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Council introduces annexation ordinance for 168 acres of South Seaside Park amid resident concerns
Summary
On March 19 the Seaside Park Council introduced Ordinance 2 26 19 to accept annexation of 168 acres known as South Seaside Park (Township of Berkeley). Council members and residents pressed for a redlined study addendum and questioned the speed of the process; first reading passed with council’s caveat that votes can change at second reading.
The Seaside Park Borough Council held first reading on Ordinance 2 26 19 on March 19, 2026, to accept annexation of 168 acres known as South Seaside Park in Berkeley Township.
Council discussion before the first reading emphasized the complexity of annexation and officials urged care. One council member said the vote “is not one that we initiated or chose to have… it’s been placed before us, and now we need to do the best we can,” and asked the consultants to produce a revised, redlined version of the study and addendum to show changes. Another council member said attorneys advised members that regardless of their vote at first reading they may change votes at the second reading.
At first reading Council member Kraft moved the ordinance and Council member Rotunda seconded; roll-call votes for first reading were recorded as affirmative and the motion carried. Council and staff clarified on the record that the addendum impact study had been posted online and that the addendum contains new tables and wording not present in the original study. A council speaker acknowledged a typographical error in the ordinance text about “a portion of the 168 acres” and said the language would be corrected; the speaker said the correct intent was to accept the full 168 acres.
Members of the public used the public-comment period to press the council on the speed and transparency of the process. A resident asked why the ordinance had to be presented at the March 19 meeting and said repeated requests for a slower, more deliberate consideration had not been answered. Another resident asked for a clear statement of which portion of the 168 acres would be annexed; a council member replied the ordinance should read 168 acres and that the error would be fixed. Several attendees urged consultants to include accurate images and to produce a version 2 of the report showing deletions and replacements for clarity.
Council recorded first reading and left next procedural steps—redrafting and the second reading—open. The transcript shows the council advised residents both that study materials are online and that members may revisit their votes at the statutory second reading.
