Board to determine
if site is suitable
for redevelopment
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER
Staff Writer
It’s been a year-and-a-half since Brick Township bonded to purchase the Traders Cove site on Mantoloking Road, with plans to turn it into a “jewel” on the coast.
And it’s been a year-and-a-half since township officials said that other entities were expected to put up $6.5 million for the joint purchase, which would eventually end up as a public park and marina.
“We are tired of waiting,” Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro said at the June 26 Township Council meeting. “We have to investigate our options.”
The council passed a resolution that authorizes the Planning Board to prepare a report and maps to determine whether the Traders Cove site is “an area in need of redevelopment.”
Township officials closed on the $8 million land deal with Paramount Homes on Dec. 13, 2005, after several years of wrangling in court and negotiations with the developer.
The original plans included a renovated marina, a boating museum and bait and tackle shop.
The original plans are still on the table, but perhaps with a commercial developer who might decide he or she wants to own the facility outright, said council President Stephen Acropolis.
“The more options you have, you don’t get backed into a corner,” Acropolis said Friday on his way back from a family vacation in Florida.
Brick bonded part of the purchase price in temporary notes to buy the 11.5-acre site on Mantoloking Road. The township’s share of the purchase price was $1.5 million.
Township officials expected the state Department of Environmental Protection to provide between $5 million to $6 million in Green Acres grants; the Board of Freeholders to kick in $1.5 million from the county’s capital surplus account; $1 million from the nonprofit Save Barnegat Bay and $500,000 from an anonymous donor.
But there are still a number of issues that need to be addressed, including subdividing the property for the county’s portion and riparian and dredging rights, Acropolis said.
Acropolis said there may be some in the township administration who are attempting to delay any on the site.
“If I was sitting in the big chair, this would have gotten done a lot sooner,” he said. “It’s taken too long.”
Then-Township Administrator Scott A. MacFadden said in 2005 that the township’s acquisition partners were expected to follow through with their pledges. If for some “unforeseen reason” they did not, the township would seek other partners or sell the property, he said.
Paramount Homes had originally received Board of Adjustment approval to build 52 condominiums on the marina site, despite a public outcry. Council members later voted unanimously to overturn the Zoning Board’s approval and announced plans to purchase the site.
Resident George Scott questioned council members at last week’s meeting and asked Township Planner Michael Fowler how much Brick has spent on the Traders Cove project.
“Do you know the total we have spent so far?” he asked.
“No,” Fowler replied.
“We are going along the same route as Foodtown, which became a fiasco,” Scott said.
Scaturro told Scott the township was still expecting the money.
“We’re still expecting Christmas,” Scott replied.
“Christmas is coming,” someone piped up from the audience.
Councilman Michael Thulen said officials were still pushing “very, very hard” for Traders Cove.
“We all want the same thing,” he said. ” To compare Foodtown to Traders Cove, it’s [Foodtown] not a jewel on Barnegat Bay. We want to keep it at a minimal cost, but at the same time have a jewel on the coast. It was a mistake to buy Foodtown. I’m sorry we are not moving faster. Our first priority is to have a jewel at the lowest possible cost.”
Planning Board member Michael Leloia also asked how much the township has spent on the site since the purchase.
“It’s been a thorn in my side since the township purchased it,” he said. “It’s costing a lot more. Right now we run the marina at a debt on a monthly basis. Is the township going to continue to own it or sell it off like the Foodtown site?”
“I can’t answer that right now,” Scaturro said. “It [possible redevelopment] was an alternative for us when we saw the stagnation of the conservancy. We are looking at it as an option,” Scaturro said. “We still have money coming to us. We can recoup those dollars.”
Resident Melanie Briggs asked why the “Mantoloking Cove Marina” sign was still up.
“We have not opted to change signs until we determine what we are going to do with it,” Scaturro said.
Briggs also asked what happens to the money the marina takes in each month.
“Where’s the money going to?” Briggs asked. “It’s a dump. We are not going to get our money back. You are out that interest; $8.1 million. I don’t know who had the bright idea to buy this place. I’m going on the record as a taxpayer. Eight dollars was too much to pay for that place.”
Briggs said someone who works at the marina told her there was major contamination on the site.
“The information you have is not accurate,” Scaturro said after Briggs had finished speaking. “I don’t know who you are [talking to]… but they must be in a home or something.”