NeighborsAgainstRockConcertSite: INFORMATIONAL SITE

Monday, January 21, 2008

INFORMATIONAL SITE

If you have questions or need additional information, please email us @ NeighborsAgainstRockConcertSite@yahoo.com or call us at 856-696-2503

The residents of East Vineland were particularly upset because without any fore-warning or advanced knowledge Mayor Perry Barse proposed a Rock Concert in our neighborhood disguised as a Carnival. It was done this way so that it would fit into a section of the land use ordinance where the residents would not have an opportunity to voice their concerns and have their views heard. By proposing it through a "Carnival Ordinance", it was not necessary for the Mayor to obtain the Zoning or Planning Boards approval. This way, it was only subject to Mayor Barse's approval and rubber stamped by his chosen City Council Members.

If you would like to sign our PETITION please email us or go to 1450 E. Chestnut Ave., Build. 1, Suite C at the Acme Shopping Center.(this is the building with the blue metal roof) between the hours of 10:30am - 4:30pm.

THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL SITE ONLY - Please view!

Our View

NEIGHBORS AGAINST the ROCK CONCERT SITE
Our View

Our town has been divided by the concert in question. There are some who are making the concert opposition out to be the young vs. old. It is more like the misinformed vs. the informed. The informed, are people who live in the area and are not naïve about what the implications of an event like this are, vs. the supporters and people who say “what’s the big deal”. They are either misinformed or they just do not care about what this is going to do to Vineland and how disruptive and destructive it will be for the entire area of East Vineland. We have to educate people on the “It’s only 3 days, get over it” mentality. (It is not only 3 days, it is 5 days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday) with 6 + weeks of set up, in addition to a break-down and clean-up period after the event. Do not forget that this will be a yearly event.)

-Great thing for Vineland??? How
-Bring money into the town??? Where, How

A perfect example of the disregard for our property is shown by the stealing of our signs. The lack of respect and ignorance of the majority of concert supports are consistent with an 18 yr old mentality – Party now Pay later. The worst part is that some of these "wanna-be" 18 yr olds, are grown adults acting like children. They do not care, or choose not to see the big picture of what this will really be like. They can not see past the 3 days of partying and fun. I call that the “3 day mentality”. That is fine, if it is set up in the proper location. The residential area that they are proposing to put this concert in is not the right place for a 3 day (Woodstock like) concert event.

People are missing the point. They are getting caught up in name calling, personality bashing and focusing on other issues that have nothing to do with the rock concert. The point is and always has been that the 500 acre farm in question is surrounded by a quiet residential/farming community.
-this location is not easily accessible to 30, 40, 50 or more thousand people.
-the site is surrounded by woods that could easily catch fire and burn down 100’s of homes.
-contaminated surface water run-off into the wetlands could be an issue.
-if it is a rain event, there will be no parking in the recently farmed fields where they are planning to park everyone.
-the main 2 lane road that leads into the concert is a direct route to South Jersey Hospital. All feeder roads leading to this concert are also only 2 lanes.
-the noise ordinance that is in effect will not be followed.
-this is a yearly event that is projected to grow bigger and bigger each year.
-Vineland taxpayers dollars will be used (regardless of what the promoter and mayor are saying) to help fund the police, fire, road, EMT’s ect…-our money is already being spent behind closed door meetings regarding the concert.
-the farmers will not be able to get out on the heavily crowded roads.
-our property values will go down. No one will want to live near the Vineland Music Festival site.

This event is being portrayed as a festival, implying that it will be a family event. When in fact their own demographics showed 80% of the attendees are between the ages of 18 and 24.

If this is such a wonderful thing than why doesn’t Elwyn have this concert on their 1200 acre campus site in PA.?

The bottom line is that we are not choosing to attend a 3 day Rock Festival. Going to a concert should be a choice, a conscious decision that one makes. We certainly are not choosing to have our small children subject to what goes on at a concert. (especially one of this magnitude) The atmosphere and noise that an event like this will bring to a residential neighborhood is unthinkable and unfair. Children are supposed to feel safe in their home and in their neighborhood. Can you imagine how they will feel seeing so many unfamiliar and out of control people. By putting this in an residential neighborhood we are putting ourselves, our homes and our children in harms way.

