Revised plans are expected to be submitted to the state for the development of the historic Takanassee Beach Club property on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch’s Elberon section.
According to a spokeswoman for the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the developer of the historic beach club property is expected to submit revised plans, still seeking permission to construct luxury homes along the oceanfront.
“They are not the same as the original plan,” said Elaine Makatura, director of the agency’s public information office, last week. “The department has not yet received additional information, but [the developers] are submitting more plans.
“We will review what they submit,” she said.
Long Branch Councilman Brian Unger said last week that he had some indication that Takanassee Developers has gone to the DEP with a revised plan.
“I have heard that they are going to downsize [the project] or do whatever they have to [in order to] make approval a fait accompli,” Unger said.
“Residents and interested parties are planning on examining the plan and filing comments on it,” he said. “We plan to get a copy of the new plan.” Calls to Jerold Zaro, attorney for Takanassee Developers, were not returned by deadline Tuesday.
Takanassee Developers had applied to the state’s coastal land use agency for approval to build 21 luxury homes on the 5-acre oceanfront site.
The application for a Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) permit is currently pending before the DEP.
Makatura said the DEP has not issued a ruling yet on the CAFRA permit and is waiting to receive the new plans from the developer before making a decision.
A group of environmentalists and activists headed by Unger have been advocating to have the historic beach club property preserved.
In an effort to save the beach club from being developed, Unger, along with Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, local environmental groups and representatives from US Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.’s and Assemblyman Sean T. Kean’s officer, held a press conference in July to urge voters to approve a $200 million preservation bond initiative on the November ballot.
The Garden State Preservation Trust bond, if approved, would make preservation funds available in the state which could be used to acquire the $10.7 million beach club, according to Unger.
Unger said that he is less than satisfied with the state’s commitment to preserving the site.
‘We are getting poor coordination from the [Gov. Jon] Corzine administration,” Unger said. “They are not making this a priority.
“There is a problem here in New Jersey. There does not seem to be a political will when you want to save structures on the oceanfront, but we do have a political will with development along the oceanfront.
“I am frankly disgusted with the state government,” he said.
Principal in Takanassee Developers, the contract purchaser of the site, is Issac Chera of Elberon, Zaro, the developer’s attorney, is a partner in Long Branch City Attorney James Aaron’s law firm, Ansell Zaro Grimm & Aaron of Ocean Township.
The beach club property is currently owned by Scott Peters, his sister Ginger Peters and their sister-in-law Kristen Peters, who are divided on the plan to sell the beach club site, which has been owned by the family since the 1680.
Scott Peters is opposed to the sale. Ginger Peters, who has cerebral palsy and spinal stenosis, sued to force the sale of the property claiming she needs the funds to pay for medical expenses.
Superior Court Judge Alexander Lehrer ruled in favor of Ginger Peters several years ago and ordered the property to be sold to contract purchaser Chera. Scott Peters has been critical of the court order by Lehrer, now retired, citing the fact that Lehrer was once a member of the Ansell law firm, which is representing the developer.
The property that is currently the Takanassee Beach Club was a lifesaving station, which operated from 1876 to 1928 as one of the 42 lifesaving stations situated 3 1/2 miles apart along the New Jersey shoreline from Sandy Hook to Cape May. The property still contains the three original buildings, which were constructed between 1878 and 1903.
Crew of the lifesaving station patrolled the Long Branch beach until 1928 when the Coast Guard deactivated the station and the site became the Takanassee Beach Club.