Gino's Paintball (NPS) Field shut down by Mantua Twp., NJ!

[1stdeadeye]

This is not good!

Got to www.nj.com ! Choose the Gloucester County Times and keyword Paintball. I didn't post the link because I seem to remember a problem with posting articles, not sure!

Anyway, Gino Postorivo of NPS had his field shut down by the Township of Mantua for failing to have a proper variance. He has batting cages, driving ranges, putt-putt there along with paintball. The neighbors are trying to make him move it. Gino has been there for years, he has the proper buffer and thought that he did not need the waiver as the usage conforms to the zoning. If someone as big as Gino can get hassled, this is not good. If he loses his variance request from the planning board, I hope he sells the land to developers who build a shopping center on his 11 acres that backs right up to the neighborhoods. Let them deal with that noise and bother as it is zoned commercial/retail. Let them have 18 wheelers unloading behind there homes instead of a secluded and buffered Sup Air field.

The hearing is this week before the Mantua Township. It is scheduled for Thursday 19 June 2003 at 7:30 PM at the Mantua Twp, NJ municiple building (401 Main Street Mantua). If you are from around here, try to attend. If they can knock out NPS, they sure as heck can be emboldened to go after the little guys!

[Automaggin2]

Damn. I cant belive that. "It sounds liek a war zone". haha. My house is near a swim club and 7 oclock in the morning i hear buzzers and loud speakers blasting announcements for swim meets, no one complains

[shartley]

[Skreemer]

and the end quote from the neighbors is great....

the infamous "not in my backyard"... ha ha.. well I hope Gino pulls it off... and if they do shut him down according to what I read there it's just the paintball aspect...

Maybe there is an alternative... a diffrent type of buffer between the field and the neighbors? The government uses high cement walls to block the noise of highways from residential areas why not do the same thing here? I know it would cost a ton of money but charge the neighborhood or the folks that live against the park for part of the expense cuz they are forcing him to have it....

ahh if only it were a perfect world....

[rpm07]

That could not of happened to nicer guy
Shocked he just doent buy the town

[SyntaxError]

On the plus side, if the real tourney play moves to North/Central Jersey, we won't have to travel as far for competitive practices against other teams

Nah, that's too bad, Gino's a cool guy and hopefully his field holds out.

[banzaimf]

Originally posted by rpm07
That could not of happened to nicer guy
Shocked he just doent buy the town

I think the phrase is, It couldn't happen to a more deserving fellow.

I can't imagine that this is a large part of the NPS empire.

[1stdeadeye]

There is more to this then the news article. Gino has been there longer then 2 of the families complaining. These people bought their homes knowing he was there. The NIMBYs came running when they smelled blood. Fact is that most of the neighborhood does not mind. It is a small group that is pushing this.

When Gino opened this aspect, he did not need a waiver. The township knew what he was doing and gave it their tacit blessing at the least.

This will not hurt Gino in the least if they close it. However if they do, get ready for WWIII! Gino owns all of the land around NPS and that is zoned Light Industrial with a paintball usage allowed. The rumor has floated around that he may open fields next to his headquarters on his many acres there. If he does, I hope he sells off the current location to a developer. Let those NIMBY's fight a shopping center in their back yard. You tell me which is worse.

Whether you like Gino or not, this scares me. A very small and vocal minority is trying to shut down an established business.

Sam,
Gino did not just establish this business. He did not request a variance because he was told it was not needed as the site fit the zoning. A very vocal minority shut down his place via a loophole. How reliable is this minority? Well one of them interviewed stated that he can't enjoy a Saturday BBQ because of the noise. Gee that is funny since the paintball operation is only open SUNDAYS!!!!! It also doesn't open until 10:00 am in deference to their neighbors! Did you know that you can cut your lawn in Mantua as early as 8:00am on a Sunday? Which is more bothersome?

I have been to the fields. They are well kept and clean. They are also green. The current use is far preferable to a huge minimart with little to no buffer!

[shartley]

[cphilip]

There are not too many people gonna shed tears over Gino. He done his share of closing paintball business's over the years. More then a couple of neigbors is gonna do to his one place. Sorry but there will be little sympathy over this one. I've said all I care to say.

[shartley]

Originally posted by cphilip
There are not too many people gonna shed tears over Gino. He done his share of closing paintball business's over the years. More then a couple of neigbors is gonna do to his one place. Sorry but there will be little sympathy over this one. I've said all I care to say.

[Kevmaster]

Originally posted by rpm07
That could not of happened to nicer guy
Shocked he just doent buy the town

ROFL!!!!

Jeez....I dont think there is a more cutthroat businessman in paintball...im just glad im on his side now as a NPS dealer

I doubt this will last long if Gino WANTS to keep it....hes got the muscle to pull in some good lawyers to get him outta this if he WANTS it. as deadeye said, he may want to move the field to NPS headquarters....who knows!

[cphilip]

Well I admire what Gino came from and how he made himself. I do not admire how he handled that since and now does handle it. Some point in time you gotta let other people make a living. You do not have to have it all. And hurting people just because you can I just do not like. Guess I will never make it if I have to be that way.

[Mango]

yeah Gino will survive. I certainly won't shed a tear for him and his monopoly of a company. Now he can only buy 3 hummers this year instead of 6.

[Xerces]

i don't live near jersey, and i dont know the whole story so i don;t feel i deserve to have an opinion on this.

but i do like "the loud popping sounds made by the paintball guns when they shoot off the balls."

oh how i enjoy the shooting off the balls.