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Brush Sides With Fressola, Decries State’s Wal-Mart Decision
By Jo Ann La Russo
With property taxes on the rise and the state struggling to find a way to stop the increases, local officials say it is a paradox that a state department, namely the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), would deny permission to build a project that would bring over $600,000 annually in taxes to the towns of Toms River and Manchester.
That project is the much-discussed Wal- Mart Superstore, slated to be built at the corner of Route 37 and Northhampton Blvd., right on the border of Toms River and Manchester.
It looked to be approved, given the goahead by both town’s planning boards.
Then the state stepped in and said no.
The DEP will not issue the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) permit necessary to build the store because of a northern pine snake found at the site.
Mayors of the two municipalities where the superstore would sit held a press conference last week to show support for the project, which they would like to see kept alive through public support
Toms River’s Mayor Paul C. Brush, and Manchester Mayor Michael Fressola said Monday that the proposed 227,000-squarefoot Wal-Mart received approval from their township planning boards, and that the $45 million ratable would bring a needed economic influx of money and jobs to the area.
The mayors claimed the ratable would bring $341,000 in taxes to Toms River, which amounts to a half cent per $100 of assessed valuation on the tax rate, and $323,000 in Manchester, which represents over 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The mayors showed a list of 7,000 signatures gathered from 25-miles radius in three weeks time showing community support for the project.
“The purpose of this meeting with Mayor Fressola and myself,” said Brush, “is to show that 7,000 area residents are in support of the Wal-Mart Supercenter … Mr. Fressola and I both support the project, and believe that it is vital to our future economic development of the area.”
“We all live at the shore. We have beautiful
Barnegat Bay and the Pinelands, and we
all support the environment,” said Brush, “but it’s difficult for me to explain how one snake held up construction of any site … It is illogical to understand the state’s decision in the matter.”
The proposed super center store will bring in jobs for construction, labor, and retail, said Brush.
“Right now, our commercial ratables make up only 18 percent of our budget. The rest falls on taxpayers,” he said. “Projects like this would help our individual towns economically, and bring in further development to the area.”
The proposed Wal-Mart site is across from Ciba property that Brush said could also be developed in the future.
“The past is history,” Brush said about Ciba- Geigy. “The company is working in good faith to clean up its property, and there are an estimated 1,000 acres of undisturbed land which could also be developed … This is not just about Wal-Mart. It’s about further effect on development of ratables in our township.”
“I have made it clear to DEP officials that this denial will hurt our township more that Wal-Mart,” said the mayor.
Fressola said he agreed with all Brush’s statements, and that he strongly disagrees with the DEP’s denial of the project.
“To stop viable progress for one snake is ridiculous,” Fressola said. “It is the inconsistency of state bureaucracy that is frustrating us.”
Fressola pointed out that the Heritage Mineral tract, a vast, 7,000-acre tract of land that lies behind the proposed Wal-Mart site, was approved for construction of 2,500 residential homes despite the area also being home to an endangered snake.
“The DEP allowed construction on that site, with the same type of snake in the area. Why the DEP won’t allow development on this site is beyond me,” he said.
Fressola said that he believes that the lone pine snake is just an excuse used by the DEP, and cannot conceive why a project that would help out two municipalities monetarily would be denied. The Manchester mayor said that with the application denial, the opportunity that would have provided for many jobs in the area is lost, as well.
“We lose 450 jobs for construction, $670,000 annually in tax ratables for the two townships, and 300 recurring jobs when the store is open,” Fressola said. “There is a lot at stake for help in property tax relief.”
“The DEP won’t let progress continue. We have 22 retirement communities in our town. I have not heard one person voice an objection to this project,” he said.
Regardless, the permit to build the retail store and supermarket on the land on Route 37 was formally denied by CAFRA, on June 1, 2006.
The Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce fully supports the project. Chairman, Dominick Servodio, and president, Lucy Greene, said that they’re concerned with development of Route 37 west and east. “This is the right spot for this development,” said Greene.
“This project would have brought jobs to the area and union construction jobs as well,” Servodio said in a statement. “A region that has seen commercial growth stagnate in recent years.”
Brush and Fressola vowed that they will continue to lobby for the super center that they contend would bring only positive results for the community.
“Someday, this project will be done. I just hope we get the message out that at least 7,000 people support this project,” said Brush.
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