Ocean City Council Puts Funds In Place For Former Getty Gas Station Site

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Council unanimously passed a proposed ordinance to put funding in place to acquire the site formerly occupied by the Getty Gas Station on 9th Street when it met Thursday night at City Hall.

The legislation appropriates $650,000 and allows the city to borrow $617,500 in bonds and notes to acquire the land, either by direct acquisition from the current owner or by condemnation.

Negotiations on that front continue, Ocean City Public Information Office Doug Bergen said Monday morning.

If the owner agrees to sell the property, they would be responsible for site cleanup and inspection prior to the final sale being approved. If Ocean City acquires the land through condemnation, it would be responsible for site clean up, but would be able to use the money set aside to purchase it to instead handle the remediation.

The vote was 6-0, with Councilman Keith Hartzell recusing himself after purchasing a property across the street from former gas station.

In voting in favor of the legislation, Councilman Bob Barr said the city was still considering open space for the land.

Council first authorized the city to look into the possibility of acquiring this land in August. City officials are looking to beautify the 9th Street Gateway after the gas stations were abandoned and became an eyesore.

The ordinance council approved in August also included the BP and Exxon gas stations, and Bud’s Marina. Since then, the former gas stations have been demolished.

Patch file photo