Connors, Rumpf & Van Pelt Call for Investigation into Construction Problems Plaguing Mirage Community in Barnegat

December 9, 2008

Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
Assemblyman Brian Rumpf (R-9), Senator Christopher J. Connors (R-9)

Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblyman Daniel M. Van Pelt have written to the State Attorney General’s Office and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office requesting that an investigation be opened into the myriad of construction defects found in the homes of a significant number of residents living in the Four Seasons Community at the Mirage located in Barnegat Township.

The efforts of 9th District Legislators were in response to a request for assistance from the Concerned Homeowners Committee @ Mirage. Extensive documentation was provided to the Delegation by the Committee pertaining to construction problems community residents have encountered that have yet to be rectified. Also included were petitions containing more than 800 signatures stating that the shoddy construction practices of the community’s developer warrant the attention of the State Attorney General’s Office. All documentation was forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office by the Delegation along with their correspondence.

In their letter to the State Attorney General Anne Milgram, Connors, Rumpf and Van Pelt made the following comments:

“This is an urgent communication requesting your personal intervention in a serious matter regarding construction defects found in the homes of a significant number of residents living in the Four Seasons Community at the Mirage, located in Barnegat Township in Ocean County. While we understand that you have already been contacted by the Concerned Homeowners Committee @ Mirage, we felt it necessary to convey our complete support for intervention by the appropriate government and law enforcement agencies on behalf of these residents.

“After reviewing the Committee’s communication, you are fully aware of the litany of complaints leveled against the community’s developer, Menk, over the past several years. A copy of that communication and the attached documents are enclosed. The complaints pertain to an extensive array of construction deficiencies that include problems with wiring, heating and cooling of the homes, as well as water found in the crawl spaces, bringing into question whether these homes were ever fit for occupancy.

“Despite carefully documenting the rampant problems found throughout the community and presenting their case before several government bodies and agencies, the residents of this community have made little headway, through no fault of their own, in having these construction problems addressed to the satisfaction of the homeowner. The futility of their efforts represents a complete failure of the bureaucratic process which has victimized these homeowners a second time. Residents have been whipsawed by the developer’s legal maneuvering and an unresponsive government bureaucracy.

“This ordeal seems unimaginable to all but those who have experienced it. The enclosed petitions that contain more than 800 names put into some context the extent of the detrimental impact this ordeal has had on the quality-of-life of residents in this community. More importantly, these petitions demonstrate the sheer number of individuals demanding the state’s intervention, in particular, the Attorney General’s Office.

“The developer’s refusal to properly address the rampant construction problems throughout the community has compelled residents to call for the developer’s license to be suspended. Furthermore, residents described actions of the developer in this matter as fraudulent, negligent and perhaps even illegal. It is difficult to dispute this when considering the allegations made and the widespread nature of the complaints.

“Accordingly, our Delegation is requesting that your Office immediately open an investigation into the case of the Four Seasons Community at the Mirage. We have made the same request of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. The allegations made by the Concerned Homeowners Committee @ Mirage warrant an exploration of any possible improprieties that have occurred, whether in the initial construction of the homes and/or the failure to properly fix construction defects in a timely fashion or at all.

“Thank you, in advance, for your priority attention to this communication. We look forward to your response as do the hundreds of affected residents of the Mirage Community.”

A similar letter was sent to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Link to Post:

http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/connors/connors-rumpf-van-pelt-call-for-investigation-into-construction-problems-plaguing-mirage-community-in-barnegat/1784