Toms River turning into a city? Critics slap downtown building plans as too colossal
TOMS RIVER - Will plans to build a pair of 10-story apartment towers and a large banquet hall in the downtown change "the village of Toms River into the city of Toms River?"
On Wednesday night, former Mayor and Township Clerk J. Mark Mutter said that is what will happen if council members and Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr. continue to move forward with ambitious plans to redevelop the township's downtown.
"In my judgment, the future of downtown Toms River can be handled in a better way," said Mutter, who is the township's historian. "So far it's being done in a piecemeal fashion, project by project, resolution by resolution."
Mutter successfully lobbied the council to table a resolution that would have continued an agreement with Capodagli Property Co., which was designated "conditional redeveloper" for a downtown parcel that includes a parking lot off Robbins Parkway as well as two dilapidated buildings and a small, fenced parking lot where a former boatworks once stood.
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He urged the mayor and council to convene a public summit to discuss downtown plans, similar to the two meetings to discuss open space preservation that he organized when he was mayor 23 years ago. Those meetings led to passage of a 1.5-cent open space tax that has helped Toms River preserve hundreds of acres of open space, Mutter said.
The Capodagli resolution is expected to be considered again at the April 26 council meeting. The conditional redeveloper designation requires Capodagli to contribute to an escrow account that the township uses to pay for any costs connected to the redevelopment plans.
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Previous downtown failures
In late summer 2022, township officials released renderings of plans for a downtown banquet hall, restaurants and a parking deck with a rooftop garden on the Robbins Parkway property. Capodagli proposed the project, which be would be called "River Chateau." It would be located on the Toms River, adjacent to Huddy Park.
Capodagli has already received township approval to build two 10-story apartment towers at the intersection of Main and Water streets. The towers, which will soar much higher than any other building in the area, have already been criticized by several downtown residents, who say they are too large for the area.
The redevelopment plans have been endorsed by Toms River's business community, which has seen repeated attempts to revive downtown fail over the past 30 years.
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Downtown redevelopment seems likely to be a key campaign issue in the June primary, in which GOP Mayor Hill is expected to face at least two Republican challengers. One of them is expected to be Councilman Daniel Rodrick, who has long opposed the downtown redevelopment plans.
Mutter supported Hill's 2019 campaign, but has recently made public his opposition to the downtown redevelopment proposals.
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Councilman Josh Kopp, who chairs the council's Land-Use Committee, said he will be available to speak to any resident who wants to give input about downtown redevelopment. Kopp stressed that he believes something must be done to boost downtown development, and believes the Robbins Parkway area needs new businesses.
"Anybody here that thinks that doesn’t need redevelopment, sadly, I have to disagree with you," Kopp said of the boat works building, which has been closed since it was severely flooded in 2012's Superstorm Sandy. He said the downtown must have more businesses to draw people than the "300-foot strip" on Washington Street that includes Capone's Italian Restaurant, Garden State Distillery and Battle River Brewing.
The River Chateau plans show two buildings with a parking deck located closest to Water Street. The deck would be built on a parking lot owned by the township that is used for businesses located off Robbins Parkway, as well as for people accessing adjacent Huddy Park.
The buildings include a 12,000-square-foot reception area with a covered bar, along with a 12,000-square-foot restaurant. There are also 6,000-square-foot suites for brides and grooms to prepare for weddings. The proposal includes outdoor terraces that will provide views of the nearby Toms River. A walkway connecting Huddy Park and nearby businesses, including The River Lady paddlewheeler, will also be included in the plan.
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Messenger Street resident Dana Tourmollan said she agrees that downtown needs new businesses but said the township must preserve its public waterfront along the Toms River.
"This is our public waterfront. Do we want redevelopment? Absolutely! (But) I don't want my neighborhood to look like a city," Tourmollan said.
Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and has been writing about local government and politics at the Jersey Shore for nearly 38 years. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River NJ downtown plans slammed, developer put on hold
