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Post by DooWopper on Feb 18, 2005 18:37:07 GMT -5
I read on the DWPL's site that one of their goals for this year is to get some kind of zoning law passed. Iv'e often heard about the proposed "Doo Wop Historic District", but where exactally would this be. I think I once read about somthing from the boardwalk to Stanton road, that may be wrong, but how many blocks back from the beach would it go. And do you guys think that it is possible they may get that passed this year?
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Post by FlyinGN on Feb 19, 2005 8:35:51 GMT -5
man, that would be fantastic!!
Frank
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Post by drewh14 on Apr 3, 2005 21:52:10 GMT -5
So has there been any word on whether this is fact or fiction.
I personally think this is where the League should get most involved.
With laws on the books what can be built can be regulated. Where is can be built can be regulated. And what it looks like can be regulated.
I think it should be bigger than a few laws too. Does anyone know the last time the towns of the Wildwoods updated their master plans? All of these things and more can be regulated in a master plan update.
Some examples of this can be seen in Hilton Head, SC another resort town. Some of the things I recall that they regulated were signage both street and commercial. All signs had to appear to be carved or made from wood. They couldn't be backlit or flashy and needed to be lighted by subtle spotlights. Same with street signs. Wildwood would probably want something closer to the opposite of this-more neon, etc but it can be regulated just like Hilton Head.
Another example is Hoboken where I live. Hoboken is going through the same thing as The Wildwoods except instead of affordable motels that the condos replace it's affordable apartments. Some activist groups have managed to turn some areas into historically recognized areas threw legislation to stop this. Also recently a new master plan has been developed that among other things designates what the facades of buildings should look like as well as building height. And many buildings because of activist intervention have, instead of being torn down, internally renovated leaving the outside in it's neighborhood feel.
Now most of these things are what can be done after the motels are torn down, but that's just the examples I've seen. If the DWPL were to hire consultants to draft legislation the city could then adopt we could add clauses that make it less profitable for properties to be sold and demolished and make it more beneficial to renovate.
If anyone has other examples in other towns or knows more about the legal specifics I'd love to get this conversation going past two posts.
Do we know if there are any council members sympathetic to us? Would they be willing to help sponsor this with us?
I look forward to everyones ideas and how to get going on this quickly.
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mig
New Member
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Post by mig on Apr 3, 2005 22:37:05 GMT -5
Hey- The "How to Doo Wop: Wildwoods-by-the-Sea Handbook of Design Guidelines" were written into Wildwood's Land Use Ordinance as reference last year. DWPL led this effort and our fantastic Mayor saw the importance of a preserving our sense of place! DWPL is currently speaking with NJ Department of Smart Growth about incentive zoning. We're trying to get the Doo Wop Historic District accepted by the Crest. The Great State of NJ already has recognized it for its national importance, but the Crest doesn't! We try but Wildwood Crest doesn't listen to us and continues to hold state record for the most demolitions in 2004. You can help by writing letters always, especially to the Crest and North Wildwood. Currently Wildwood Crest is reviewing their Master Plan which hasn't been updated since the 1980's. That's the zoning we're talking about.
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Post by MMM on Apr 4, 2005 0:36:31 GMT -5
What kind of responses are the DWPL getting from Wildwood Crest officials, regarding getting the Historic District to happen and preserve what we have? Does there seem to be any progress that you know of in this, and also in their reviewing/rewriting/etc. the Wildwood Crest "Master Plan"? Do they sometimes not respond at all? Do any of the officials seem to be responsive to the guidelines and preservation? What is the most important thing right now that (in your opinion) needs to happen to preserve what we have? What/who is our biggest "roadblock" (so to speak) in getting this all to happen in Wildwood Crest? (A lot of questions, I know - thanks in advance ) I am very impressed with the DWPL book/guide and its contents/philsophies/etc.. Wildwood Crest should be proud of what they have - I don't think some people in prominence in Wildwood Crest realize what they have. "They razed paradise and put up a cheap condo"...
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mig
New Member
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Post by mig on Apr 6, 2005 22:18:20 GMT -5
Interesting that the County saves 21 acres for the birds and Wildwood Crest can't save our heritage for humans. What's wrong with this community!!!
March 31, 2005
Former industrial site transformed into bird habitat By RICHARD DEGENER Staff Writer, (609) 463-6711, E-Mail
LOWER TOWNSHIP - "It's for the birds," said Steve Green, as he rolled out a coconut fiber mat over a mound of fresh dirt at Higbee Beach early Wednesday morning.
