A decade after “Jersey Shore” launched its brand of Garden State infamy in Seaside Heights, a neighboring town will avoid the hoopla of a spinoff reality show being filmed within its borders.
Lavallette Mayor Walter LaCicero said “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation,” a spinoff of the original series, will not be filming in his town this year. The producers of the show, 495 Productions, had sent a letter of interest to Lavallette borough officials, saying they were considering filming a portion of the current season in a residential home and would limit filming to private property. The town was poised to formally reject the request, however it was never put into writing and the show apparently began taping elsewhere.
“They didn’t really submit any formal application,” said LaCicero.
Several residents came to a borough council meeting on Monday night to speak in opposition to the show taping in Lavallette. The meeting began with an announcement that the show was not coming to town.
The letter of interest from 495 Productions may still spur action on the part of the governing body. Borough officials are considering adopting a film ordinance that would require permits and regulate the filming of shows on private property in residential neighborhoods.
“For private property, we’re going to look into an ordinance that worked for a few other towns,” LaCicero said.
Some towns, including Toms River, adopted strict filming ordinances specifically with “Jersey Shore” and its spinoffs in mind. Last summer, Brick Township denied 495 Productions permission to film in a bayfront home that was vacant and up for sale.
