Asbury Park Planning Board extends temporary tent approval at 208 Main Street, sets Sept. 30 filing deadline

At a planning-board meeting, the Asbury Park Planning Board voted to extend the temporary tent approval at 208 Main Street through the end of November on the condition that a completed site-plan application be filed and deemed complete by Sept. 30.

The board’s action followed a presentation by attorney George McIll, who represents 208 Main Street Realty and its sole member, Mary McGillian. McIll told the board the project was delayed by contested estate litigation arising after John McGillian’s death and that the settlement was resolved in April 2025; he said the final condition—the sale of 600 Main Street—closed Nov. 7. “We were tied up in this litigation,” he told the board, explaining the team needs to redesign the basement to avoid undermining an adjacent building and to connect to the neighboring 228 building.

Board members pressed the applicant for a firm deadline for a complete application. The board emphasized that “file” should mean a completed application that planning staff can deem complete rather than a partial submission requiring months of follow-up. The applicant’s architect, Willie Zbrano, estimated two to three months for the design work; engineer Carolyn Fagan said certain external permits have expired and will need to be refreshed. “We had DOT permits. Everything is since expired,” Fagan said, noting sidewalk/curb and grading details will be revisited and DOT coordination may add time.

After extended discussion about timing—options discussed included July 31, Aug. 31 and Sept. 30—the board and applicant agreed the condition should be a filed and deemed-complete application no later than Sept. 30, with a realistic hearing window in October–November. The board recorded a motion to extend the temporary approval through the end of November conditioned on that Sept. 30 completeness requirement; Jim Henry seconded the motion. The motion carried on a roll-call vote with the members present voting in favor.

The board also asked the applicant to clean up the site fencing and general exterior appearance while plans are completed. The board repeatedly noted frustration that the project has been active for roughly 13 years and said the short, enforceable deadline was intended to keep the project moving.

What happens next: the applicant must submit a completed application and obtain any necessary refreshed permits (including DOT and soil‑conservation permits); planning staff will deem the application complete before scheduling it for hearing. The board said it would consider further extension only if circumstances warranted it at the fall hearing.