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Wildwood candidates urge measured master‑plan review as town‑center and business needs evolve
Summary
Candidates said Wildwood’s master plan should be reviewed regularly to reflect changing shopping habits, development pressure and town‑center vacancies. Several candidates cited town‑center redevelopment and appropriate density as priorities.
Candidates at the League of Women Voters forum agreed the Wildwood master plan needs periodic review and updates to reflect changes in retail behavior, development interest and the city’s tax base. "It's reviewed every 10 years and for good reason," Jason Bockert said, adding that the plan must align with changes in society and the tax base.
Edward Marshall, who has long experience on the council and previously served as mayor, said the master plan "will continue to be tweaked" and emphasized communicating zoning and development impacts to neighborhoods. Robleski noted that the plan’s committee oversight and resident feedback—including surveys—have been useful and urged attention to density and residents’ desire for more convenient access to food and services.
Why it matters: The master plan guides land use, zoning and the city’s capacity to attract businesses. Candidates framed town‑center revitalization, appropriate density and incremental policy tweaks (for example, drive‑through restaurant design standards) as ways to encourage businesses without eroding Wildwood’s character.
Details and context: Candidates discussed Town Center specifically—Bockert described it as about 800 acres and "roughly 2% of Wildwood"—and said the city must find ways to fill vacant commercial space while protecting neighborhoods. They also discussed practical constraints: Wildwood lacks a property tax and relies on pooled sales tax receipts and limited other levies, which makes offering tax incentives or property‑based inducements difficult.
No candidate proposed changes to zoning at the forum; discussion focused on review, resident engagement and aligning the master plan with current economic and social conditions.
