piogram, are ill ebneeived and unfair to the toating community. "I am extremely disturbed that the boating industry is being asked to absorb an increasing share of the nation's tax burden," Hughes said. "This excise, tax, the proppsed Coast Guard user fees, and the existing tax on fuel for motorboats add up to a tremendous »tax burden on the boatirig industry." THE SOUTH JERSEY lawmaker made his remarks in response to the so-called "Dingell-Johnson Expaasion Act." which

SEA JSLE CITY - Officials here decided last weekdhat the last call for local taverns will tontinue. at least for the summer, to be 2:30 a m / City Commission had contemplated passing an ordinance that would <set the last call dt 2 a m., but decided against the move when several tavern owners opined such action would result in unjustified economic hardship. The Commissioners had originally prdposed the change in hours as a means of dealing with the large numbers leaving the bars between 2:30 and 3 a m Praise Young Hero MIDDLE T\yP 12 year old Billy Bramble was lauded by the Township Committee Thursday night for saving his father's life duripg the June 18 fire which gutted their Stone Harbor Blvd home The yotfhgstor was playing in the-base-mept with his 8 year-old brother and friends whim the fire began, unnoticed, upstairs. His father was asleep in an upstairs bedroom, and Billy ran thru a wall of flarhes toawdken him after first , leading the c'hildren out of the basement ' (Page 18Please)

i£ currently pending in Congress. That bill would create a three percent tax on boats under 25 feet in length, as well as on outboard motors and trailers. The revenues generated by this tax would be used to help finance State recreationa|^,fishery proHughes said the fact that some boaters use their crafts for fishing does not justify the creation of a new tax, particularly one which would impact all small boaters for the benefit of recreational fishery development. He said the "Dingell-Johnson" bill and the Coast Guard user fee proposal amount to nothing less than new taxes on recreational boaters

75 FT. LONG treated limbers being driven into the canal floor dwarf contractors working on the $1.5 million job to provide n new ferry berth at the North Cape May terminal for the newest bay liner. The fourth berth-is scheduled to be completed In November;-in lhe meantime, the MV New Del. will be moored In one of the two operating berths.