NeighborsAgainstRockConcertSite: 28 Reasons why we are opposed to the rock concert site

Friday, January 18, 2008

28 Reasons why we are opposed to the rock concert site

REASONS WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE ROCK CONCERT SITE
Phone: 856-696-2503 Email: NeighborsAgainstRockConcertSite@yahoo.com

1. The PROSED SITE is LOCATED in a RESIDENTIAL / AGRICULTURAL neighborhood.

2. The SIZE of the CROWD is UNPREDICTABLE. Promoter Melvin Benn started off saying “inaugural expected audience of 10,000 to 20,000 people” (The Daily Journal Nov. 2007)http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs/dll/article?AID=/20071206/NEWS01/71206011 Then, quickly increased the number of people to 50,000 when confronted with an article by a co-promoter indicating at least 150,000 people in attendance (see Phil. Inq. article dated 11/28/07). http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/11863722.html

3. Even if ticket sales are limited, the music will be able to be heard from a large area surrounding the site. People may believe they can come and stop anywhere to camp out and listen to the music. Groups of friends may get together to create “party groups”

4. The NUMBER of ATTENDEES unwilling to purchase a ticket or unable to be accommodated on site, may be so OVERWHELMING that they park and camp anywhere, especially in the farm fields along the roadways – trampling and damaging produce and pillaging the fields for food.

5 WEATHER is UNPREDICTABLE. If it rains, parking becomes impossible. If high temperature and/or dry conditions, there is a potential for disaster if a camp fire ignites the surrounding woodlands.

6. FARMERS who need to use the roads to access fields and take products to the Auction BLOCK could be trapped for ATLEAST (3) DAYS – possibly MORE.

7. Our PROPERTIES will be DEVALUED by any purchaser who would be interested in buying. This will ultimately result in lower assessments and additional tax burdens on the rest of the City’s properties.

8. If it is allowed to occur, what is to prevent other concert promoters from using this or their other location on a more frequent basis? Elwyn has another large site that could be used for similar activities (bordered by Landis Ave, Spring Rd, Chestnut and Main Roads). If this is financially beneficial to Elwyn - Why wouldn’t they?

9. DISRUPTION to the entire EAST VINELAND area for AT LEAST a WEEK – probably longer every year. To set up the site, the promoter stated they may even start (6) weeks in advance plus each band may possibly have 3+ tractor trailers of equipment in addition to their motor homes.

10. The SITE is UNDEFENSIBLE with miles of frontage on Sherman Avenue; Mays Landing Road and Panther Road providing access to the site by people from these areas.

11. The stream and lake on the site is the headwater of the Wild and Scenic River. The concert will disrupt the natural habitat.

12. RURAL ROADS are unable to handle the large traffic volume and the roads around Route 55 and 47 (Delsea Drive) were overloaded with traffic jams just with our own local Christmas traffic.

13. SUMMER SHORE TRAFFIC on ROUTE 55 both going to and coming back from the shore creates an overflow of traffic

14. THUNDERBOLT RACEWAY GRAND OPENING is the same weekend with an estimated crowd of 10,000 to 20,000 people.

15. With the RACEWAY OPENING, the Millville Police Dept. will be busy in Millville and the Sherriff’s Dept will probably be needed as well.

16. The VPD has never had to deal with a 50K+ crowd, which could possibly grow to over 150K+ “party-goers” for a (3) day period. This is just too risky.

17. HOSPITAL ACCESS for most Vineland areas as well as Milmay, Dorothy and Port Elizabeth will be severely impaired due to the increase in traffic. SHERMAN Ave. is a DIRECT ACCESS road to both the HOSPITAL and CONCERT site.

18. Our HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM is NOT EQUIPPED to handle large crowds. With a normal case load, it is not unusual for the ER to have a several hour wait.

19. The promoters have already cost the taxpayers money by occupying the staff of City Hall’s time. We will need to have EXTRA EMT’s, POLICE and FIREMEN. We local taxpayers will have to pay for any extra expense.

20. The same promoters that claim they pick-up all the extra costs have REFUSED paying a $600,000 bill and have went to court to avoid paying for same in Leeds, England (see Rioting at Leeds Festival Article at www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/news/2644) How can we possibly calculate the REAL COST of providing services, let alone the cost to property owners in the reduced value of their homes that they purchased specifically in the area for a place of quiet enjoyment?

21. If the concert is permitted and is financially successful, which I believe the promoters will be, then it will return every year with a LARGER and LARGER crowd.

22. All REGULATIONS regarding NOISE CONTROL will be waived for the Promoters. The NOISE will go on until 3AM. Local residents who live here and pay taxes to support the government would not be allowed to do this - a total disrespect of neighbors.

23. Alcohol beverages will be sold.

24. Great potential for Drug Sales and Gang Involvement.

25. Gangs have become an increasing problem in our County. The rival gangs may compete for the drug business. Police contribute approximately 85% of local crime to drug related activities.

26. This is a total disrespect of our homes, land and security.

27. The Promoters have provided Inconsistent information regarding the number of arrests, riots, injuries, deaths, damage to property as well as paying for all additional costs related to the event.
28. We were never consulted or involved with the planning of this event. It was made public AFTER plans were already made WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT.

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

Friday, January 18, 2008

28 Reasons why we are opposed to the rock concert site

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