By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The Asbury Park City Council decided that the proposal for upscale boutique tent camping in the Carousel building parking lot was not in keeping with the redevelopment agreement with Madison Marquette.
In a three to two vote, the proposal was denied after being reviewed by the Technical Review Committee last week and the council at its June 13 work session.
The two yes votes came from Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn and new Clouncilwoman Eileen Chapman.
The mayor and two council members agreed with the resolution that boutique camping does not constitute “hotels, lodging and conference facilities” as stated in the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan.
Quinn said she believed boutique camping satisfied the requirements in the agreement for both temporary lodging and recreational use. She also said the campsite would be attractive compared to what the area currently looks like.
“It takes an area that essentially looks horrendous right now and dresses it up into something more attractive,” she said.
In the original proposal Anselm Fusco, Senior Vice President for Madison Marquette said the tents would be on wooden platforms and the area will operate similar to a hotel.
He also said there would be 24 hour security at the site.
Fusco said the plans are an attempt to bring tourism to the south end of the beachfront.
The resolution states that the camping does not “advance the goals and principals of the (redevelopment) plan.”
The plans for a skate bowl inside the Carousel Building along with portable retail stores housed in shipping containers at the site along with mobile retail and food vendors were approved.
