Beach Haven officials host public forum on proposed ordinance to restrict construction vehicles from parking on public streets

Photo via Santoro Building
Local officials consider a compromise with construction
workers as they continue to help the town rebuild.

The rebuilding effort post-Superstorm Sandy has created a mix of emotions for people in Beach Haven. A handful of local residents, contractors and business owners recently attended an open discussion regarding a proposed ordinance restricting construction vehicles from parking on public streets. Councilman Charles Maschal and Sherry Mason, borough clerk, sat down with the public at the borough emergency operations center on Wednesday, March 19.

Many of the people in attendance said they did not think it was prudent, during this rebuilding time, for the town to adopt the regulation. Others expressed their opinion in favor of the proposed ordinance. A large residential construction project that has been in progress since before the storm and has received some backlash was at the forefront of the conversation.

“This is really where this all began, this extremely large construction project on the beachfront on Fairview Avenue,” said Mason. “These large construction vehicles have been parked on the street really for almost two years.”

The public’s concerns were not addressed at the meeting but simply taken under advisement. There was no discussion between Maschal and the public about how to compromise.

“He just really wanted to hear what they had to say, and that was it,” said Mason.

Councilman Edward Kohlmeir arrived later to sit in for the remainder of the meeting, which was “very orderly and quick” and lasted about a half hour.

“The council will have to decide if it is worthy of regulating an entire town for one particular situation. I don’t know how big of an issue in their mind it really is,” said Mason.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.