Toms River Township Council Special Meeting - July 29, 2026: Affordable Housing Ordinances and Controversial Votes
Toms River Township Council Special Meeting - July 29, 2026
The Toms River Township Council convened a special meeting on July 29, 2026, to consider three ordinances related to the township's fourth-round affordable housing compliance plan. The meeting featured extensive public comment, heated exchanges between council members and the mayor over lack of council involvement, and votes that highlighted deep divisions. Key outcomes included approval of a PILOT extension for Highland Plaza, failure of a zoning amendment for Jamestown Village, and tabling of a first-reading ordinance for Lakewood Road development.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Phil Brilliant (resident) questioned the 30-year PILOT extension for Highland Plaza, specifically the reduction of the service charge from 7.5% to 5% and the $3.2 million payment from the affordable housing trust fund. He also asked about the number of credits (110 units plus 55 bonus credits = 165 total). He expressed general support for using the trust fund as intended.
- Michael Messina (resident) asked whether the council was involved in negotiating these deals. Council members confirmed they were not, leading Messina to characterize the mayor as acting alone.
- Janet Lang (resident) noted that single-family homeowners also pay into the affordable housing trust fund when making renovations, contradicting the mayor's claim that only developers contribute.
- Julie Adamek (resident) opposed the Jamestown Village development, citing traffic congestion, high crime rates, a pedestrian fatality, and the prior denial by the zoning board and appellate court.
- Phil Brilliant (second appearance) questioned why the Jamestown Village ordinance was back after being rejected by the zoning board and upheld by the courts. He also raised concerns about the mayor's negotiations and the involvement of the Meridian downtown project. He expressed suspicion that the mayor was trying to force the downtown towers.
- Michael Messina (on item 8) clarified that the Honey Locust Drive property was solely for a cemetery, not housing.
Discussion Items
- Item 6: PILOT Extension for Highland Plaza Affordable Housing Development – Final reading. The ordinance extends the PILOT for 30 years (to 2064), reduces the service charge from 7.5% to 5% after 2034, and authorizes $3.2 million from the affordable housing trust fund. The mayor defended the deal as necessary to preserve 110 affordable units plus 55 bonus credits, funded by developer fees. Council President Sickozi stated the council was never consulted.
- Item 7: Jamestown Village Zoning Amendment – Final reading. The ordinance amends the EMF-23 zone to generate 42 affordable units. Public comment highlighted the prior zoning board denial and court affirmation. The mayor and planner argued the developer had filed as an objector and a settlement was necessary to avoid a builder’s remedy. Council members expressed frustration over lack of transparency and the impact on the neighborhood. after debate, the motion to approve failed.
- Item 8: First-Reading Ordinance for Lakewood Road and Cemetery – The ordinance combines three elements: an overlay zone for 1970 Lakewood Road, authorization for a 100% affordable housing project on township-owned properties, and consent for a cemetery. Council President Sickozi objected to bundling three items into one ordinance and noted the council received the documents only an hour before the meeting. A motion to table items 8, 9, and 10 was made and seconded.
Key Outcomes
- Item 6 (Highland Plaza PILOT extension): Motion to approve passed 7-0. Council President Sickozi voted yes but stated the ordinance was entirely the mayor's plan.
- Item 7 (Jamestown Village zoning amendment): Motion to approve failed by a vote of 2-5 (Coleman and Aber in favor; Bradley, Biancini, Nivison, Sickozi, and O'Toole opposed). The mayor then threatened to veto all ordinances if the package was not passed as a whole.
- Items 8, 9, and 10 (Lakewood Road and related ordinances): Motion to table passed 4-3 (Bradley, Nivison, Biancini, Sickozi in favor; Coleman, Aber, O'Toole opposed). The mayor stated he would restructure everything into one ordinance and potentially veto.
- The meeting adjourned without further action after the mayor left early.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Um you ready? I'm ready if you have to do that. Okay. All right. We're gonna call the meeting uh to order, please. Um please please rise for the flag salute. I pledge the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it would be undervisible. Thank you. This special meeting is convened in accordance with provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act of New Jersey. Let the official minutes reflect that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by publishing notices on the township website on July 20th, 2026, pursuant to PL two zero two five semi uh comma C 72, and then after posting same on the town hall bulletin board for such notices and filing same with the township clerk. Um first I want to say to everyone, thank you so much. We have a great turnout tonight for this special meeting. Another special meeting. How many special meetings has this administration had in the last two and a half years? Zoom calls, last minute decisions, ongoing turmoil, last minute notices, and and I'm sure this isn't gonna be the last one. So um just make sure your phones are on silent, and um if you must talk, please go out in the foyer and say a prayer for our town this evening, please. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilman Bradley. Here, Councilman Biancini, here, Council Vice President Iveson. Here, Council President Sickozi here, Councilman Coleman. Here, Councilman Aber here, Councilwoman O'Toole. Here all right, listen. Um Councilwoman O'Toole, can can you hear me? It's uh David Seacosi, Council President. Okay. Um where are you right now? Excuse me. Where are you calling from right now? I am home. Are you home? Okay, are you using your house phone, a cell phone or the township phone? I am using my cell phone, thank you. Okay, is there anyone there with you? Because the the reason is I'm concerned, and there's some other uh council people here. Um, number one, we hope you're well, and um, but we're concerned that um you're continuing to phone in, but you you you have to go through the bylaws of council. Okay, you you have to reach out to me 24 hours beforehand, and you have to let me know that you're gonna be phone calling in. Go ahead, please. She reached out to administration, Dave. And everybody, we have to make a reasonable accommodation when somebody's an information. Mayor, uh you're not recognized yet. And you don't speak for her. No, I'm not speaking for her. I'm speaking for the administration. She reached out to the administration. So she's supposed to reach out. You have to now reasonable. You have to make it.
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