Little Egg Harbor board rejects off-road vehicle park

Donna Weaver

Little Egg Harbor Township - Early Thursday morning, the township Zoning Board voted overwhelmingly to reject an off-road vehicle park proposed in the township.

The fourth and final meeting lasted five hours, according to applicant Dale Freitas, director of the Atlantic Off-Highway Vehicle Park.

"I respect the board's decision, but I really don't believe their reasons were the reasons it was denied," Freitas said. "Walking in there last night, they already made their decision."

Freitas said one of the reasons the board voted against granting a use variance for the park was because the members took objection to the state putting the facility in the township's backyard.

"They (the board) said the property was zoned residential, and they feel it's a residential area," he said.

Freitas was planning to transform 120 acres owned by Shoreline Materials off Thomas Avenue into a riding area for off-road vehicles. The state Green Acres program and federal grants and economic-development funding would pay for the project. The state Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres program would have provided $1.15 million for a conservation easement on the property, and the Recreational Trails Program would have provided another $1.15 million.

Freitas said board members also objected to the state allowing the owner of the property to not restore the property to its natural condition before it was sold to be used for the park.

Freitas said he does have a plan for another park location, but would not reveal any information Thursday afternoon.

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Source: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/ocean/article_c393faaa-9e70-11de-a1c0-001cc4c03286.html

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