Residents of the over 340 unit Asbury Tower which houses senior citizens say they welcome the proposed food truck court along the Asbury Park boardwalk’s north end.
“It is our opinion and hope that the food trucks will be given the opportunity, with the strict guidelines, regulations, and specific hours of operation, as we’ve been informed of, to serve both the area residents and more visitors to this area,” Michele Rachelson, president of the building’s residential association, said in a written statement.
“Most of us do not drive, many are in wheelchairs or use walkers, and many find the restaurants on the boardwalk financially prohibitive to eat at,” Rachelson said. “Many here have family that visit us at this time of year to enjoy the beach, fish, or play at the boardwalk as so many other families do.”
The temporary food truck court as proposed by boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette was met with opposition from nearby residents as well as those from the 157-unit North Beach Condominums. Residents attended City Council meeting to voice their concerns of how the plan would affect the neighborhood.
“The entire City of Asbury Park has been growing and moving forward, except for the boardwalk,” Rachelson said. “This is a fine way to serve us all, without the additional expense of having to visit one of the finer restaurants on the boardwalk just to spend the day on one of the most beautiful beaches on the Jersey shore.”
“Asbury Tower is an active senior residence with over 340 units and would enjoy the activity of more visitors to the North Beach area, but, as it stands now or in the past, this is the part of town that most do not wish to visit as there is nowhere to have a soda, fries, burger, or even a seafood dinner as one may have a choice south of Convention Hall,” she said.
The proposal would bring six food trucks to the open space area just north of the vacan Sunset Avenue Pavilion at the end of Sixth Avenue, between the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel and the North Beach condominiums. The food truck court would include a landscaped perimeter, string lights, picnic tables, umbrellas, and two game areas designed to accommodate passive recreational games like bocce, horseshoe, or corn hole.
The City Council is expected to vote on a resolution that sets guidelines for Madison Marquette’s proposed food truck court at its March 25 regular meeting.
Guidelines may include hard-wired electricity and water lines, no generators, regulated hours of operation, no signage, no more than a 2-year agreement, a better garbage plan and keeping area restrooms open until 9 p.m., city officials have said.
Madison Marquette has a 24½ year lease agreement for the property where the project sits. While the land is not zoned for construction of a permanent structure, temporary structures like the food truck are permitted, said Donald Sammet, the city’s director of planning and redevelopment.
The boardwalk redeveloper needs the Council’s approval in order to advance to the Planning Board.
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