Greg mcguckin loses key anti-development lawsuit in jackson township

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Shore Builders Association has won its lawsuit against Jackson Township. The association balked at the township’s tax on fill dirt imported into the township. One of the benefactors of the victory is Cardinale Enterprises, developer of the massive Adventure Crossing complex.

Adventure Crossing comprises of hundreds of acres of newly deforested land. Cardinale Enterprises is a member of the Shore Builders Association. Another beneficiary of the lawsuit is the Jackson Trails development which is building a 355 acre residential community on South Hope Chapel Road. Both Jackson Trails and Adventure Crossing are represented by the same attorney, Sal Alfieri.

Wilentz, Goldman& Spitzer represented the Shore Builders Association.

Toms River Township Attorney Greg McGuckin failed to produce a victory for the community which pays him $200,000 annually. It’s yet another defeat for the pay-to-play township attorney in Jackson.

The association filed a lawsuit after the township passed an ordinance requiring a soil and fill importation permit. McGuckin drafted the ordinance that was soundly defeated in court.

The plaintiffs argued that the township’s ordinance creates a new level and layer of authority for the township zoning board not allowed by law in New Jersey. The township contended the ordinance was a general law, but because the township gave the enforcement powers to the zoning officer, it was deemed illegal under New Jersey’s municipal land use law.

The court felt the township’s implementation of the soil ordinance was faulty because it was not reviewed by the planning board as required by law.

In court McGuckin conceded that the review of soil permits by the zoning officer is not a traditional authority of that position under New Jersey law.

Judge Marlene Lynch Ford ordered the Jackson Township ordinance to be invalidated.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.