Affordable Housing Institute : US

After all the kerfuffle generated by the USA Today article (and, much more importantly, AHI’s sequence of scintillating posts), the Highlands Borough council has rejected the developer’s request to rezone Paradise Park:

 

A divided Borough Council has killed a controversial rezoning ordinance, ending months of debate over whether the measure would have led a developer to wipe the bayfront mobile home park off the map.

The response late Wednesday from the emotional crowd that packed borough hall was instantaneous. Mobile home park residents and their supporters erupted into thunderous applause, some crying and others hugging each other as they poured out of council chambers in an adrenaline-fueled storm of relief and celebration.

 

Understandably enough, the residents led with their tearjerking ace:

 

Loretta “Lori” Dibble, who heads Paradise Park Homeowners Association, read a letter from a neighbor who feared he wouldn’t be able to retire at the quiet bayfront site, while Dawn Wolzein worried the zoning change would stop her from selling her home.

 

After a lengthy evening of emotional debate, the residents prevailed:

 

The council split along party lines, with Democratic Councilman John Urbanski casting the decisive vote to kill the proposed ordinance. It required four votes to be adopted, but netted just two.

 

As I’ve previously posted, rezoning and property taxation are ultimately local fights, and here too the question of optimal economic use divides the neighbors:

 

Some residents, however, stressed the zoning change could lead to new construction and the arrival of homeowners who would share a larger piece of the tax burden.

“Without ratables [Higher-valued properties. — Ed.], the town will die,” said Shore Drive resident Jim Filip, whose comments followed a lengthy discussion of Henry Hudson Regional School’s defeated budget.

 

Henry Hudson Regional Schools, “home of the Admirals.”

“Which way to the highest assessment?”

 

“I believe that the council has an obligation to increase the ratables in the community so that we do have a school system that can function.”

 

Interesting position — are city councilors fiduciaries with a duty to maximize earnings? 

If passed, the measure would have created a mixed-use zone along the town’s bay-front boundary with Atlantic Highlands that critics said could have led the way for developer Jim Bollerman to replace the roughly 55-unit mobile home park with high-end waterfront townhouses.

 

‘Critics said’?

 

 

There are times I despair of journalists.  Could anybody quarrel with the assertion that rezoning — whose sole purpose is to change permissible uses! — is being done to allow development?

 

 

Bollerman, who owns Paradise Park and a neighboring marina, made a rare public appearance in Highlands on Wednesday night to quash some of those rumors, stressing he hoped to work with residents on future plans for the site.

“Hoped to work with” is not exactly a binding commitment.

 

I’m hoping to work out a compromise.

 

In response, the residents’ pro bono advocate offered a sound policy answer:

 

“In this instance, zoning is being used to displace,” [Maria LaFace, deputy director of Ocean/Monmouth Legal Services] told the Borough Council.  “Let Bollerman seek a variance [for future development]. Let him do this the right way . . . Don’t displace your residents.”

 

The victory now gives the residents two critical benefits: (1) access to their statutory right to relocation benefits, and (2) more powerful still, a probable requirement that before the town may approve a variance, it must find there is a suitable place for them to relocate:

 

“Whatever happens at Paradise Park, the public will always have access to the waterfront,” the Red Bank-based developer told council members.

 

Not exactly a ringing Sherman forswearing all future development ambitions.

 

“If rezoned I will not subdivide; if subdivided I will not redevelop.”

 

That escape hatch did not stop the Asbury Park Press from crowing:

 

Vote likely saved Paradise Park

 

That’s way too optimistic, but thanks for playing!

 

At least Ms. Dibble can smile for a while.

 

Certainly it pleased the residents:

 

“God Bless America. Sometimes things work out,” said Paradise Park resident Donald Berenger, beaming as he threw his arms around his neighbors. “Sometimes, there are politicians with consciences.”

 

Conscience or political calculus?  Actually, the mayor smoothly straddled the fence:

 

Republican Mayor Richard O’Neil did not vote, as four affirmative votes were needed to adopt the ordinance.

 

“My vote isn’t necessary …”

 

Judging from this small incident, that man is destined for higher office!

 

“That’s one soft shoe for man, one step forward in my career.”

 

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