| Author | Message | ||
     marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 115 Registered: 9-2001 |
Art, What happened at last night's hearing? p.s. For the record, while we've disagreed online, I too support the B&B. | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 2047 Registered: 5-2001  |
I support Art, too. It seems as though there's only those three couples who don't! | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2489 Registered: 9-2001 |
Marian, I'm not sure which meeting you’re referring to? Last night I was at the Maplewood Men's Glee Club rehearsal for our Spring Concert... which by the way will be held on May 8, 2004, at 8PM, at the SOMS. This will be our best concert ever! I know there were several other meetings around town I couldn’t attend, one being for the upcoming visit by the world acclaimed musician and composer, Janet Albright, from Germany and Virginia. Ms. Albright was commissioned to write a symphony for our two towns, which will be part of an all day, town wide celebration on July 3, 2005. I’m pleased to have the honor and privilege of having her as my guest during part of her stay here in Maplewood and South Orange, during the next 18 months. She will be touring the town collecting material, and also visiting with various other artists, performers, musical groups, and musicians. Maplewood was selected as one of six communities nationally to participate in Continental Harmony, a community-building music project sponsored by The American Composers Forum. For further information, please contact the Community Coalition on Race at 973-761-6116. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2210 Registered: 1-2003  |
Thanks, Art. I put both of those events in my calendar. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 118 Registered: 9-2001 |
Whoops! Sorry, Art. Got my dates mixed up and thought the Board of Adjustment meeting was last night. Now I realize it's next week. | ||
| algebra2 Citizen Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 1652 Registered: 5-2001  |
I love having big outdoor keg parties in the summer. I like to have small (but loud) BBQs on Friday night. I sit in my screened in porch and watch TV LOUD. Can my neighbors try to kick me out? | ||
| SO/M Community Coalition Citizen Username: Coalition Post Number: 97 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thanks Art, for generously hosting Janet Albright in your beautiful home. You have always been so giving to the community! I posted an invitation under the Arts and Entertainment heading for the community to meet Ms. Albright on March 7, 4 - 6 pm, at the 1978 Gallery (1978 Springfield Avenue.) There's also a link to more information about the Continental Harmony project, and an invitation for participation. I hope you and Libby will be joining us too! Barbara | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2492 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thank You Barbara, This event is truly an historic moment for our two communities, and it's my pleasure to be able to be a small part of it. However, all the real thanks belong to you, the SO/M Community Coalition, and all the civic minded people who give their time and efforts for our community all year long. Thank you! BTW, do you think Janet can work part of that song, Hoooray for Ma-pol-wood into her score???  | ||
| Cookbook_rick Citizen Username: Cookbook_rick Post Number: 10 Registered: 8-2003 |
WAKE UP! THIS IS MORE THAN A BED AND BREAKFAST! According to the settlement, this business is a glorified catering hall. The proprietor stands to make a lot more money with a single Sunday afternoon wedding than the nickel-and-dimeing of rented rooms. The settlement allows for two annual "outdoor, business related functions." There are many restrictions to such functions in the settlement, but they are sadly unrealistic. AJC must notifiy his neighbors 60 days before the event, and the Township Committee 45 days before the event. Based on a hearing, the Committee can approve or deny the application. Anyone who has ever paid for a catered event, such as a wedding, knows that dates are reserved many months ahead, and that there is usually a non-refundable deposit involved. Is 2 months a realistic lead time? And if the event is turned town by the Committee, this gives the bride and groom about a month to look for another location. Not to mention that the site is going to fight tooth and nail to keep the deposit. If you were the bride and groom, don't you think that you should be privy to the knowledge that the town could pull the rug out from your wedding 45 days beforehand because the permit wasn't granted? "No cooking facilities...shall be allowed in guest rooms," but what about a large kitchen/commissary? "No meals shall be provided to the guests of the bed and breakfast other than breakfast," but what about catered meals brought in? "No alcoholic beverages shall be provided by the innkeeper to the guests," but a caterer can get such a license. So, AJC's neighbors will still have the garbage and behavior problems associated with large parites. Are there any other restaurants in Maplewood that have outdoor seating? The kind that makes noise from the clinking and clanking of silverware and glassware? Les Saison's guests will be able to enjoy their morning coffee and conversation in the bed and breakfast's backyard. On a full Sunday morning, that can be a lot of noise. Even downtown, I don't know of any restaurants that have outdoor seating. And if they did apply, I bet the neighbors would fight it. As for those of us who bought adjacent to Les Saisons recently (three houses in the last six months), we were mainly victims of the surrepticious nature of the business. While there is no sign out front now (but would be allowed in the settlement), the bed and breakfast is all over the Internet. I strongly doubt that any supporters of the bed and breakfast live in this quiet residental neighborhood. But, because this could make an opportunity for more bed and breakfasts in Maplewood, you may get your chance to enjoy the perks of having such an establishment nearby! Extra garbage to attract vermin from big parties; extra noise every morning (not to mention on party days); jockeying of cars and the attendant slamming of doors; extra lighting for the parking; a constant stream of strangers in my neighborhood... And think of the increase in property values if the bed and breakfast is allowed to go above ground! I can see me showing my house to a prospective buyer while a loud wedding is going on in my neighbor's backyard. This is a classic case of Not In My Backyard. But Maplewood is small enough that my backyard IS your backyard. It takes more than a coat of paint to maintaining the quality of life in this town and improving, not decreasing, the lifestyle of your neighbors. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2241 Registered: 1-2003 |
