Long Branch council adopts Oceanfront Broadway redevelopment plan, introduces boardwalk and fire-truck ordinances

The Long Branch City Council on a unanimous roll-call vote adopted Ordinance 0-13-25, the 2025 update to the Oceanfront Broadway redevelopment plan, amending chapters 2-69 and 3-45 of the city code. The council opened a public hearing, heard no speakers on the ordinance and moved to adopt it on second and final reading.

Council leaders then introduced a package of first-reading ordinances and set public hearings in December. Ordinance 0-16-25 is a capital ordinance authorizing construction of a Broadway boardwalk extension and appropriating $5,000,000 funded by a grant tied to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021; the council set a hearing for Dec. 10, 2025. A related bond ordinance, 0-17-25, would appropriate $5,000,000 and authorize issuance of approximately $4,761,000 in bonds or notes to finance part of the boardwalk project; the ordinance notes recent FEMA flood-elevation increases and higher engineering design requirements that affect the project’s resiliency and cost assumptions.

The council also introduced Ordinance 0-18-25, a bond ordinance to acquire a 100-foot-or-greater quint ladder apparatus for the Long Branch Fire Department, appropriating $2,000,000 and authorizing debt issuance to finance part of the purchase; the public hearing was set for Dec. 10, 2025. Additional zoning-related ordinances introduced include 0-15-25 (no-parking/commercial loading on West End Court, hearing Dec. 10), 0-19-25 (adding definitions for gasoline station/convenience center, hearing Dec. 10) and 0-20-25 (amendments to the Transit Village Medical Village Subdistrict to remove residential uses, hearing Dec. 23).

The council recorded the motions and roll-call votes for each introduction; where the minutes show a roll call the motion passed. Members recorded as present during votes included Mr. Rassus, Mr. Viera and Dr. Vogt; Missus Wittes and Mr. Dangler were absent. Clerk certification that the meeting had been posted under the Open Public Meetings Act and the consent agenda also passed by roll call.

The ordinances include several implementation and funding notes: the boardwalk extension is described as funded by ARPA resources, and the related bond ordinance cites FEMA flood-elevation changes (an increase of seven feet in the relevant area) and stricter wave and flood-load design requirements that the council said will influence final scope and cost. The fire truck ordinance specifies a ‘‘quint’’ aerial apparatus intended to provide both engine and ladder functions; several members of the public requested more detailed procurement information during public comment and asked that the fire-truck ordinance be removed and reintroduced at a later meeting for fuller public review.

The council scheduled the advertised public hearings and will revisit the ordinances with opportunity for public comment and staff responses. The meeting ended with routine miscellaneous business and an adjournment.