Developers present full‑block 'Views of Wesley Lake' condo plan to Asbury Park council

Developers and architects presented detailed designs on a proposed full‑block residential building at Block 3802, Lot 1200 on Cookman Avenue — a project the team called the Views of Wesley Lake — and answered council and public questions about design, parking and landscaping.

Carl Erler, representing APW Redeveloper LLC and Asbury Partners LLC, introduced Architectura principals who said they had revised the design after Technical Review Committee feedback. Architect Conrad Ronkotti told the council the project moved the building north toward Cookman Avenue and shifted the aesthetic from a traditional colonial/shingle palette to a Mediterranean approach with a clay tile roof and breeze‑block details to better align with surrounding buildings. "It's a 4‑story residential building. It's 3 residential floors over a parking podium," Ronkotti said, describing the podium as elevated in response to NJDEP conditions.

The project would include 27 for‑sale units (reported by the team as 2 one‑bedroom, 10 two‑bedroom and 15 three‑bedroom units) and 42 parking spaces; the architect noted that 41 stalls were required and the design provides one additional interior stall plus reconfigured perimeter stalls that result in a small net parking gain after restriping. The team said EV charging would be provided in phases, explaining the state requirement and proposing nine charge points phased in three increments.

Design and resiliency features highlighted by the team include an elevated podium and screened mechanical equipment, a rooftop amenity set back from the roof edge, a rain garden on the northeast corner connected to the Wesley Lake management plan, WaterSense plumbing fixtures, low‑VOC finishes, Energy Star appliances, LED and dark‑sky‑compliant lighting, and indoor‑air improvements. The architects said the project meets or exceeds applicable construction codes and will be Type II noncombustible construction with full fire sprinklers.

Landscape architect Brian Laff described planting plans that prioritize salt‑ and wet‑site‑tolerant species and irrigation on the project site; he said street trees that appear on other plans are part of the master redevelopment work and are not directly part of this private project. In response to Shade Tree Commission questions, developer representatives said on‑site plantings will be irrigated during establishment and that longer‑term maintenance will be coordinated with the master redeveloper as required by relevant agreements.

Council members suggested adding public art to the project’s public benches and rain‐garden area; the architects agreed to discuss sculpture and seating locations with the client. The council noted that the TRC had reviewed the project twice and that no vote would be taken at this meeting; the team remained after the presentation to take further public questions.

Next steps: the presentation will remain on the record for subsequent council review and formal approvals at later public hearings and votes, after which any required development agreements or permits would return to council or the applicable review body.