Nassau Trails - partial closure

Wow, that really blows. It may not be a top 10 trail in NJ for most, but for me it was. It had a little bit of everything packed in a small area and relatively close. I'm really disappointed and hope there's a better option than a 100% ban on bikes.
 
Patrick said:
Foran trail is still open - the closure is the switchback climb out of the small lot and related trails to the toolbox.
The field trail will be open - i'm sure @Jeffreywoliver will establish a proper trail to avoid the road - there is a trail that is close to there, but the grass is high during the summer - which made the link from the woods to the road difficult.
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Yeah but hard to replace that downhill segment to finish off Springside. Always put a smile on my face afterwards :-(
 
I keep trying to say let it play out - the mtb community has allies in the right places here.
The closure is permanent - unless a change is made.
There may be some in favor of change.
Don't put a pitchfork in them.

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Patrick said:
When i say JORBA and HB - it is the flow trails
Jeff, Thatcher, Rich, etc decided they didn't want to be a chapter - that's fine.
That doesn't mean JORBA doesn't support them.

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I keep trying to say let it play out - the mtb community has allies in the right places here.
The closure is permanent - unless a change is made.
There may be some in favor of change.
Don't put a pitchfork in them.

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JORBA was always viewed as an ally. They helped us from the beginning with tools and some advice. You're correct, though, we maintained an independent core group for various reasons.
 
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I guess what I’m still not clear on is this - Jeff, you’re saying you heard directly from the town that ‘the trails don’t bring people anyway’.

Pat you’re saying that they ‘value the trails and mountain biking’.

I’m paraphrasing.

Which is it?
 
And one other thing - why can’t there be an application for a variance? Doesn’t that happen all the time in all townships in NJ?

Not all land uses - on the deed or not - are followed to the letter. That’s why variances exist.
 
clarkenstein said:
And one other thing - why can’t there be an application for a variance? Doesn’t that happen all the time in all townships in NJ?

Not all land uses - on the deed or not - are followed to the letter. That’s why variances exist.
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Good point, but how does that work if someone objects? How does a vote work?
 
clarkenstein said:
I guess what I’m still not clear on is this - Jeff, you’re saying you heard directly from the town that ‘the trails don’t bring people anyway’.

Pat you’re saying that they ‘value the trails and mountain biking’.

I’m paraphrasing.

Which is it?
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I think the town is fairly pro the biking community. I have been on emails with the mayor and she is supportive, understanding, and intelligent. Slagging the mayor is the wrong tree to bark up (collectively, not you specifically).

I think you have various NIMBY people with loud voices saying that we as a group do not add value to the town. I don't think that is the opinion of the mayor, the council, not the rec committee.

I have seen a few of the emails, but I'm not an authority. The above is my observation. I also see that Jeff is super frustrated with his words above, and what he has texted me directly in years past.

On the notion of a variance...I am pretty sure that 50% of all town council meetings everywhere are held to discuss local variances. 100% this is an avenue that can be pursued. And who knows, maybe it is? I am not privy to that information.
 
clarkenstein said:
I guess what I’m still not clear on is this - Jeff, you’re saying you heard directly from the town that ‘the trails don’t bring people anyway’.

Pat you’re saying that they ‘value the trails and mountain biking’.

I’m paraphrasing.

Which is it?
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It was one person. I don't think this represents the general feeling among town leadership.
 
Was there today and the trail up to the switch backs has large logs blocking but I did not see signage. Wasn't really looking, I knew which trails are verboten and avoided them.
 
SAM said:
Was there today and the trail up to the switch backs has large logs blocking but I did not see signage. Wasn't really looking, I knew which trails are verboten and avoided them.
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Something is up cause they are ok for hiking
 
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GSTim said:
The MTB community is not assisting with this, correct?
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We haven't been asked to write-up anything.
High Bridge and Clinton both embrace the cycling community, and are working to that end.

There is donated land with restrictions, the state as trustee, and two towns in the process.

I believe our best path is just to "support the process" and trust our advocates that granted the builders access to start this.

Consider this - say High Bridge wants to write the letter to change the restriction.
They have monthly meetings - and want to stay in-process - this isn't the I-95 collapse...
Clinton is involved, so can't go around them....

HB 1, agree to write letter
HB 2, review letter, recommend changes
HB 3, review letter, pass
HB 4, approve letter from last meeting, send to Clinton
Clinton 1: Read letter into agenda, prepare for next meeting
Clinton 2: Discuss response
Clinton 3: Review response, suggest changes
Clinton 4: Review changes, approve response
Clinton 5: approve letter to be sent
HB: Read response into agenda, discuss
HB: Recommend merging changes/suggestions
HB: Approve changes
Letter sent
DEP - Letter read into agenda, agree to review for next meeting
DEP - Discuss letter
DEP - Approve discussion, recommend response
DEP - Review Response, recommend changes
DEP - Approve changes
DEP - Approve sending letter
HB - read letter into agenda, and fast-track dissemination of decision (assuming positive)

Did i just create an 18 month timeline if everything goes as planned? Which it never does.

They are not going to call special meetings over this.
It is clear that MTB was excluded - so the process should show patience and that the community values the mtb presence,
which justifies the change from the 1990s/2000s restriction.

i'll check out the logs, i'm fairly sure they are not an approved barrier.
Someone may have thought they were going to stop people,
just like someone taking down the signs thought it would allow people.....
 
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