🚨 TOMS RIVER TAXPAYER LAND IS ON THE LINE – AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION
On the April 8, 2026 Council Agenda, Item #7 is a FINAL READING of an ordinance to designate Block 171, Lots 23 & 42 for an Affordable Housing Overlay Zone
Let’s be very clear about what this means:
👉 This is TOWNSHIP-OWNED LAND
👉 This land was PURCHASED WITH TAXPAYER MONEY
👉 And now it is being positioned for development
📜 THE FACTS (FROM PUBLIC RECORDS)
📄 The Township bonded millions to acquire land for public purposes, including open space
➡️ The ordinance explicitly authorizes millions in bonds to acquire property
📄 The deed shows Toms River paid over $1.25 MILLION for part of this property
➡️ Block 171, Lots 23 & 23Q Farm
📄 Another parcel (Lot 42) was also purchased with public funds
➡️ Additional taxpayer investment of $378,633.44
👉 THIS IS NOT FREE LAND
👉 THIS IS LAND BOUGHT BY YOU — THE TAXPAYER
⚠️ WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO
The ordinance designates these exact parcels as an Affordable Housing Overlay Zone (MF-16) plus all of the lots included in the 2016 Ordinance appropriating $10,300,000 of Taxpayer money!
Even more concerning:
➡️ The ordinance requires these parcels to be 100% affordable housing set-aside
And importantly:
👉 The overlay applies broadly, not just selectively
👉 Once applied, it opens the door to full-scale development on taxpayer-owned land
❗ THE BIG QUESTIONS
🔴 Where was the FIRST READING of this specific ordinance?
🔴 Why is a final vote happening without clear public visibility?
🔴 Why is taxpayer-owned land being used this way instead of being protected?
🚫 THIS IS THE LINE THAT SHOULD NOT BE CROSSED
Toms River residents paid for this land:
✔️ With taxes
✔️ With bonded debt
✔️ With long-term financial obligations
And now?
➡️ It is being positioned for development instead of preservation
➡️ It risks becoming a giveaway of taxpayer assets
📢 THIS IS NOT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
This is about:
👉 CONTROL OF PUBLIC LAND
👉 TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT
👉 PROTECTING TAXPAYER INVESTMENTS
⚠️ BOTTOM LINE
If this ordinance passes:
🚧 Toms River loses control of land it paid for
🚧 Taxpayer-owned property is repurposed permanently
🚧 Residents are left asking why this happened in the first place
📢 CALL TO ACTION
Residents deserve answers BEFORE a final vote — not after.
👉 Demand transparency
👉 Demand accountability
👉 Demand protection of taxpayer-owned land