Residents must help maintain neighborhood
On Feb. 13, residents of Ocean Avenue north attended the City Council meeting to communicate to the council members our disapproval of Strollo's Lighthouse outdoor food establishment from moving to our residential block. We highlighted the negative conditions that would impact all of the residents and visitors of Seven Presidents Beach Park. There would be constant noise and traffic seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. There would be crowds of Strollo's customers lined up 100 deep, crowds seated in the proposed outdoor eating areas, radios blasting, customers backing out into a street of walkers, joggers, children in strollers - with little or no regard for the residents of Ocean Avenue North.

Strollo's Lighthouse doesn't bring any value to our block; it does, however, bring the dismal prospect of living next door to a constant outdoor party - a party that starts in April and doesn't end until October; a party that gets more crowded and noisier as the night progresses. This would occur at the same time the residents of Ocean Avenue north are retiring for the night so that they can get a restful sleep, get up early and go to work. We fully understand that the City Council cannot influence the decisions made by the Planning Board of Long Branch, but we felt that is was important that the City Council hear our concerns and objections regarding the application for Strollo's outdoor food establishment.

Most recently we learned that on July 9, the City Council president had asked the planning department to review the zoning in the RC-1 Beachfront Mix zone. This action by the City Council president demonstrates that we're not the only ones concerned about "commercial" establishments on residential blocks.

As per the request of the City Council president, the planning department has reviewed the zoning in the RC-1 Beachfront Mix zone and offers the following in order to allow for the desired "mixed" nature of this zone and still maintain the character of the established residential areas within this zone. The following additions to the RC- 1 zone requirements are suggested:

ORD 345-28 - Add to subsection E additional requirements subsection (2) to read "The establishment of any new stand-alone commercial/ retain/food uses shall be prohibited unless they are located adjacent to and abutting an existing stand-alone commercial use."

ORD 345-110 Beachfront Mixed Zone Chart - add to other requirements and supplementary notes the following, "Beachfront Commercial uses 345-28-E-2."

We respectfully ask that both the City Council and the Planning Board adopt these additions to the RC-1 zone requirements and move swiftly to prevent Ocean Avenue north from becoming a boardwalk, to preserve and maintain the character of one of the last residential historical blocks left in Long Branch.

Show your support and join us at the next Planning Board meeting March 18 at 8 p.m.

Evelyn Allison

Long Branch