TOMS RIVER – A controversial downtown redevelopment plan is one step closer to being shut down.
Back in 2018, the administration changed the zoning in the bulk of the downtown area to allow property owners to make the most of what they have. There were 10% of buildings that were allowed to go up eight to ten stories. The rest would be lower, and of staggering height to create visual diversity. There would also be parking, parks, open recreation, and other amenities.
Although these ordinances went into effect back then, very little actually changed downtown. There was only one notable exception.
Under the previous administration, the crime-ridden Red Carpet Inn was demolished and the land purchased by the town. Capodagli Property Co. originally planned two, 10-story apartment towers over ground-level retail and a boardwalk around the river in that area. This boardwalk would be for passive recreation, not for rides and games like in Seaside. This plan was changed to six stories during the heated election last year. Other amenities, such as an amphitheater, remained unchanged.
Mayor Daniel Rodrick has said his win last year over former Mayor Maurice Hill was the residents’ rejection of development plans like this.
Capodagli wasn’t going to pay taxes on the property, but rather a payment in lieu of taxes directly to the town. Rodrick’s concern was that families would be moving into the apartments, adding to the school budget, but the school would not get any taxes for this project.
Councilman Justin Lamb said “The voters were crystal clear. They don’t want 150-foot buildings downtown. They don’t want affordable housing downtown. They don’t want a city within a city.”
At the most recent meeting, the Council voted to introduce an ordinance that repealed “All Ordinances Previously Adopted By The Township Which Had Adopted And Amended A Downtown Core Redevelopment Plan, A Robbins Parkway Redevelopment Plan And A Waterfront Redevelopment Plan In Accordance With The Local Redevelopment Housing Law.”
The vote wasn’t unanimous. Lately, council members Lamb, George Lobman, Lynn O’Toole and Council President Craig Coleman have agreed with the mayor while council members David Ciccozzi, Tom Nivison, and James Quinlisk have disagreed. The vote went along those lines.
Quinlisk said that there were never plans for a 15-story building as others have said, and that it doesn’t mean that it will all be low-income residents.
“I think someone is banking on fear here and trying to intimidate people,” he said. “The downtown development plan has been around for 30 years…by repealing these ordinances you’re going to take us back 30 years.”
Ciccozzi said how the redevelopment would bring new life to businesses downtown.
This was the first reading of the ordinance. An ordinance is introduced at one meeting, and then has a second reading at a second meeting, where it is finalized. The second reading will likely be at the November Township Council meeting.
