Monday, April 16, 2012
Latest plan reverts back to mixed use complex
Last week, Brick Patch reported that the latest plans for the former Foodtown site on Route 70 call for the site to be turned into a mixed-use residential and retail complex, similar to plans for several years ago. Since the township purchased the site, there have been several plans put forth as to how it should be used. There's no question that since the day the failing supermarket closed its doors, what should become of the site has been Brick's most controversial issue. Potential uses for the site that have been discussed have included everything from a township recreation center, to a hotel and banquet building, to the mixed use residential and retail complex that is being eyed again by redevelopers. Though we've had spirited …
Monday, April 9, 2012
Development will include some residential space
Township officials and the redeveloper in charge of the former Foodtown site on Route 70 are now looking to develop a mixed use complex on the lot of the former supermarket. Township Council President John Ducey said it may still be a while – perhaps up to 18 months – before all of the final approvals from the state are in, but a reprieve from some of those approvals is possible. "We're hoping that, if it's done in phases, work can start a little earlier," said Ducey. As part of the overall approval process for redevelopment of the site, the state Department of Transportation must sign off on roadway and access plans since the complex is situated along a state highway. A plan has been submitted, and in March, the state began a review …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Splash park area will now be a grassy, picnic area
When the township council voted in January to rescind a vote on a $600,000 contract award to build a splash park at the Traders Cove Marina site, plans to construct bathrooms and a playground for disabled children also were cancelled since they were part of the bid. But township officials are now planning to reinstate plans to build the bathrooms and the playground area with grant funding, and two residents at a meeting on Tuesday called for a reconsideration of the splash park idea. "Maybe the water park there would've been a better thing," said Dominick Rappoccio, who serves on the township planning board, after hearing the plans for the area that would've been the splash park location. Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said at the meeting that…
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Grant will hopefully solve issue of how to cross Route 70 on foot
Walking from the Kohl's shopping center to Brick Plaza is difficult, to say the least. It's not uncommon to see pedestrians jumping the Jersey barrier that divides Route 70 to make it across the busy road to get from one side to the other. The answer to the issues in that part of town may have come in the form of a pedestrian safety grant awarded to the township last week. The $308,600 grant will go towards a concrete solution to make crossing Route 70 easier in the area of the shopping district. "You walk down Chambers Bridge Road and you can't get from one plaza to the other," said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis. Complicating matters in any improvement project, however, will be the importance of the intersection of Chambers Bridge Road and …
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Bonds will not be repaid by taxpayers, however
The township council voted to authorize $34 million in bonds which will fund the construction of a solar field at the former French's Landfill site in the township's Herbertsville section. Though the township will borrow the money, it will be paid back by Standard Alternative, LLC, the company that will redevelop the former federal Superfund site. The council voted 6-1 in favor of the project, with Councilman Jim Fozman representing the sole 'no' vote. Though the bond authorization allows for the bonds to be repaid over a period of up to 20 years, the redeveloper's agreement calls for the money to be repaid in 15 years or less. Over those 15 years, Standard Alternative will own the solar array that is expected to be built at the site, but …
Friday, March 23, 2012
Tweak to park plan could help police department
Some tweaks to the Traders Cove project could improve the bayside site while helping the township's police department. Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said Tuesday that work is continuing at the site, but there are now plans to transport fill that was delivered to the site last year to Ridge Road in order to shore up the police firing range there. The range needs continuous maintenance in order to avoid bullet ricochets, police officials have said. Plans to reconstruct the range are currently stalled as the township capital budget is under consideration by the township council. The fill – which the township received mostly free of charge from a lake dredging project in Point Pleasant Beach – will be replaced by soil more sandy in nature that is…
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Pet shop hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by regular council meeting
The township council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night to conduct a hearing on the status and licensing of the Puppies Galore pet shop, which was shut down by authorities last month. After being found by the Ocean County Health Department on Jan. 24 to be unsatisfactory in its compliance with health code provisions, the owner, Maria De Santis, volunteered to close the store. Two days later, acting on a complaint from a citizen, authorities removed 39 puppies from the store, 26 of which were said to be ill at the time. De Santis was charged the following week with 38 counts of animal cruelty, and Nathan "Nat" Sladkin, the store's manager, was charged with four counts. The criminal case is separate from tomorrow's hearing, which will deal…
Monday, February 13, 2012
Who pays the highest taxes in town?
Think you have a high tax bill? If it's not seven figures, you're nowhere near the top of the heap. An analysis of the township's 2011 tax rolls shows that Brick Plaza – the entire complex is essentially one building – tops the list of heavy-hitting ratables. The annual tax bill: $1,109,748. The shopping center, assessed at $57,038,900 by the township, represents the only property in Brick that yields a property tax bill over the $1 million mark. But several other commercial properties come close. The Costco shopping plaza on Route 70, owned by JSM @ Brick, is the township's second-highest valued property, assessed at $39,911,100 and billed $776,510 in 2011. In third place, the Kohl's shopping center, owned by Vornado Realty Trust, paid $…
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Solar field would be built at French's Landfill site
A solar field built at the former French's Landfill site on Sally Ike Road would save Brick taxpayers $13 million over 15 years – then more after that, a team of experts associated with the project said Tuesday night. A group of individuals representing companies responsible for planning, arranging financing, designing and facilitating the project gathered at the township municipal complex to provide new details on the plan to install solar panels at the former Superfund site, which is now being outfitted with a permanent cap. "The solar panels were a nice passive use of the facility," said Noreen White, the township's financial advisor on the project. Financial Questions On Feb. 14, township council members will vote on whether to float …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Offices will move to PAL building if site is sold
Township officials may look to sell Civic Plaza, the converted shopping center on Chambers Bridge Road that houses several township offices. The property was purchased by the township about a decade ago for $960,000 and currently generates $43,000 in income annually for the township, said Business Administrator Scott Pezarras. The township does not owe money on the site, he said. The plaza currently houses a number of township offices, most notably the recreation department. Income is generated by renting out some space at the site, such as a pizza parlor. If sold, the recreation department would be moved to the Police Athletic League building on Drum Point Road, which the township owns. Pezarras said an appraisal of Civic Plaza was …
Lorraine Swanson
2:36 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
They should be sent to Siberia. more ›