Discussions between city and county officials to preserve the last tract of developable open space on Monmouth County’s coastline are moving forward.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Acting City Manager Tony Nuccio informed members of city council that, as per their request, he reached out to county representatives to resume talks between the two parties to discuss the county’s possible acquisition of Bradley Cove, a parcel of land that sits along Asbury Park’s North End Beach from the front of the wastewater treatment facility to near the Loch Arbour border.
Nuccio told the Sun he has “spoken a couple of times,” since with James J. Truncer, the secretary and director of the Monmouth County Park System and the two agreed it might be time for city and county representatives to meet. Truncer’s responsibilities include planning and land acquisition guidance for the nine-member commission.
Nuccio received the council’s authorization to schedule a formal meeting with the county officials. Mayor Myra Campbell and Councilwoman Amy Quinn will represent the city at the meeting.
The city’s Waterfront Redevelopment Agreement gives waterfront redeveloper Asbury Partners the rights to build 15 townhomes on a .6-acre parcel on the Ocean Avenue right of way from the sewerage treatment plant to near the Loch Arbour border. While the land is still owned by the city, Asbury Partners has the right to take ownership. Another .6-acre triangular parking lot next to Ocean Avenue is currently owned by Asbury Partners. Plans for that site include a mid-rise residential tower.
Some environmental groups have protested the plans and urged the city to preserve that space.
Earlier this year, two members of the county board of recreation commissioners presented their idea to the Deal Lake Commission to purchase the land controlled by Asbury Partners, as well as to take control of other adjacent properties owned by the city, and build an 8-acre county park stretching from the ocean to Deal Lake.
IStar Financial — which owns a majority interest in Asbury Partners — issued a statement last year informing the city it is is willing to consider the preservation of Bradley Cove provided they receive just compensation for the value of their land and development rights.
Brian Cheripka, the vice president of land for iStar Financial, confirmed with the Sun Nov. 29 that iStar’s position remains the same.
“It’s encouraging news,” said city resident Joe Woerner, a leading advocate for Bradley Cove preservation and a former President of the Monmouth County Surfrider Foundation. “It’s an excellent first step by the city to recognize the county is an essential part of the coalition that includes the city, iStar, the county and statewide land trust organizations in preserving this open space on the Monmouth County coast.”
A meeting date has not been finalized, Nuccio said.
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