Redrawing Borders: Seaside Park Weighs Annexing South Seaside Park Neighborhood

Park Seaside Borough authorities are studying whether Berkeley Township’s South Seaside Park should be merged into Seaside Park. This follows a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that allowed South Seaside Park residents to leave Berkeley Township and join Seaside Park under state law.

The borough recently hired Wall Township consulting firm Government Strategy Group. The company will conduct a “Annexation Impact Study” to weigh the pros and cons of annexation. The contract limits the study’s cost to $125,000, but it may be lower depending on its scope.

Seaside Park Mayor John Peterson stresses the importance of complete information before making a decision. Data on financial, operational, community, planning, zoning, and service-delivery implications will be collected by the borough. Community feedback and public hearings will influence the report.

The journey has been long. In 2014, over 60% of legal voters in South Seaside Park signed a petition to leave Berkeley Township and join Seaside Park. Court struggle lasted years. The Planning Board reviewed the petition 38 times over four years. Berkeley Township objected. The Supreme Court upheld deannexation due to South Seaside Park’s distance from Berkeley’s mainland facilities, minimal social and governmental link, and other grounds.

Geography has been a problem for inhabitants. The mainland of Berkeley borders South Seaside Park across Barnegat Bay. Berkeley residents must drive 13 to 16 kilometers via numerous towns to reach several central municipal services. That separation has caused some to argue that South Seaside Park is more like Berkeley in daily living, services, and community.

Finances are also examined. The annexation could cost Berkeley Township tax income. Proponents say South Seaside Park’s no-longer-needed services may outweigh the loss. Debates center on municipal, policing, and infrastructure costs.

The impact research, public meetings, planning and zoning suggestions, and Seaside Park’s governing body’s vote are the next steps. A two-thirds majority ordinance vote is needed to accept the annexation under state law. Objectors may sue Seaside Park for denying the petition without appropriate consideration. If they think annexation was arbitrary or unjustified, opponents could sue.

This is one of New Jersey’s unusual municipal boundary revisions. Based on this analysis, Seaside Park may add South Seaside Park if the community, economics, legal framework, and long-term planning align.

Sources
New Jersey Supreme Court decision on deannexation of South Seaside Park from Berkeley Township
Township and borough filings on petition and annexation request
Government Strategy Group contract approval by Seaside Park Council
Statements and FAQs released by Seaside Park officials