Council Considers Forge Pond Plan

A group known as Friends of Forge Pond is hoping to get away from a proposed 192-condominium community at the old Foodtown site on Route 70, and focus instead on public-private partnerships for developing the property, including courting a mid-scale hotel, and constructing an aquatic center, community activity center, and bicycle trails along the property.

Michael Morton and other representatives from Friends of Forge Pond presented the group's ideas for the redevelopment of the site at the regular Council meeting last night.

The group proposes courting a mid-scale hotel, similar to a La Quinta with 100 rooms and possibly an indoor lounge area. The hotel franchisee would purchase this part of the property, leaving the remainder of the property available for other uses, Morton said.

The group also suggested a 22,500 square-foot aquatic center, which would house community, competition, and therapy pools, which would cost, according to one estimate, around $6 million.

The group is also advocating for a $4.5 million community center to be constructed on the site, which could house an indoor gym, a kitchen to accommodate outside catering, and an indoor gym.

To fund these centers, the group proposes partnering with outside funding sources, such as public-private partnerships with area hospitals, or Ocean County Parks and Recreation for the project.

Morton said the group is hoping to "provide a legacy for the community."

All of the Council members thanked the group for their research and work.

Councilman Domenick Brando said of the proposal, "I don't want 192 condos, as long as I'm here, that's one of the things I'm going to yell and scream about ... [As far as this plan goes] we probably should have done this a little earlier. We should have gotten it on a referendum for this election, guess it's too late now ... We're getting some new people [in the election] so it's  going to be interesting to see the turns it takes now."

Township attorney Jean L. Cipriani said currently, there is no contract for the proposed condominium proposal.