By BILL BARLOW/Special to the Sentinel
UPPER TOWNSHIP — The president of the Strathmere Improvement Association pushed for more community input on township plans for potential changes in parking rules and other matters now under consideration for the beachfront section of the township.
Speaking at the Jan. 25 meeting of Township Committee, held remotely, Linda Bateman of Strathmere sought to set up a Zoom meeting or other remote conference with members of her community organization and a township subcommittee considering changes in Strathmere.
Among the items under consideration is the potential imposition of beach tags in Strathmere, currently one of the few ocean beaches along the Jersey shore that does not charge a beach fee in the summer. The committee is also looking at parking regulations, an issue that jumped to the forefront after members of the Strathmere Volunteer Fire Company raised concerns about cars parked on either side of some narrow streets, potentially blocking access for some emergency vehicles.
At the January Township Committee meeting, Committeeman Curtis Corson, who is also on the subcommittee, showed no interest in setting up a meeting before a recommendation is made to the full five-member Township Committee.
He said his telephone number and email are posted on the township website and that he has heard from multiple residents already.
“I don’t know what else we can do. I don’t see the subcommittee having a Zoom meeting. I don’t believe it’s going to happen,” Corson said.
At times, the interaction at the meeting seemed tense, with Bateman at one point describing herself as flabbergasted by the response. She compared the likely reaction to a new proposal to what happened with an ordinance amending Strathmere zoning with an aim of reducing density. That ordinance was delayed by about a year when multiple property owners denounced it at the public hearing, a required step that takes place just before the final vote.
“Without input, we’re back to where we were with the building ordinance, where people in town turned on people on the committee because they felt they hadn’t been consulted. They haven’t been brought along,” she said.
Township Committee member Ed Barr, also a member of the subcommittee, promised that they were taking a comprehensive approach to the matter.
“We are looking at the public safety issues right now,” he said.
Strathmere residents raised concerns about overcrowding and parking over the summer, both along a recently created bike lane on Beach Drive, known in Strathmere as Commonwealth Avenue, and on streets in the north end of town.
Corson had expected to have a report on the subcommittee’s work ready in January, but meetings were delayed. The matter is likely to be discussed at the next meeting, planned for Feb. 8.
“I assure you I will have a report at the next meeting,” he said. “I will be ready to report to everyone on the 8th. We could put it on as an agenda item under new business or I can bring it up during reports.”
Any changes to parking rules or to beach access would be discussed at a public meeting before being implemented, Corson said. If the change requires an ordinance, that would be introduced and advertised, with a public hearing before a final vote.
“The public is going to have ample opportunity for input. Are we going to make everybody happy? No, somebody’s going to be upset. Some people are going to think we didn’t do enough, some people are going to think we did too much,” Corson said.
But township attorney Dan Young added there could be some issues to resolve before involving the public.
“There’s a possibility that there could be some negotiations in contracts,” he said. “I’m not sure that it’s mature enough to have a public hearing that could impact our negotiations. There is an enforcement angle that has to be done by the State Police or some other enforcement entity.”
At previous meetings, Corson has suggested towns in the Wildwoods plan on introducing beach tags. He said Strathmere would not want to be the last beach in Cape May County without beach fees, fearing even more crowds. Bateman questioned him on that assertion, asking him if he confirmed that beach tags were heading to the Wildwoods.
“No I haven’t,” he said. “I heard it was up for discussion and they’ve been talking about it.”
Contacted after the meeting, Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron confirmed that the towns in the Wildwoods have discussed requiring beach tags, primarily as a source of new revenue, but that discussions were in the early stages. He was certain nothing would be in place for 2021.
Corson said at the meeting that he had only heard from township residents on the mainland so far, with most commenting on the possibility of beach tags.
Bateman said she has not broached the topic with her members, describing it as a hot button issue. She added that if the parking were better under control, beach tags may not be necessary.
Corson did not want to see more delays, he said, including for a virtual meeting with Strathmere residents.
“The can gets kicked down the road farther. Another three or four weeks nothing happens and the next thing you know we’re into Memorial Day and we haven’t done anything,” he said.
Bateman said Strathmere residents would want more details about something that will impact their properties. As far as Corson is concerned, that will not happen before the matter is presented to the full Township Committee.
“I have a serious problem with taking it from a subcommittee to a citizen’s group without my colleagues finding out what’s happening,” Corson said. “Then they’re going to be fielding phone calls about something they know nothing about.”