It’s very disappointing that our elected officials have no regard for residents in this neighborhood or this town. There willingness to abandon and/or amend laws put in place to protect residents and taxpayer’s quality of life and wellbeing is disgraceful.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO

1. Help to educate everyone in Vineland about what this event will be like and how it will impact us all.
2. Contact the Elwyn Institute in NJ and PA and make them aware what the ramifications of an event like this is and that they will be held responsible. Email Jane_Deitweiler@elwyn.org and tell her "No Concert - Do not sell out our Neighborhood!" (there is an underscore between Jane_Detweiler in her email address)
3. Hold the Mayor and City Council responsible for trying to set up an event like this in a residential neighborhood. Email the Mayor at Mayorsoffice@vinelandcity.org and City Council at jbarretta@vinelandcity.org , jforcinito@vinelandcity.org , bsheftall@vinelandcity.org , ssantiago@vinelandcity.org , agioielli@vinelandcity.org and tell them "No Concert - Do not sell out S.E. Vineland!"
4. Not allow the misinformed supporters ruin Vineland so they can have something to do for 3 days

WHAT OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE DONE:

1. The Mayor set this whole deal up without consulting the residents of our neighborhood.
2. The Mayor never had City Council vote on the matter before announcing to the press and public that we were having a rock concert in Vineland.
3. The citizens found out about the concert in the paper, 3 weeks before Christmas and were told it was a done deal. A web site was already up and running and tickets were announced to go on sale in March of 2008.
4. The Mayor misled the community regarding meetings with the promoter. He said that the public would meet with the promoter monthly to discuss all aspects of the concert and address our concerns.
5. The mayor and city council have allowed an outsider to come into our town and divide the community.
6. When the residents of our neighborhood asked the promoter important questions regarding the type of music, parking, safety issues, traffic concerns, farming disruption and responsibility for personal property; the mayor and city council allowed the promoter to tell us that these things would be discussed and worked out at a later date. (When, after it is all set up???)
7. City Council is allowing the Mayor to overlook and/or not adhere to formerly established procedures that have been put in place to protect the citizens of Vineland. Examples such as the noise ordinance, alcohol permits, zoning laws and the carnival ordinance have been twisted for the purpose of this event.
8. The Mayor and City Council are allowing a minimum of 3 bars that will be serving alcohol to the public on the property.
9. The Mayor and City Council are misleading residents about the noise (saying that we will not hear it) and the time the bands will play (the promoter, Melvin Benn told us himself that the music would play until at least 3:00am) Even if the music ends earlier, how are they going to stop thousands and thousands of people from partying.
10.The Mayor and City Council have misled us about the amount of revenue and economic boost that this will bring into Vineland. People will come self sustained for a 3 day concert. The only stores that may get some business are the liquor stores, gas stations, WAWA and possibly the Wal-Mart, Acme and Shop rite, which are located off of Rt. 55 in MILLVILLE, not Vineland.

WHAT THE ELWYN INSTITUTE HAS DONE:

1. Elwyn, a non-profit tax exempt organization, has enjoyed the luxury of having 525 + acres in a residential area of Vineland for over 28 years.
2. Elwyn has farmed part of the land and secured a Farmland and Woodlands Tax Assessment which has benefited them by drastically lowering the taxes paid to Vineland.
3. Elwyn now is negotiating a 3 day Rock Concert with Melvin Benn and C3 Presents to initially bring in 50,000 + people, over 100 bands and serve alcohol at a minimum of 3 different locations on this property which is surrounded by a quiet residential farming community.
4. Elwyn is putting the entire neighborhood in danger and effecting the quality of life for each and every person in the area.
5. Elwyn will be responsible for a grid lock in our city and surrounding cities such as Millville, Buena, Hammonton, etc…
6. Elwyn is selling out our neighborhood for there own mercenary needs.

NeighborsAgainstRockConcertSite

Monday, January 21, 2008

INFORMATIONAL SITE

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