Last week the owners of Waters Gate Marina in Holgate asked residents to attend this past Monday\u2019s Long Beach Township Board of Commissioners meeting in a show of support against the municipality\u2019s eminent domain considerations for the property. However, Kim and Jim Occhipinti offered an update prior to the meeting: \u201cThe mayor reached out to us with a new proposal that does not involve a forced sale of our property through eminent domain, or any sale of our property at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we feared would be years of litigation has, in just two weeks, become a conversation about a path forward that keeps our property in our hands,\u201d the business owners added.<\/p>\n
Waters Gate Marina, at 128 West Osborn Ave., is situated across the street from the LBT Field Station for Marine Education and Research, at 127 West Osborn Ave.<\/p>\n
The Occhipintis aim to continue to run their business and move forward with plans, approved by the township land use board, to build a single-family home on the bayfront lot. The township said previously it was exploring the possibility of acquisition of the site to \u201cpreserve and enhance public access to the waterfront for recreational boating, environmental opportunities and other public purposes,\u201d but it appears that is no longer the case.<\/p>\n
While the couple paused their call for supporters to attend the recent township meeting, they also noted, \u201cThere is no final agreement yet. Our attorney will work through the proposal, and we will keep you updated as much as we can while those discussions continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The meeting, in the end, was a quick one, and included updates about the holiday lights on Long Beach Boulevard, which should be up before Thanksgiving, and dune grass, which is available for residents to pick up at the municipal public works yard at 7910 Long Beach Blvd. in Beach Haven Crest from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Alexander Meehan reminded homeowners they can sign up for WaterSmart online to track water usage. Visit longbeachtwpnj.watersmart.com\/index.php\/welcome<\/a> to register.<\/p>\n He also recommended signing up for Nixle, via local.nixle.com\/long-beach-township-police-department<\/a>, to receive alerts about road closures, storms, flooding and more.<\/p>\n