BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — City officials say they knew nothing about surveyors being on the property of city residents in the Beachfront South redevelopment zone last week.
“This [surveying] was not known to the city at all, if in fact it happened,” James Aaron, city attorney, said. “This is the first time in years that anything like this has happened.”
Philip Deluca, of 270 Ocean Ave., told city officials at the council meeting on Sept. 28, that surveyors were on his property and he told them to get off.
“Surveyors were on my property and I said, ‘What are you doing?’ ” Deluca said. “They said they were surveying my property. Let’s get to the chase, surveyors were on my property.”
Philip Atwell, of 320 Ocean Ave., also told city officials that he witnessed surveyors on his property and two of his neighbors’ properties on Sept. 23 and 24. When he called the city police department to report it, he said he was told to bring the issue before the city council.
“This [surveyors] is news to us,” Aaron responded.
“No individual under N.J. law has the right to set foot on a person’s property,” he said. “When a property is [slated] for eminent domain, notice must be given prior [to surveying].”
Aaron said he dictated a notice Sept. 29 to developer K. Hovnanian Shore Acquisitions of Middletown, designated developer of the 12 acres of property known as Beachfront South. The area slated for redevelopment is bordered on the east by Ocean Avenue, on the west by Ocean Boulevard, on the south by North Bath Avenue and on the North by Morris Avenue.
“We asked [Hovnanian] to cease and desist surveying and we asked for an explanation,” Aaron said.
“Apparently a consultant [from Hovnanian], who was given strict orders not to be on the homeowners’ properties for whatever reason, decided to [survey the properties],” Doug Fenechel, director of public relations for K. Hovnanian said during a telephone interview on Sept. 30. “It should not have happened and we are taking steps to make sure it does not happen again. We are very sorry.”
A survey is conducted to determine boundaries for property lines.
Surveyors are not allowed on the homeowners’ properties in Beachfront South, according to Fenechel, who said at some point Hovnanian will reach out to residents of the neighborhood.
The city entered into a preliminary developer’s agreement about a month ago with K. Hovnanian, according to Aaron, who said the city could sign the agreement with the developer within the next couple of months.
Hovnanian will be paying the city $10 million for the right to redevelop the land as part of the contractual agreement to construct 350 units on Beachfront South. The units will range from $400,000 to $2.2 million.
“That will give them 10 million reasons,” {to survey the properties} Atwell told the council.
Deluca asked the council to do things the right way.
“When you put your head on your pillow, make sure you have a clear conscience,” Deluca said. “What you do in life is what you get in life. If not in this life, you get it in the next life.”

