WILDWOOD, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Development in Wildwood has become a costly and cumbersome process, according to one New Jersey assemblyman. Now he's trying to fix that.
Joe Zarrolli, a real estate broker, held up Pacific Avenue as an example of what once was in Wildwood.
"In the '50s and '60s, it was almost where rock 'n' roll was born, and it’s become, you know, a very very less traveled thoroughfare," he said.
Zarrolli also owns a bowling alley in Wildwood, and he said getting projects done these days is a slog of red tape and fees. "It does become cost prohibitive to some of these developers, and it stops development in its tracks," he complained.
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There’s a project right now, according to Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, that would convert an old Catholic school on New Jersey Avenue into condos. But he said it's being held up because of a special coastal permit needed to build beyond 500 feet of the high water line. That permit costs $30,000.
McClellan said he's heard the complaints and wants to eliminate the permit.
"If we’re able to get rid of that problem, it allows some of these towns to start to thrive, and you know, we all need redevelopment, especially now. We see the housing market is booming," he said.
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The assemblyman added the bill would give Wildwood and other shore towns an opportunity to grow like Atlantic City and Asbury Park have with similar rules. "It's going to encourage developers to come into town and redevelop," said McClellan.
Zarrolli expects to see more construction if the bill passes. "Reducing the restrictions on these types of developments will make it a lot easier to get more inventory on the market," he said.
The bill cleared the development committee, but it's unclear when it will be up for a full vote. McClellan said he hopes by the end of the summer.
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