Bad Neighbors for Gay Couple

[EddMarkStarr]

A backyard pool project was near completion when "someone" alerted state environmental officials of a possible wetlands violation.

There's a hater in this neighborhood . . . with perfect timing.

 

[NotHardUp1]

From your thread title, I thought the story was going to be one of anti-gay sentiment.

But, this could simply be a radical environmental conservationist who reported it, and I've known a few in person.

And, if the reporting person was acting out of malice, it could easily have nothing to do with sexual orientation. We don't know anything about the couple per se, so they could have enemies for violating HOA, noise, business dealings, bad divorces, etc.

The State of New Jersey has acted in such a way that makes people hate government, and it's not because I'm overflowing with sympathy for millionaires. You can act to protect wetlands without being a dick about it. The State should have conceded that the pool was grandfathered in by virtue of good faith efforts made by the property owners in permitting, plus the prevalence of paving and water features already abundant in the area, making mitigation efforts less vital than in some site where more pristine conditions could be kept.

And yes, in law, the owners had the onus of determining permitting. But, in defense of citizens rich and poor, when terrible decisions like this are made after the fact, there should be an arbitration board to allow the city, the owner, and the state to appear before a magistrate and determine a fair course of action. From the implication of the video, it's simply regulatory authority and citizens be damned.

I'm very pro-conservation, but this sort of behavior is counter-productive to the cause, and helps monsters like Donald Trump find support in gutting EPA and other misdeeds.

No wetlands were going to be devastated by this one pool. It's simply wrong to punish an individual when an entire neighborhood has done the damage.

 

[rareboy]

Gee.

Torn on this one.

Once an authority issues a permit, it should be a done deal.

In Ontariostan, the local buildingt permit is only issued after the provincial governing authorities have signed off.

So I feel a little bad for everyone, because the people putting in the pool likely were clueless.

 

[Thad1527]

It's hardly wilderness. Washington Township has the largest high school in South Jersey.

Let this construction be completed.

 

[EddMarkStarr]

From your thread title, I thought the story was going to be one of anti-gay sentiment.

But, this could simply be a radical environmental conservationist who reported it, and I've known a few in person.

And, if the reporting person was acting out of malice, it could easily have nothing to do with sexual orientation. We don't know anything about the couple per se, so they could have enemies for violating HOA, noise, business dealings, bad divorces, etc.

The State of New Jersey has acted in such a way that makes people hate government, and it's not because I'm overflowing with sympathy for millionaires. You can act to protect wetlands without being a dick about it. The State should have conceded that the pool was grandfathered in by virtue of good faith efforts made by the property owners in permitting, plus the prevalence of paving and water features already abundant in the area, making mitigation efforts less vital than in some site where more pristine conditions could be kept.

And yes, in law, the owners had the onus of determining permitting. But, in defense of citizens rich and poor, when terrible decisions like this are made after the fact, there should be an arbitration board to allow the city, the owner, and the state to appear before a magistrate and determine a fair course of action. From the implication of the video, it's simply regulatory authority and citizens be damned.

I'm very pro-conservation, but this sort of behavior is counter-productive to the cause, and helps monsters like Donald Trump find support in gutting EPA and other misdeeds.

No wetlands were going to be devastated by this one pool. It's simply wrong to punish an individual when an entire neighborhood has done the damage.

You are correct to point out the "informer" may just be an environment zealot.

It was shocking to see all the other pools in the neighborhood. Makes me wonder if the gay couple asked for input from people who added a pool to their property recently.
Requirements involving wetlands and/or watersheds can change quickly. An online inquiry to a few state agencies could have uncovered any surprises in the permitting process.

Hindsight is 20/20, but there were enough people involved such that second guessing and double checking would have been in order.