$2.86M deal would preserve 0.59-acre Channel Drive site for public use
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ – Ocean County officials are moving forward with the acquisition of a waterfront parcel in Point Pleasant Beach, advancing a years-long effort to preserve land along Channel Drive for public access and open space.
Update: The wrong parcel was included in the original photo. This has been corrected.
The Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee recommended the purchase of Block 171, Lots 7 and 8—located at 113-115 Channel Drive—for an amount not to exceed $2.86 million, along with up to $6,500 in tax adjustments.
The property, totaling approximately 0.59 acres, is currently owned by the Estate of Eugene Sniezek and has been the subject of prior municipal action and environmental review.
County steps in after local push falls short
The acquisition follows earlier efforts by the Point Pleasant Beach Borough Council, which discussed purchasing the property as part of its long-term open space and waterfront access strategy.
“Years ago, Open Space suggested purchasing this property to preserve waterfront property, create green space, and ensure open land on Channel Dr.,” said Mayor Vitale. “Initial idea is passive recreation with park benches and picnic tables, so people can watch boats go by.”
Officials have also discussed adding a kayak launch and storage area, though more intensive uses such as a full boat ramp were later ruled unlikely due to space and access constraints.
Key Points
- Ocean County plans $2.86M purchase of 0.59-acre Channel Drive waterfront property
- Site previously targeted by borough for open space and public waterfront access
- Proposed use includes passive recreation and potential kayak access
Environmental review and costs
The property has already undergone environmental testing, with officials noting limited contamination.
Mayor Vitale said the borough conducted two phases of environmental due diligence, which identified “isolated hot spots, but no major issues,” with remediation costs estimated at roughly $40,000.
Additional projected costs include approximately $600,000 to replace the bulkhead and about $30,000 to demolish existing structures on the site.
The borough also anticipated receiving roughly $1 million in Green Acres funding to offset acquisition costs.
Debate over cost and public benefit
Despite support from some officials, the proposal drew debate among council members and residents over cost, environmental concerns, and overall value.
Councilmember Byrnes raised concerns about long-term costs and potential unknown contamination, saying there were “a lot of unanswered questions” and suggesting the issue be put to a public referendum.
Others supported the acquisition as a rare opportunity.
Councilmember Ramos pointed to longstanding open space plans identifying Channel Drive as a priority area, calling the property a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain water access for the public along the Manasquan River.”
Councilmember Betten added that the purchase aligns with voter-approved open space goals, saying officials are “acting in a manner consistent with what they asked.”
Referendum push and next steps
At the time of the borough discussions, council members approved a motion to pursue a nonbinding referendum asking voters whether the town should move forward with bonding to acquire the property. Now, the county is going to throw the town a lifeline and purchase the property.
With Ocean County now stepping in through the Natural Lands Trust Fund, the acquisition could shift from a municipal purchase to a county-backed preservation effort.
Officials have not yet announced a closing timeline or a total cost for the rediation and transformation of the site to become a park.