Poll shows toms river residents support a scaled-down redevelopment plan downtown.

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River residents want to see their downtown village district redeveloped, but they don’t want massive 10-story apartment buildings. That’s according to an online poll conducted this week by Shore News Network.

Most Toms River residents want to see improvements downtown, including restaurants, bars, and other activities to promote commercial tourism and make the village a destination for more than just going to court and paying your tax bills.

An overwhelming amount of residents disagree with the path current Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill is taking. Hill supports bulk construction, including hi-rise apartments and high-density housing. Hill’s plan relies on first bringing more residents to the downtown area and hoping the business will follow.

Hill’s opponent in June’s primary election, Councilman Daniel Rodrick, sees it differently. Rodrick supports a scaled-down vision that includes making it easier for restaurants with liquor licenses to set up business in the area to attract people to the downtown area without overpopulation the downtown area.

Rodrick sees the possibility of the downtown area becoming a future after-hours nighttime tourism draw but opposes the construction of massive hi-rise buildings and high-density apartment buildings in Hill’s plan.

Only 22% of those who took the poll wanted the village to remain untouched and left as it is.

16.7% agreed with Hill’s plan to build bigger and higher in the downtown area.

61% supported a scaled-down redevelopment plan that focused more on businesses and attractions and less on hi-rise apartment buildings.

Last week, Hill declared “going vertical” was an inevitable side-effect of his plan to redevelop the downtown area.

Rodrick said Toms River’s beautiful waterfront could be the centerpiece of a bustling restaurant scene with shops and other attractions to draw visits from the region to Toms River for a nice night out with a date or the family. He is concerned that building hi-rise apartments will have the opposite effect, causing traffic and deterring outside visitors from spending a night in the area.

Roderick also raised concerns over a PILOT program for a planned 10-story twin tower project that will deprive the hard-hit Toms River School District from much needed tax revenue in the future.

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.