TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Toms River Councilman David Ciccozzi is fighting to defund Mayor Dan Rodrick’s lawsuit against a high-density ten-story apartment twin tower developer who is suing the town to push the unpopular project through approval through the courts.
Ciccozzi has voted several times to defund the lawsuit by trying to block the township from paying the lawfirm who is fighting the battle to keep former Mayor Mo Hill’s downtown city project where it currently is, in the trash.
Voters in Toms River rejected Hill’s plan 70% to 30% in numerous online polls and in the election booth.
The political and development battle over reshaping downtown Toms River is intensifying as two key figures tied to former Mayor Mo Hill’s controversial 10-story twin tower project now seeks re-election while opposing the current mayor’s effort to defend the township in court.
Councilman David Ciccozzi, a downtown landowner who previously supported Hill’s high-rise redevelopment plan, joined Councilman James Quinlisk in voting against Mayor Dan Rodrick’s move to hire outside legal counsel to protect the township’s interests in its dispute with developer Capodaglia.
Ciccozzi also served on the Toms River Planning Board that developed the plan to turn the small village into a bustling city with buildings as tall as 12 stories.
The ordinance, approved by a 5–2 vote, authorizes the township to retain the state-level firm Rainone, Coughlin, Minchello, LLC — a group with deep redevelopment and construction expertise. Rodrick said the firm is fighting for Toms River to defend itself against Capodaglia’s failure to meet contractual obligations for the massive downtown complex.
The Hill legacy and the downtown deal
Both Ciccozzi and Quinlisk supported the Mo Hill administration’s deal that gave the developer township land for free and offered a long-term payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) arrangement, allowing the builder to avoid paying traditional property taxes to the Jackson School District for years.
When Capodaglia defaulted on key commitments, Ciccozzi and Quinlisk again voted to extend the agreement instead of holding the developer accountable.
Critics online now question Ciccozzi’s objectivity, noting his personal property interests in the same downtown zone where Hill’s project was planned. As Ciccozzi campaigns for re-election, opponents argue he is working to defund the very legal fight meant to protect taxpayers from the fallout of the failed development.
Rodrick pushes back
Mayor Rodrick, long a vocal critic of the Hill-era redevelopment vision, said the township must prepare to defend itself as Capodaglia’s project advances through the courts.
“This firm will defend the township’s interests,” Rodrick said, emphasizing that the developer has already defaulted once.
Instead of a sprawling high-rise complex, Rodrick has advocated for smaller-scale, mixed-use improvements that preserve the town’s suburban character.
“People moved to Toms River to get away from the city, and I will always oppose any effort to turn our town into a city,” he said.
Political storm ahead
The 5–2 majority led by Rodrick and Councilman Justin Lamb marked a reversal of power from the Hill administration, which once dominated the council. Now, those same Hill allies are on defense — and voters are taking note of where loyalties still lie.
If Ciccozzi wins his election in November, he could gain a new super majority on the council with support from his running mates in this year’s election. He could even gain the ability to overturn vetos by Rodrick, ensuring that the lawsuit against the town is defunded and the ten story project championed by Hill and Ciccozzi resumes construction.
With the election approaching, the battle over downtown Toms River has become more than a zoning dispute. It’s a referendum on whose vision — city towers or small-town preservation — will define the township’s future.
