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Town under contract for Boatworks site; council, mayor discuss slips, wave-runner pads and Army Corps beach replenishment
Summary
Speakers during public comment and council members reported the township is under contract for the former Boatworks property, said environmental testing found no ground contamination, and noted ongoing negotiations over liens. Council and mayor also described an active Army Corps beach replenishment project on local shorelines.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Public speakers and township officials updated the council on waterfront plans March 25, saying the township is under contract to acquire the former Boatworks property while environmental testing and lien negotiations continue. Separately, council and the mayor described an ongoing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach‑replenishment project along local shorelines.
In public comment, resident Andrea Mangini Harold asked the council to include space for boat slips in plans for the Boatworks site to support boaters who visit downtown businesses; the mayor said staff are drafting several plan options and would consider boat slips in addition to pads for wave runners. "We will certainly look at more boat slips as well," the mayor said during the meeting.
Art Anderson, a resident, asked whether required testing of the Boatworks site had been completed and passed. The mayor and staff said the township has not closed on the purchase and is still under contract while the owner negotiates liens; officials reported that previous studies — including a study that addressed shingles/asbestos — had not found ground contamination, and the mayor said he had requested a follow-up study for confirmation.
On beaches, the mayor and other council members reported active work by the Army Corps of Engineers. The mayor said the contractor (Great Lakes) was placing approximately 86,000 cubic yards of sand and working at sites that include Dover Avenue and Diane Lane; he and council members described visible progress and said the project was expected to continue into late March or early April, weather permitting.
Why it matters: The Boatworks site is a waterfront parcel that could affect downtown access and marine recreation; confirmation of environmental safety and resolution of liens are preconditions to township ownership. Beach replenishment by the Army Corps affects shoreline stability, tourism and property protection ahead of the summer season.
What officials said next: Township staff said they will follow up on the environmental review and will report back. The mayor invited residents with design interest to share contact information for possible citizen involvement in planning.
