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Too Many People & Not Enough Jobs

(From Page 1) don’t have thousands of jobs.” ACCORDING TO Ms. Bieberbach, proper development of Diamond Beach, the "Gold Coast", is a key for providing the ratables necessary to offset increased costs of providing services to a sprawling community. "I feel that is the place we could really develop with motels, condos and things that would be basicafly seasonal and bring in very high ratables," she said. Pointing to adjacent Wildwood Crest, the Committeewoman indicated that is the way Diamond Beach should develop — with emphasis on motels and seasonal facilities. "It would help the economy and help the business people.” she said, noting that fewer municipal services would be required in a seasonal environment than is needed in a year-round situation. "IF WE COULD GET the ratables to balance out the services we could keep the tax rate perfect... keep it the same." Ms. Bieberbach asserted. "Our taxes could remain the same for years and years and years. There’s other communities that have done it." But according to the Committeewoman, there are apparently provisions in the township's comprehensive development plan — as enforced by the local planning and zoning board — that make it easier for someone to build a single family dwelling on an undersized 50 x 100 ft. lot than it is to obtain the go-ahead for a viable commercial development. "I’ve had people say to me that the building of commercial establishments is being deterred because of some of the restrictions," she said, adding that it's "very, very easy" to have an application for a single family residence approved. ONE OF THE major problems Ms. Bieberbach sees in the township’s overall development is what she refers to as "zoning by variance." She has repeatedly argued that restricting development on 50 x 100 ft. lots — and those even smaller — “would be a large contribution to controlling growth." "I've never been opposed to those who bought lots years ago {that met standard size at the time], have been paying taxes on the property for years, and now want to build here," the committeewoman said. "All they should have to do is walk in and be able to get a variance ... with the least amount of trouble." What she objects to is the developer who has recently bought the lot from the individual property ownef at a minimum price and then approaches the zoning board to obtain a hardship variance to build on the property. "THE DEVELOPER and Realtor know in advance when a lot is undersized." she emphasized. "They don’t have a right to get involved in it." The committeewoman asserts that the zoning board of adjustment has been granting far too many hardship variances. "I oppose the idea of some that there should be no reason to stop them (building

homes on small lots) because this is the kind of development already in the area," she said. "You can't say this for every vacant lot there is — because if you do, you’re going to have urban blight. "I can see a lot of congestion problems because we’re overcrowding in certain areas,” she went on. "I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to Lower Township in the next 20 years. I think we’re going to have urban blight. People are going to move away, homes arc going to be boarded up and grounds are going to be unkept QUESTIONED WHETHER the township needs additional low income, subsidized housing, Ms. Bieberbach indicated that what is needed is some more "subsidized programs, not subsidized housing." Although acknowledging the important benefits of subsidized housing in helping young people and those in the low income brackeLs get started in owning their own homes. Ms. Bieberbach emphasized such projects aren't suitable in an area which can already be characterized as ’ economically depressed. "Where are the people going to make the money to make the loan payntents?" she asked. Continuing, she said that the tOWttkMjK already has plenty of low-income housing available, mentioning specifically Cold Spring and Town Bank Manor Apartments. She added it is impossible for th rest of the taxpayers to continue having to bear the burden of paying more taxes to cover those not collected from subsidized housing residents because they fail to make payments.' ALTHOUGH CRITICIZED at times for her refusal to go along with suggested changes in the zoning plan — a document that took the planning board 24 years to hash out and which the township committee is still amending — the committeewoman told the newspaper that overall she views the development ordinance as "very good." "It will be beneficial to the community," she said. As she sees it, the benefit of the "ex- , elusive" zoning concept — a plan that calls for similar kinds of development to be included in the same zone — is that, "with restrictive zoning you can plan exactly what will go in an area so that all pf a sudden you don't have a single family residence in the middle of a commercial zone." ACKNOWLEDGING THE township zoning plan provides for a good variety of land use. Ms. Bieberbach noted, however, that compared to a few years ago, there isn't quite as good an overall mix. As an example, she pointed out that farmland is rapidly disappearing. The Committeewoman contended that if she had her way. an agricultural zone would be created — one that would restrict land use to Terming purposes only. "I still think we have one of the best communities around.” Ms. Bieberbach said. ‘T’ve lived 17 years in the county and I’ve never felt any more at home than here. The people are great and you can

Noise Code Has ‘em Hollering

(From Pagel) at the meeting to express their opinions. Fire Chief Wister "Barney" Dougherty, former chairman of the city Planning Board, said there is a fine line between what is considered excessive noise and normal noise. He contended he can hum on the street corner and with his loud voice he ban be heard jW feet away. "Anyone in this room could be guilty of violation of the ordinance," Dougherty said. He called for a postponement of the adoption and asked that Council reconsider on the grounds the ordinance is too excessive. But former Mayor Bruce Minnix applauded the ordinance and said it is needed. "To delay the ordinance while it is reworked leaves you with no tools," the exmayor said. ATTORNEY Charles Harriton, representing Carney’s Tavern on Beach Dr., called the ordinance entirely subjective and said it gives* the tools to every citizen to object "to any kind of noise simply because they don’t like the noise." Robert Myers of 10 Jackson St. said he strongly supports the ordinance. "The character of the town is at stake,” he

declared. "Many taverns have created an atmosphere not unlike Bourbon Street in New Orleans." Equally as strong opposition came from three Beach Drive liquor license holders. Patricia Carney, Jules Hober and Robert Menz. They opposed a requirement that taverns must close all doors and windows if they are found to be spurces of noise violations. WHEN AN ORDINANCE opponent said If people live in a commercial area they must pay the consequences, he was greeted with loud applause from his sup^ porters and groans from the pro-ordinance people. Another woman said: "We're not against music at all. We’re against music that hurts." Mayor Blomkvest said the new ordinance will jjive the police department more tools to handle the problems of noise. He stated that many times people don't like to sign complaints because they must appear in court. Now, he said, a policeman may sign a complaint himself if the office deems the noise too loud. HE EMPHASIZED that the city doesn't want to harass anyone, but does wish to retain its quiet, family resort atmosphere "Cape May is a nice place to live and we're going to keep it that way," he added. In abstaining, Councilman Gilbert said he js fully aware of the problems that exist, especially on the streets off Beach Dr. but that he was inclined to think the ordinance isn't definitive in many areas and needs restudying.

count on your neighbors "There’s a tot more I’d like to see us offer, "I thimk our community here offers but that will come about by controlling our quite a bit for its size,” she added, growth."

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