$25,000 Set Aside For Beach Plan
By ANDREW CANGIANO
The Neptune planner has been authorized to create a redevelopment plan for the north end of the Ocean Grove beachfront property.
The township will be able to get reimbursements for the $25,000 planning costs, said Chief Financial Officer Michael Bascom.
The Township Committee voted 3-0 in favor of the resolution, with Mayor Thomas Catley abstaining and committeeman Randy Bishop not in attendance.
In late March the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association agreed to lease a 3.2 acre tract of land along the northern beachfront to a private developer.
Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises, an Ocean Grove company, plans to build a hotel and pool complex along with condominiums and parking facilities at the site.
Dorothy Argyros, a resident of Rutherford Avenue, expressed her concern that eminent domain might be used on the site; however, Deputy Mayor Michael Golub assured her no eminent domain is involved for the plan.
There is no aspect of this particular plan that focuses on any aspect of eminent domain, he said.
The north end parcel was formerly occupied by the historic 225-room North End Hotel, which was demolished in 1980.
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The committee unanimously voted to reject all bids for improvements to the former Bradley Park School site.
After being reviewed by the townships director of engineering and planning, the low bid submitted by Precise Construction was rejected because it did not include sub-contractor information for a plumber (a mandatory cause for rejection in accordance with state laws.)
The second lowest bid was more than $100,000 greater than the lowest bid, so the township also rejected that bid, Bascom said.
New bids for improvements to the site will go out immediately, he said.
The township plans to turn the former school site into a recreational park.
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