Pine Barrens Talk

All You Can-Eat

Ad Banner Assertion Doesn ’tFly

(From Pagel) ty doesn't permit banner towing from the airport. He also asserted that a Federal Aeronautics Administration investigation conducted at his request indicated that the county has no authority to keep such a business out. According to Mr. Laws, however, banner towing has always been permited at the airport. He pointed out that until three years ager when Paramount Air Service decided to leave the airport and begin operating from a new site adjacent to the Garden State Pkwy nearer the beach, that firm had been towing banners from the county facility for some 20 years CONTINUING, THE manager indicated that banner operators are reluctant to operate from the airport for several reasons including the high cost of liability insurance and the distance from the beach. "Time and gas expense are major factors in the towing business," he said, noting that operating out of any airport with instrument controlled approaches." can be costly to banner towers. "He may get held up 5 to 20 minutes in a landing pattern before he can come in and pick up a banner," the manager explained. The issue of advertising banners came up at the Zbhing Board's June 1 meeting. Mr. Mason was denied a use variance to conduct his towing operation from part of a 168-acre tract located just south of the Cape May Canal — directly across from developer Carl Mitnick’s proposed 242-unit Tranquility Park development. LOCATED IN AN R-l residential zone, the property is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Previously the government had granted the banner towing firm permissionto use part of the tract, pending locqFapbroval. Mr. Mason explained that he planned to use the strip to pilk up and drop 4 to 5 banners each day during the summer months — having no more than one plane at the site at any one time. He said his flight pattern would be devised jn such a way that he would not fly over Schellengers Landing — located about a half-mile from the pickup site — or any residential areas north or south of the tract. Planes would enter and leave the pickup zone flying east or west. Continuing, Mr. Mason told the board that he had previously operated from the Woodbine Airport, but when gas prices began to skyrocket it became economically infeasible to operate from that location. He indicated that the tract near the Canal is the only parcel he has been able to find during a three-year search that is suitable for his business, noting that a preliminary survey of the area by representatives of the state Division of Aeronautics — who must approve the site before he can be granted a Ucense — shows the site to be viable for the herial use. BUT SOME 30 residents and local businessman were on hdnd at the meeting to oppose the proposal, charging that an aerial towing operation in an R-l residential district is not consistent with the intent of the township’s zdning ordinance. Attorney George James, who owns a home bn the north bank of the canal, strenously objected to the proposed site because of its close proximity to congested residential areas. Other residents — in- * eluding owners of motels within a half mile of the tract, and a representative of Carl Mitnick — expressed concern about potential noise and safety factors. Asked if noise would be a problem, Mr. Mason said the plans would make no more noise than a truck traveling down the highway. "Certainly there would be an element,of noise introduced. Whether or not you would hear it, I’m not certain," he asserted. ALSO AMONG THOSE requesting the variance be denied was Peter Berkowitz, general manager of Group W. Cable TV. He noted his company has a 253 ft. tower in the immediate area. "A towing operation anywhere near ufc is a hazard," he told the board, emphasizing that should an accident occur and the tower be damaged, service to some 34,000 cable subscribers could be interrupted. "We were moved there (present tower site) 16 years ago so we would be out of flight patterns," he said. "Now we’ll be back in one." And local farmer Jack Sayre told the' board that not only would such a business cause additional noise in the residential area, but to allow it in a residential zone would be in direct "conflict" with the township's zoning plan. " WE HAVE AN industrial park for this kind of business," he said. "The Erma Airport has to be made to handle this kind of situation." After listening to testimony for an hour.

the board voted 6 to 0 to deny the variance, noting no special reasons except for economic hardship were offered forwhy the variance should be granted. "There are no other special reasons." Mr. Mason acknowledged. "The special reasons for me is that I want to stiy in business and continue to operate the business I've been trying to operate for the last four or five years.” In voting against the proposal, board member Lionel Eatroff, former member of the local Planning Board, indicated that it has been the intent of the Planning Board to contain all aeronautic and flying activities to-the vicinity of the airport

New Prosecutor? WILDWOOD — Attorney John Corino is expected to be appointed later this month to replace County Prosecutor Donald Charles. According to reports, Charles notified Gov. Thomas Kean that he intehds to resign as of June 18. The prosecutor whose five-year term expired in October, announced last fall he wouldn't seek another term. Sources within the Republican Party indicate that Corino — who served as County Prosecutor from 1971 to 1976 — will be appointed sometime before June. 25. Corino currently serves as Lower Twp. Municipal Court Judge.

Union Vote Mon. CREST HAVEN - Employees in the County Vocational-Technical School District are reportedly going to have the . chance June 14, to decide by secret ballot whether they want to be represented by the New Jersey Education Assn, or a union called Independent. The election reportedly is being held at the urging of the NJEA, which has' been seeking to decide the representation issue by secret ballot since independent was designated to represent employees two years ago.

The One & Only (From Paige 1) 1 of the economy, but locally there is cautious optimism that with the new military development hA-e, the funds will be approved in time for the start of the project in 1984 OFFICIALS AT THE Coast Guard Center, meanwhile, recognize the impor tance-of their new responsibilities; they are now responsible for training recruits for the.entire fleet. The Center is capable of housing, 1,600 to 1,800 recruits at one time and (he biggest influx is expected in the summer when reservists report to the base and when enlistments are higher because of the better weather and high school graduations The first West Coast recruits began moving here April 19. The Alameda facility is now being used as a support center by the Coast Guard's Twelfth Deistrict/Pacific Area Command

Getting In (From Page 1) (jay’s meeting that would have given it cohmlete control over all development and zoning review in both communities. ACCORDING TO Mr. Moore, Upper Township and Woodbine — whose officials hare been among the commission's major critics — now have until Sept. 7 to comply. "We're now in the process of reviewing their existing plans." he said, noting that the extention to Sept. 7 is actually one for the commission so it can continue reviewing the existing plans. During this twomonth period the two local municipalities are als/> expected to review their respective ordinances, and attempt to bring them in line with the state's regional land use plan Mr. Moore indicated during an interview with the newspaper last month he was hopeful both Woodbine and Upper would take some kind of action by the original June 4 deadline so that decertification would not be necessary. If decertified, every application for development — even if for only one dwelling — would have to be granted Pinelands approval before it could proceed.

STONE HARBOR - The final spring meeting of the Garden Club will be held 10 a m. Monday-, June 14. in the firehdUse. The speaker will he Joseph I^omax. president of the Board of Directors of the Wetlands Institute and

owner of Lomax'* Associates, who will give an illustrated slide lecture' on the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and their effect on our daily lives Plans for the June cocktail party will be finalized

RIO GRANDE The Fire Company will hold an "all you can eat" pancake or egg breakfast 8am 12:30 p.m Sunday June 13. at the Fire Hall, Delsea Dr ut New York Ave

Now Open Daily serving •BREAKFAST •LUNCH •DINNER Dancing on Weekends ALSO FEATURING, IN THE COCKTAIL LOUNGE | JOHNNY ARNETT AT THE GRAND PIANO FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON (BEGINNING JULY 7) EVERY WEDNESDAY IN JULY AND AUGUST FASHIONS BY JOHN WANAMAKER 78TH t DUNE DRIVE AVALON, NX. 368-6156