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The Asbury Park Planning Board Monday gave unanimously approval to back the city’s effort to preserve a tract of land on the northern beachfront set for development.

Board members will supply the city’s with a letter in support of their effort to secure Green Acres funds. If secured, the funds will be used to purchase development rights for .6 acres of land slated for a 15-unit townhouse development called Bradley Cove. The name has since become synonymous with the land in question.

Waterfront redeveloper iStar Residential owns the rights to develop the property, which is located on the Ocean Avenue right-of-way from the sewerage treatment plant north to the Loch Arbour border.

Board attorney Jack Serpico was apprehensive about allowing the board to proceed with the letter of support since they had already granted approval on the project but Councilman John Moor, who sits on the planning board, explained that the letter does not ask the developer not to build on the land but simply supports the city’s effort to secure funds to negotiate with the developer in the hopes to reach an amicable conclusion between the two parties.

“If we can get the Green Acres grant and they say it [the development rights] are worth $10 million and the city says ‘we only have $3.5’ they don’t have to take it —  they can say ‘all bets are off,’ it’s not like this is a fait accompli,” Moor said.

The Asbury Park City Council voted 5-0 in June to submit the Green Acres application seeking funds for up to $4.5 million for the purchase. The application is due July 31.

Representatives from iStar have maintained since February of 2012 iStar will consider selling the development interest provided they receive “fair treatment and just compensation, the same as Asbury Partners is required to provide to other property owners when Asbury Partners must acquire property in the waterfront redevelopment areas.”

In an email sent to city officials last week, Brian Cheripka, iStar’s vice president of land, said the developer would not draft a formal letter in support of the application as their lawyers advised doing so could compromise their legal interests but did provide a statement that outlines their position as it relates to the possible preservation.

County Freeholders announced they will support the city’s effort to procure the property through funds from Green Acres.

Environmentalists have long opposed the development and claim it would hinder the public’s access to the north end beach, which is used as a dog run, is a favored spot among fisherman and is the city’s only designated surfing beach.

[Photo at top shows a signs preservationists have placed near the Bradley Cove development site. Photo taken from the Facebook page of the Sun’s sister website asburyanchor.com.]

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