Jersey Shore outlet stores agreement signed
Redevelopment agreement signed; project to begin
BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer

TINTON FALLS - The long-awaited Jersey Shore Premium Outlet Center, to be built on Route 66, was back on the agenda for last week's Borough Council meeting.

Council members unanimously approved an in-depth redevelopment agreement with the developer of the 70-acre property, Chelsea Property Group (CPG) of Roseland. The redevelopment agreement includes infrastructure improvements at the site and construction of the outlet center.

The infrastructure improvements are defined as the rehabilitation, construction and widening of Victoria Boulevard and Essex Road, the construction and/or extension of sewer and water service connections, street lighting, sidewalks and landscape improvements as well as the construction of an overpass and similar improvements to Route 66.

According to the extensive agreement, with the approval of the redevelopment agreement between the borough and CPG Tinton Falls Urban Renewal LLC, all requisite action has been taken by the borough and all requisite consents have been obtained.

"To the best knowledge of the borough, there are no writs, injunctions, orders or decrees of any court or governmental body that would be violated by the borough entering into or performing its obligations under this redevelopment agreement," the document states.

Council President Michael Skudera said this agreement means that the project can officially start.

"The needed building permits with the town are currently in progress. The borough attorney is not aware of any other legal issues with the town."

The agreement outlines the responsibilities of both parties, the developer and the borough, and acknowledges that the construction of the project will impact neighborhoods and contiguous communities. They agree to take all steps that are reasonably necessary in order to minimize material negative effects that construction may produce.

The redeveloper anticipates the completion of construction of the infrastructure improvements within 24 months after the issuance of all necessary permits and approvals for construction.

It has been four years since the project was first proposed. Construction of the outlet mall was granted final site plan approval from the Planning Board on May 11, 2005, but there were several lawsuits standing in the way as well as a question about sewage capacity at the Township of Neptune Sewerage Authority, which was eventually resolved.

The Asbury Park Press on the Neptune side of the street opposed the project and filed two lawsuits, one of which has been dismissed. A group called The Shark River Cleanup Coalition, an environmental group, also sued over environmental concerns, and that suit was also cleared.

In addition, the project was complicated by the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements. Tinton Falls declared the area in need of redevelopment, which cleared the way for $7 million worth of state-subsidized traffic improvements and tax ratable development in the area.

To make the 450,000-square-foot Jersey Shore Premium Outlet Center accessible, an overpass was deemed necessary. Chelsea Group, along with other stakeholders, offered to pay for half of the cost, or $3.5 million, with the Department of Transportation paying the other half.

Called the Victoria Boulevard overpass, it is currently under construction and will be the main driveway into and out of the outlet mall.