Herald & Lantern 16 November '83

3

Dune Drive Proposals Back to Drawing Board

By E.J. DUFFY AVALON — Borough planners decided last week to rework rather than accept as proposed the John S. Sabatino Associates’ $2.5-million plan to redesign Dune Drive’s business district. “The plan is tabled, pending further review,” planner Phil Judyski confirmed. The planning board expects to come up with a revised plan “in a month or two,” he said. Backed by the borough Chamber of Commerce, the Sabatino plan called for nan-owing four-lane Dune Drive to two lanes along the 14-block business district (between 19th and 32nd streets), converting the inside lanes into diagonal parking spaces and bicycle paths, carving turning lanes out of the wide median strips and designating side streets one-way. According to W. Daniel Keen, chamber president, the plan was “not too well” received by the planners. “THEY OPPOSED the different aspects of it to some degree,” he said. “And people from the audience voiced some of the same objections though some were also for it. “It looks like they (planners) will now sit down and see what they can salvage from it,” Keen added, referring the plan they paid Sabitino $16,000 to draft. Both Keen and Judyski doubted the borough could come up with an alternative proposal in time to finance any part of the project from the 1964 borough budget. “We’re going to

thoroughly study it,” said Judyski. A special committee has been assigned that task, he added. “We’ll come up with something this winter.” Although Keen’s not opposed to altering Sabatino’s plan, “I would certainly hate to see them lose the essence of it,” he

added.

“The image, identity, boundary (concept) — that’s the big part from the Chamber of Commerce point of view,” its president continued. The chamber has supported Sabatino’s proposal, Keen explained, because it would slow traffic in the sprawling business district — a prospect which would discourage through traffic while encouraging motorists to shojJ there. THE ROADWAY design changes, coupled with displays of promotional fixtures etc., were also suggested by Sabatino as a means of visually as well as physically condensing the blocks of scattered businesses into a more compact shopping center. “We hope that they (planners) can -come up with something that will Accomplish this,” said Keen, “if not through the Sabatino plan, then through some other plan.” Several public hearings were held on the Sabatino plan and, although a state Department of Transportation official said it would meet all DOT requirements, some Avalon residents and officials were less than enthusiastic about the proposal. “Everybody seems to agree, something should be

dpfie,” Keen continued, “(but) everybody has their /own particular hang-up.” “Some didn’t like the two lanes, some didn’t like the island lanes running for two blocks....,” Judyski said of planners’ views on the proposal. “Some of them said they liked the plan...,” he added, referring to residents who attended the board meeting last Wednesday. Those who object to the design for narrowing Dune Drive into two traffic lanes argue that doing so will aggravate traffic congestion during the summer. “But that’s one of the objectives — to slow down the traffic,” said Keen. CHANNELING TRAFFIC from four to two lanes will inhibit motorists who use Dune Drive to simply pass through the borough from Stone Harbor to Sea Isle City, he maintained.

But the addition of signals, turning lanes, diagonal parking and one-way streets, he added, will make Dune Drive easier to negotiate for motorist who want to stop and shop in the business district. The improvements will also make the street safer for those motorists, pedestrians and bikers as well, he said. Because of its length and breath, Dune Drive has been a mercantile nightmare for the businesses scattered along it. For the past 15 years. Keen recalled, the Chamber of Comrfierce has been trying to get the borough to approve a plan which, when implemented would attract shoppers to the Dune Drive businesses by linking them into an specific district. “A lot of people don’t

Lung Test At Airport

HAMMONTON - The

Chest and Health Association of Southern

New Jersey, formerly the Ajmerican Lung Association of Southern New Jersey, has an-

nounced it will be rein- * stating free pulmonary

function tests for Southern New Jersey residents. A pulmonary function test measures the amount

of air a person can inhale

and exhale, detecting

possible abnormalities in *

breathing. With the client’s approval, results of abnormal and borderline tests are sent to local physicians for follow-up

medical assistance. The first of these tests, open to the public, will be Nov. 22 held at the Cape May County Airport inBuilding 55, located on Langley Road, Erma. Tests will be open free to the public ll a.m. to noon. Those interested in the test, must be referred by a physician. For more information about the Pulmonary Function Test Program' scheduled or the Occupational Health Program in general, contact the Chest and Health Association at (609) 561-8700.

open shops in Avalon,” the chamber president corpplained, "They go right down to Stone Harbor.” With its merchants located on or near 96th Street, the central access road to the Mainland, Stone Harbor’s business district commands higher rents

and front-foot assessments than Avalon, but offers more customers in compensation. Without some basic alterations to Dune Drive, the chamber contends. Avalon’s merchants will continue to lose business to their closest competitiors.

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