Boardwalk Redevelopment Report Delayed By Ocean City Council

OCEAN CITY, NJ — City Council voted to delay adopting a report that outlines the next steps of redeveloping the Boardwalk, including the former Gillian's Wonderland site at 600 Boardwalk.

Council decided in a 4-3 vote to table two resolutions that would adopt the Boardwalk Subcommittee's final report and send it to the Planning Board for further review.

The reasoning is that local advocacy group Ocean City 2050, which opposes Eustace Mita's plan to construct a luxury hotel at the former Wonderland site, is threatening litigation against the city.

The group filed a litigation hold notice against the city, which orders the city to preserve documents and records relating to a potential lawsuit.

"Since Ocean City 2050 has publicly stated they may file a lawsuit and since we have not yet received that notice as to the elements of the lawsuit, it would be inappropriate for City Council to approve these resolutions," said Councilman David Winslow, who also served as chairman of the Boardwalk Subcommittee.

An attorney hired by City Council to advise on the 600 Boardwalk property also said it was not recommended to take action on the resolutions at this time.

Councilmen Terry Crowley Jr., Tony Polcini and Jody Levchuck joined Winslow in the vote to table the resolutions.

While Councilmen Keith Hartzell, Jim Kelly and Sean Barnes voted against the tabling.

"We need to get moving, folks," Hartzell said.

Ocean City 2050 later said on Facebook that the pending lawsuit does not impact council's ability to adopt the resolution.

"The resolutions tonight simply recognized the committee's hard work and committed to considering its recommendations as the City's planning process moves forward," the group said. "Ocean City spent months developing these broadly supported recommendations. They deserve to be considered—not postponed or set aside. Delaying action only delays the transparent, thoughtful planning process Council itself initiated."

Further Reading

Ocean City Moves Forward With Redevelopment Of Wonderland Site

Ocean City Subcommittee Makes Recommendations For Boardwalk Development

Planner Hired For Wonderland Property In Ocean City