Toms river church drops plan for homeless shelter under threat of eminent domain

Toms River, NJ – Fearing Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick and the township council would move forward on a plan to use eminent domain to seize a waterfront parcel of on a church site sought to convert into a downtown homeless shelter, the Christ Episcopal Church has announced they have abandoned thier plan to build a large homeless shelter on that site.

The homeless shelter faced criticism by hundreds of residents in the local neighborhood who did not want a full-time homeless shelter operating in their backyard.

With over 90% of the homeless being drug addicted or mentally ill, residents grew more concerned after realizing most of those individuals would have no place to go during the day and would wander through their neighborhoods.

After their plan was denied by the township zoning board, church officials said Rodrick’s threat of eminent domain factored heavily into their decision not to appeal the denial.

Rodrick and the Toms River council are in the process of performing a resident survey to determine whether or not the people of township would like to see the property as part of the town’s park expansion program of the downtown waterfront open space project or a homeless shelter.

While the council has temporarily halted official actions to move forward on the plan for now. The church has until August 22nd to file an appeal in Ocean County Superior Court. Legal experts believe the church had a good chance to overturn the zoning board’s denial.

“Bishop Sally French and I agree that it would be best for us not to pursue any further action at this time,” Rev. Lisa Hoffman, Christ Church’s rector said. “Bishop French and I agree that to make any other decision would not be in the best interest of the congregation at this time and could violate that sacred trust.”

The church’s efforts to move forward came under additional pressure when the Toms River Township Council passed an ordinance in April authorizing the use of eminent domain to acquire the parcel for a proposed community park.

Homeless shelter advocates on the council, David Ciccozzi, Tom Nivison, and James Quinlisk voted in support of the homeless shelter when the ordinance was introduced before the township council.

Some political insiders suggest the mayor never intended to acquire the church, but used the threat of eminent domain to disuade the church from building the shelter. The mayor has expressed concerned that a county run library soup kitchen has been used as a dumping ground for state’s homeless by non-profits who are paid to service and transport the increasing the number of homeless being dumped off for the day by those organizations from across the state.

Mayor Rodrick has helped to place more than 60 homeless individuals into housing, none of whom were from Toms River.

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