BRICK – There is some progress to report in the redevelopment of the former Foodtown site, which is being sold to two entities who plan to split the 11-acre site in half and develop them separately.
A sports dome is planned for the back of the property, and retail space is planned for the front, facing Route 70. The township will receive $5 million for the sale of the property with the two developers paying $2.5 million each.
The governing body passed a resolution that calls for the authorization and execution of a reciprocal easement agreement in order for the township to proceed with the sale, said Mayor John G. Ducey during a recent Township Council meeting.
Prior to the closing of the sale with both redevelopers, the township has imposed certain easements and restrictions for the property for the mutual and reciprocal benefit of the two redevelopers, the mayor said.
“So basically, in common language, the guy in the back needs to be able to have people get to the back site, and the only way they can get there is by going through the front site, so they need to have these agreements in place that the people who want to go to the back are allowed to use the roadways in the front in order to get there,” or they would be landlocked, Ducey explained.
The agreement ensures access to the site, along with appropriate traffic flow and parking, Ducey said. He then gave an update on the project:
So far, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has okayed the traffic pattern for the site, and the project has gotten a green light from the township Planning Board, he said.
“There are a couple of things that are almost done: the Ocean County Planning Board is reviewing a deed that was prepared by the attorney, and once they’re done with their review, it can be filed,” the mayor said.
Also, a hearing was held with the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA), who requested some changes, so once that goes back to the MUA, if approved, would go to the Ocean County Utilities Association, and at the same time the application would be submitted to Ocean County Soil Conservation District, Ducey said.
Approvals from Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA), overseen by the State Department of Environmental Protection, would probably take the longest, he said. The application was submitted on July 5 of this year, and that has to go through Flood Hazard and Wetlands reviews and the usual coastal area flood process. CAFRA governs development near bodies of water.
“And then it will be here soon,” Ducey said, “as long as it gets through the state and county regulations, but this is another step in the process. At least now we know we can all get to the sports dome through the person who owns the front retail site.”
M&M at Route 70, LLC is designated as the redeveloper of the front of the parcel that will include three retail pads.
[adrotate banner="278"]The rear of the property will be developed as a privately-built and operated indoor recreation center by HFZ Brick, LLC.
The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