I guess I'd be as concerned as you are, cookbook_rick, if I lived close to Art. There is potential for those types of disturbances. However, Art is accessible and concerned about his neighbors. He's also willing to negotiate. Have you taken advantage of that, or are you sure he won't be able or willing to control the nuisances? Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 126 Registered: 9-2001 |
cookbook_rick, You're right--I don't live in your neighborhood. But two outdoor events a year doesn't sound like a whole lot of inconvenience to me. Hey, my next-door neighbors have more loud outdoor BBQs than that in one month of a typical summer. Also, I don't fully understand your argument. Are you saying that because of the settlement's notice restrictions, its unlikely that Art will even be able to book 2 events a year? If so, then why are you even complaining? Because of the noisy guests eating breakfast outside the inn? Give me a break! My next-door neighbors and their three kids eat breakfast AND dinner on their deck -- which is only a couple of yards separated from my home--almost every day of the summer. You say that you were "victims of the surrepticious nature of the business. While there is no sign out front now (but would be allowed in the settlement), the bed and breakfast is all over the Internet." Hey, I'm sorry but -- buyer beware! Did you do no Internet searches about Maplewood before you bought a home here? Did you not talk to any of your immediate neighbors before signing the contract of sale? These are things that most home buyers do before signing on the dotted line. | ||
| eliz Citizen Username: Eliz Post Number: 712 Registered: 5-2001  |
Cookbook Rick - I'm curious what your realtor told you when you asked him/her what that large property adjacent to the one you were buying was? I can't imagine that you bought the house without asking? I'm just curious if the realtor out and out lied. | ||
| amandacat Citizen Username: Amandacat Post Number: 375 Registered: 8-2001  |
I'm with Marian: despite the alarmist tone of Cookbook Rick's post, I really don't think the settlement as he described it sounds all that terrible. If Art obeys the rules then his neighbors would have little more to contend with than any one of us has to deal with our non-commercial neighbors who throw parties, move their cars around, eat outdoors, and have food brought in. If Art breaks the rules, he would face having his license revoked. Seems like a more than fair compromise, to me. | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 130 Registered: 9-2001 |
cookbook_rick, And if your realtor did lie to you, maybe you should consider suing him/her and not Art. | ||
| Brett Citizen Username: Bmalibashksa Post Number: 773 Registered: 7-2003 |
Wasn’t Art breaking the law by running a commercial business in a residentially zoned property? Shouldn’t he have had the property rezoned before starting the business? I understand that the towns need a B&B but he broke the zoning regs. His neighbors should be pissed off. | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Kevin Post Number: 207 Registered: 2-2002 |
Brett, Art's property at Block 35.01 Lot 210 in Maplewood at 314-320 Elmwood Avenue is listed in the tax records as: Class: 4A COMMERCIAL I do not know what year the property was rezoned to commercial. I also do not know whether he has always had a license to operate a B&B. | ||
| marian Citizen Username: Marian Post Number: 131 Registered: 9-2001 |
I just did a quick public records search on Lexis with that address. The property has been zoned commercial since at least 2002. ESSEX COUNTY, NJ 314-320 ELMWOOD AVE *** THIS DATA IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY *** PROPERTY RECORD FOR ESSEX COUNTY, NJ ESTIMATED ROLL CERTIFICATION DATE JANUARY 1, 2002 Owner: CHRISTENSEN, ARTHUR J Property Address: 314-320 ELMWOOD AVE **************************** SALES INFORMATION *************************** Book/Page: 5143/80 ************************** ASSESSMENT INFORMATION ************************* Assessor's Parcel Number: 11 00035-0001-00210 Legal Description: LOT: 210; BLOCK: 35.01; DISTRICT: 11; CITY: MAPLEWOOD TOWNSHIP; ASSESSOR'S MAP REFERENCE: TAX MAP: M22 Land Use: COMMERCIAL/2SF Assessment Year: 2002 ************************* PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS ************************* Year Built: No. of Buildings: Stories: 2 Style: Units: Air Conditioning: Bedrooms: Heating: Baths: Construction: Frame Partial Baths: Basement: Total Rooms: Exterior Walls: Fireplace: Foundation: Garage Type: Roof: Garage Size: Elevator: Pool/Spa: Lot Size: 38080 SF Building Area: TAPE PRODUCED BY COUNTY: 7/2002 | ||
| Paddy Citizen Username: Paddy Post Number: 155 Registered: 5-2001 |
Celebrated Foods has outdoor seating. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4819 Registered: 5-2001 |
I checked the old reval data base and at the time of the reval the property was zoned commercial. The News Record article outlines what Art can and can not do at the property and how often. I think it is fair and the penalties for violations are very stiff. I honestly can't see how running a five room B&B is going to upset neighbors to the degree it has. Outdoor parties, especially since I think Art seems to be the prototypical party animal, might be another issue. However they are limited. If I was a neighbor I think I would prefer Art, his enthusiasms and his B&B to having a real commercial business on the property. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2504 Registered: 9-2001 |
WAKE UP COOKBOOK RICK! LES SAISONS IS JUST ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL BED AND BREAKFAST! Everything you've written is just a story you're making up. Who are you anyway? The way I figure it, if you can make up a story, I can give everyone the truth... According to the settlement, this business will be over regulated. However, the proprietor still stands to save local residents a lot of time and money, and bring more business to the merchants in town, more taxes for the town as well.. FYI, there are no deposits taken, so none to refund...? Les Saison's guests will be able to enjoy their morning coffee and conversation in the bed and breakfast's backyard, or side yard. That's how it should be... I will respond more fully when I return home from New York tonight.... Art |
