Mantoloking Resident: Don’t Spend $120K in Taxpayer Dollars to Fight Restaurant Across the Bay

A rendering of a proposed restaurant and banquet facility on Barnegat Bay in Brick. (Photo: Brick Twp.)

A Mantoloking resident recently wrote to Shorebeat, speaking in opposition to his town’s intention to spend up to $120,000 to mount a legal battle against the construction of a restaurant and banquet hall across the bay in Brick. The resident, who forwarded his letter to officials as a letter to the editor, also questioned the motives behind the decision made by Mantoloking’s leaders. The waterfront restaurant and banquet facility is proposed for Barnegat Bay Marina, which sits at the foot of the Mantoloking Bridge.

To The Editor:

As a Mantoloking oceanfront homeowner, I am concerned with regard to the outrageous actions of the Mayor and Council of Mantoloking appropriating $125,000 in “emergency funds” out of next year’s budget to pay for lawyers and professionals in order to oppose a restaurant/banquet facility in Brick Township.

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l am hard pressed to understand how the mayor and council can justify spending taxpayer funds for this so called “emergency.” Was this appropriated because the mayor’s residence will face the proposed structure? Were all the Mantoloking residents polled with regard to the sentiment of our community or is this just a small handful of disgruntled bayfront residents? The overwhelming majority of the residents I have spoken to would love a new waterfront restaurant within walking distance of their homes.

A rendering of a proposed restaurant and banquet facility on Barnegat Bay in Brick. (Photo: Brick Twp.)

Furthermore, isn’t it safer to have a wedding banquet facility in a weather-resistant structure rather than having 400 people under a temporary tent at the Mantoloking Yacht Club? Is that even legal?

l think if the mayor is opposed to this beautiful facility he should pay to oppose it from his personal funds along with his neighbor, Willie DeCamp; coincidentally a trustee for Save Barnegat Bay.

The mayor and council should address problems in our own community, such as the persistent heating and cooling problems in our NEW four million dollar municipal building. When will a Certificate of Occupancy be issued for our NEW town hall? When will our police get a new contract? Aren’t these the emergencies you should be concerned with rather than a building across the bay in another township that won’t even block your sunset?

Mark A. Hartzband, M.D.

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A hearing on the application by the developer of the proposed restaurant and banquet hall will continue at the Oct. 30 meeting of the Brick Township Board of Adjustment.