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After a year of stops and starts, an amendment to open up lot-by-lot development in the Asbury Park waterfront gets underway.

Lot by lot development refers to the ability to develop individual parcels as opposed to the current block by block development guidelines outlined in the Waterfront Redevelopment Agreement [WRA] with master redeveloper iStar; first signed 15 years ago.

“The agreement reached with City Council on a waterfront plan amendment to allow for lot-by-lot development is another step forward in the ongoing renaissance of Asbury Park,” iStar Senior Vice President of Land and Development Brian Cheripka said. “We are pleased to have found common ground with this governing body, and will continue to push for smart and fair long-term planning policies that support economic progress in the waterfront.”

As proposed, the changes remove the need to develop an entire block at a time; allowing for the construction of a minimum 15,000 square foot parcel with at least 100 foot frontage. The changes set parameters for subsequent redeveloper’s agreements – a provision other developers must meet to construct within the waterfront redevelopment zone, which is  governed by iStar.

But local waterfront lot owners like Pat Fasano [owner of Bond Street Bar] and John McGillion [owner of Johnny Mac House of Spirits on Main] have spoken out in recent months about how the proposed changes still limit development of their parcels, which fall under the outlined 15,000 square foot with 100 feet of frontage guidelines.

A proposed 12,500 square foot reduction was proposed at year’s end but the City Council was deadlocked on a vote to move it forward.  

Mayor John Moor was the sole no vote Wednesday night when the original proposal came back before the City Council.

“I agreed with some of the smaller developers,” Moor said. “This was an issue brought to us by the local redevelopers and I looked at it. By doing my own research, I found seven properties that could begin the development process if we reduced the square footage.”

City Manager Michael Capabianco said the resolution vote was the first step. The proposed plan amendment now moves on to the Planning Board, which will determine if the new guidelines are consistent with the newly amended Master Plan. The Planning Board will have 45 days to return their findings.

“We are looking at the last meeting in March for the introduction of an ordinance,” he said. “The second reading will be in [mid] April, where then lot by lot development could begin roughly by June 1st.”

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