Egg Harbor Township’s governing body on a roll‑call vote adopted Ordinance 35, which sets zoning for the Route 152 redevelopment area in Anchorage Point, after more than two hours of public comment and debate.

Why it mattered: Residents of Anchorage Point and nearby neighborhoods urged the committee to hold or reject the measure, saying the plan would allow a marina and larger commercial uses on land and shoreline they described as environmentally sensitive. Speakers repeatedly cited a Department of Community Affairs review concluding only limited highway‑frontage areas in that PA‑5 (environmentally sensitive) planning area were appropriate for redevelopment.

Residents’ objections came in force. Jennifer Kerwin, an Anchorage Point resident and organizer of neighborhood opposition, told the committee that advancing the ordinance “disregards this judgment,” referring to prior court rulings and the DCA review. Dozens of neighbors described threats to wetlands and wildlife, regular dredging and fuel runoff, reduced public access to the waterfront, inadequate parking and heavier traffic on Route 152, and risks to emergency access within a largely one‑way neighborhood.

Supporters, including several waterfront homeowners and boating‑industry speakers, said the redevelopment plan would clean up a blighted site, repair a deteriorating bulkhead and bring controlled, private investment. Dan Heller of Palestina & Associates, who authored the redevelopment plan, told the committee: “This is not an approval of any site plan. The redevelopment plan is just zoning and any future site plan will require planning‑board review and applicable DEP permits.”

Process and legal context: Multiple public speakers read or referenced a DCA letter (dated in the record) indicating the area lies in the PA‑5 planning area, where development is discouraged except where existing sewer service and prior development can be demonstrated. Residents and speakers urged the governing body to revise the plan to conform strictly to the DCA’s limits, omit street rights‑of‑way the DCA did not approve, or remove the marina component.

What the committee decided: The committee approved the zoning changes that Ordinance 35 would make. The vote was a roll‑call vote that carried; at least one commissioner voiced a recorded no. The adoption sets the zoning framework; any developer would still have to negotiate a redevelopment agreement with the township, obtain required CAFRA/DEP permits and return for planning‑board site‑plan approvals.

What’s next: Because the ordinance establishes zoning only, opponents and proponents both noted the next steps are not automatic development approvals. Any proposed site plan or proposed tax‑incentive agreement would require separate approvals and permit reviews. Several residents asked the committee to pursue alternatives focused on bulkhead repair and attracting smaller commercial ratables rather than a marina. The committee said concerns raised would be part of subsequent reviews.

Ending: Committee members closed the hearing after the vote and moved on to the consent calendar and other business. The township recorded public comments and exhibits on the record for subsequent consideration.