Green may not have fully understood just how true his statement was. Green, a worker with Armco Construction, of Philadelphia, said the mats being used to cover 21 acres of newly sown ground would keep the birds from eating the seeds and prevent erosion until the plants take hold.
What Green may not have known is the product of those seeds, a seaside meadow of eight different types of grasses and flowering plants, will someday be a virtual smorgasbord for migrating hawks, northern harriers, short-eared owls and other birds of prey that migrate through the tip of the peninsula each fall.
The grasslands will produce rabbits, mice, moles and many other tasty tidbits for the birds. It will do this on what had been a barren wasteland of white, alkaline dust, a material made up mostly of magnesium and dolomite from an industrial plant that once operated here. The plant closed more than 20 years ago and nothing has grown from the white moonscape.
The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, which understands the importance of the site for migrating birds, decided to undertake one of the largest land reclamation efforts the state has ever attempted. The DEP is doing this with a material that has gotten its share of bad press. The state used 222,000 cubic yards of dredge spoils to cover the white dust before planting eight different types of seeds.
The dredge spoils had been stored for years along the Cape May Canal, where rains had washed out the salts. Though still acidic, it is being mixed with the alkaline material to create the right pH for the grasses and flowers being planted.
"We dug up the top layer of the material that was there and integrated it with the new material. There is a minimum four feet of cover on the whole site. This is what we call beneficial use of dredged materials," said Ben Keiser, supervising engineer with the DEP's Bureau of Coastal Engineering.
While dredge spoils trucked here from Stone Harbor last year led to lawsuits between the two towns, in this case the township has not opposed the project. The state purchased the Sunset Beach property in 1999 to enlarge the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area.
"Before they started, they sent us a courtesy copy of the permits and the plans of what they were doing. Nobody had any opinion of it. It's state property," said Township Manager Kathy McPherson.
Keiser said the material was tested and the chemical analysis came up clean. An added benefit is that the removal of 222,000 cubic yards of spoils from the canal site is finally allowing a project Cape May Harbor interests have wanted for decades. There is now room for 102,000 cubic yards of material that will be dredged out of Schellenger's Creek, Spicer Creek and Devil's Reach later this spring. Keiser said this project just went out to bid with Barnegat Bay Dredging submitting the low bid at $626,000. Marinas and boaters have complained about the clogged waterways for decades.
The dark dredge materials have been spread over 21 acres at the former Harbison-Walker Magnesite Plant, which arose in World War II to produce the refractory bricks that lined furnaces used in wartime steel production. The plant extracted minerals from seawater to make the bricks.
Armco Construction, under a $1.9 million contract, trucked in the materials and contoured them to make rolling hills overlooking the Delaware Bay. The shape of the meadow was a joint decision with the DEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The great height was partly to keep phragmites reeds from moving in.
"Rolling hills are the best natural terrain for plant and animal species," Keiser said.
Armco planted a mixture of seeds that will sprout at different times. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resource Conservation Service helped with this part of the project. Types chosen include switch grass, Canada wild rye, salt grass, evening primrose, and partridge pea. All are native species.
Workers on Wednesday rolled out 110,000 square yards of biodegradable "coconut erosion control blankets" to cover the seeds. The stakes are also biodegradable.
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Post by FlyinGN on Apr 7, 2005 5:39:29 GMT -5
Im trying to locate in my head exactly WHERE is site is. Sunset beach?? I don't recall seeing any site like this near there.. Anyone know where this is?? Is it near the 2 mile inn crab house??
Frank
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Post by wildre on Apr 7, 2005 7:12:46 GMT -5
Frank, Sunset Lake, in Wildwood Crest near Duffy's on the Lake. Then there's Sunset Beach down in Cape May where the cement ship is, down by the Lighthose. They have a wonderful sunset Flag ceremony every evening. Here's the website. www.sunsetbeachnj.com/
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Post by FlyinGN on Apr 7, 2005 9:52:15 GMT -5
ahhh I was thinkin of the wrong sunset ... Should have thought sunset beach instead of lake. Its in cape may.. Thanks.
Frank
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Post by Al Alven on Apr 7, 2005 11:30:50 GMT -5
Yeah, I’m all for, uh, birds and all, but come on!
Isn’t there already a gigantic bird habitat in Stone Harbor?
Anyway, the way things are going, they’ll be building bird house condos at the new preserve within a few years. The “upscale” birds will dictate the market.
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