Does anyone really know what will be the real fate for the Fort Hancock structures and the precious natural resources that are unique to Sandy Hook? In the four years since the National Park Service (NPS) chose real estate speculator Wassel Realty/Sandy Hook Partners (SHP) as the preferred applicant, the developer has gone from promising a stock broker training ground to proposals for hyperbaric chambers.

During the Memorial Day weekend while collecting signatures on petitions protesting the private commercialization at the Hook, I approached an attractive young woman and asked her if she would like to sign. She replied Sandy Hook Partners was building a "marine consortium" and she would know since she works for SHP. To the best of my knowledge, a nonprofit marine consortium currently exists at the Hook. Is this other private-for-profit version really needed? Where are the actual building plans and the consistently changing of uses per structure available for the public review/comment?

At the NPS public meetings (not hearings), I asked the NPS to comply with its own Historic Lease language and the NPS Nov. 29, 2001 Letter of Intent that states SHP is responsible for "all legal requirements such as taxes, assessments, use permit requirements and building codes ... To obtain appropriate permits and satisfy all permitting requirements under applicable laws ... design and construction improvements, the economics of the lease and SHP’s ability to finance the project." These documents state that "in no event shall SHP conduct activities ... that are forbidden by public law, ordinance, regulation or order."

The August 1999 Request for Proposals for the Historic Lease of Historic stipulates in the goals section "rehabilitation work must bring the structure into conformance with zoning, building, plumbing ... Codes of New Jersey and Monmouth County." There is no way of knowing if SHP minimally complies without site specific plans being submitted to the appropriate authorities.

New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law maintains zoning, and ordinances are a function of municipal government. Many regulations and much of the permitting authority are under municipal jurisdiction. According to the NPS documents, this shall not be set aside by a higher government authority, i.e., the National Park Service and/or the federal government. Although the developer SHP has courted individual mayors and schmoozed with certain officials, the builder has yet to submit any official applications to and/or go before the host municipality Middletown Township and the towns that would bear the brunt and expense of the off-site impacts.

At a recent Two River Council of Mayors meeting, SHP President James Wassel claimed he had tried more than 20 times to meet with Judith Stanley Coleman. Fair Haven Mayor Joe Szostak advised his fellow mayors. Ms. Stanley Coleman was not being unreasonable, but in reality sensibly prudent. Mayor Szostak correctly pointed out that as the chair of the Middletown Planning Board it would be inappropriate, smack of impropriety and perhaps illegal for Middletown’s Planning Board Chairman Stanley Coleman to conduct side bars and special meetings with Mr. Wassel.

Red Bank’s mayor questioned why this was relevant. Raising my hand to be recognized by Mayor Edward J. McKenna Jr., I suggested he appeared to be unaware Sandy Hook is located in Middletown Township. As a former elected official, I pointed out to the other Two River mayors if this were happening in their towns. Certainly they would want to retain the right of untainted review for a developer seeking application approvals. With this in mind, I question the judgment of any elected/appointed official sitting on a Planning/Zoning Board to have a private audience with Mr. Wassel or any developer that has potential off-site and on-site impacts on their municipality. An elected/appointed official must not put at risk their Municipal Land Use Law vested power of review and approval by convening in a nonpublic manner with a developer/applicant.

Thus far, it appears Judith Stanley Coleman has been the only public official that has had the ethical foresight to not needlessly expose her town by having private meetings with this developer. Without legally mandated application controls and the benefits of public hearing records/minutes, a municipality is left unprotected and the public remains clueless. In this case, the developer, without the public having knowledge of and the ability to comment on what was proposed, has proffered his plans to certain and select individuals. These public officials should step back and reconsider their actions that could be perceived as compromising their impartiality. Judith Stanley Coleman has set the example that a conscientious dedicated public servant would do well to follow.

Carole Balmer is the current Holmdel Township Zoning Board vice chairwoman, and former Holmdel Township committeewoman and deputy mayor