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Toms River council repeals downtown redevelopment plan after heated debate
Summary
After a sometimes shouting debate, the Toms River Township Council voted to repeal the downtown redevelopment plan that had allowed taller buildings and long-term payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Supporters said repeal reflected voter preferences; opponents warned it would set back redevelopment and economic plans.
The Toms River Township Council voted to repeal the township’s downtown redevelopment plan following a contentious public meeting in which council members and audience members repeatedly interrupted one another.
Councilman Lamb, who moved the repeal, framed the vote as fulfilling voter intent. “They don't want 150 foot buildings downtown,” he said during the debate. Opponents — including council members who described the redevelopment framework as a 30-year path to improving downtown — warned that rescinding the plan would roll back years of work and could deter investment.
The ordinance under consideration would have repealed previously adopted redevelopment plans for the downtown core, Robins Parkway and waterfront areas and referenced the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (NJSA 40A:12A-1). A prior motion to table the ordinance failed after an extended roll call and interruptions from the audience. After further debate, a second motion to adopt the repeal was made and carried.
Mayor and administration representatives defended the repeal as aligning council action with residents’ preferences. Administration speakers said the plan allowed parcels to be developed at heights that some residents equated with multi‑story urban buildings and that payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) arrangements negotiated for decades could shift long-term tax burdens away from schools.
The meeting’s tone was frequently adversarial: council members traded accusations about process and openness, and an audience that included residents and activists repeatedly vocalized opposition and support. Council President Coleman repeatedly called for order and stressed the need to conduct meetings professionally.
What happens next: council rescinded the redevelopment plan at the meeting and discussed next steps for downtown policy. Staff and legal counsel indicated that future amendments or targeted redevelopment tools could be considered; no new redevelopment text was adopted at the meeting.
