County Claiming Right of Way on North Main Street Property in Manasquan

A local business owner is requesting a variance from the Manasquan Planning Board to tear down a residential home and build a three-story structure with a first-floor office, but the county is claiming right of way on a portion of the property that the applicant's attorney says could make the lot worthless.

The applicant’s attorney, Gregory Vella, of Farmingdale-based firm Collins, Vella and Casello, told the board Tuesday that his client wants to demolish the two-story home at 30 North Main Street and construct a three-story mixed-use building with an office on the ground floor and two apartments above.

The property owner was not at the hearing, but according to property records the lot is owned by the John McKenzie Estate. Nobody currently resides in the home, Vella said.

Vella said a borough zoning officer told him that while the lot is permitted for commercial use – defined as a business that sells goods or services – an office does not fall under that category. The applicant is applying for site plan and mixed use variances, according to the application.

But, holding up a letter from the Monmouth County Planning Board, Vella said the county was requesting substantial right of way on behalf of themselves and the borough which would make the lot “un-buildable.”

“They are now requesting substantial right of way to the county and to the borough to such a point that, to my perspective, the lot is un-buildable and you can't build anything of reasonable size on that property,” Vella said.

The applicant, Vella said, was not ready to walk away from the property and has requested a meeting with the county board.

The application will be carried to the borough board’s next meeting, scheduled for Dec. 20.