Home Care In Seaside Heights, NJ

A condominium association and one individual have filed a lawsuit in attempt to overturn a planning board decision that allows for the reconstruction of Hooks Bar & Grill in Seaside Heights.

The lawsuit, filed by the Ocean Villas At Seaside Heights Condominium Association, asks a judge to reverse the approval of the construction of a new restaurant and several residential units, declare the board’s approval null and void, and cover the plaintiff’s legal fees. Ocean Villas is located directly across the street from Hooks. While the lawsuit, a copy of which is embedded below this article, centrally focuses on an outdoor patio section, residents at meetings primarily complained about the height of the building, and their belief that it appeared too “boxy.” Neither of these objections were cited in the complaint, however, which was filed at the end of September.

Instead, attorney Ronald Gasiorowski, representing the Ocean Villas homeowners’ association and one individual – Peter J. Wilcox – focused on parking lot size and the fact that the proposed new restaurant includes outdoor seating.

The board, in July, approved the proposed development of the site, which calls for the legendary watering hole to be replaced with a mixed-use complex that would include a parking deck and 22 condominium units, a pool for residents, some outdoor space, as well as a reconstructed restaurant with a modern design. The new “Hooks” restaurant and bar would include a 4,800 square foot dining area. The residents’ parking deck would include 40 spaces, while a customer parking area would include an additional 29 spaces. The board granted a variance to allow 29 spaces instead of 48, citing the availability of street parking and nearby municipal lots. The building would stand at 54-feet, 6-inches, where 41 feet are normally permitted in the zone. The board, however, routinely grants height variances to businesses and newly-developed properties due to flood concerns.

Gasiorowski wrote that the Retail Business Zone, where the majority of the Hooks property is located, allows restaurants where patrons are “seated at tables and chairs in a dining room.” This language in the zoning ordinance prompted him to argue that the restaurant should not be allowed since outdoor patio seating is not expressly listed as a permitted use.

“Because [Hooks] proposes substantial ‘outdoor’ seating that is not in a ‘dining room’ that is enclosed by walls, this portion of the proposed restaurant and bar is not a permitted use in the R-B Zone and an additional use variance was required but not noticed for, considered, or granted by the Planning Board,” the complaint states.

Gasiorowski adds that the 952 square foot patio is “functionally integrated with the interior dining room area” and, if allowed at all, should require more parking to be added to the site.

He also alleges that the applicant did not detail the differences between the existing restaurant and the proposed restaurant “including hours of operation, noise levels, lighting, its location on the lot and the location of people gathering to wait for a table or leaving the restaurant along the streets and sidewalks,” which precludes “an informed decision by the board.”

The complaint also accuses the board of “refusing” to respond or engage with residents who voiced concerns, though the meeting included a mandatory public comment period during which several speakers addressed the dais. Wilcox, one of the plaintiffs in the case, spoke at the meeting, the record shows.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that Hooks did not meet a complex state standard known as the “Medici criteria,” which sets forth a rubric of positive and negative criteria that must be met when variances are requested in certain planning board applications.

In an answer written by Board Attorney Steven Zabarsky, the board holds that “the record of public hearings speaks for itself” with regard to public participation at the meeting, and Gasiorowski’s complaint “sets forth legal conclusions and questions of law to which no response is required,” leaving the plaintiffs to their proofs. The borough has asked that the case be dismissed with prejudice since the plaintiffs are alleged to have failed to comply with the state’s Tort Claims Act and failed to exhaust all administrative and judicial remedies prior to filing the litigation.

Superior Court Judge Francis Hodgson is presiding over the case, with an initial discovery period set for 450 days.

Read the Complaint:

The first steps of the construction of a 24 townhome development by builder K. Hovnanian in Seaside Heights is getting underway about two months after the company closed on the property in the southern part of the borough where it will be located, but the renowned development firm had one request before shovels hit the ground: relief from a requirement in the borough’s redevelopment agreement.

The Seaside Heights planning board voted 4-3 Monday night in favor of granting a waiver for one a requirement that seems minor at first glance, but drew concern from some board members. The waiver will allow Hovnanian to use vinyl siding on all elevations, “as they feel it will be more aesthetically pleasing and have continuity in the appearance of the buildings,” a memorandum from the borough said. In the redevelopment agreement for the community – which is being built in the parcel that once was home to the now-demolished Offshore Motel at the Boulevard and Dupont Avenue – it was mandated that “stone, brick, and fiber cement panel systems are the preferred materials for street facing elevations.” Vinyl siding was expressly prohibited to be used for street-facing elevations. The company’s representatives said Monday night that they are ready to solicit bids for construction materials and preferred to use vinyl – at least in a modern form that emulates other materials.

The prohibition on vinyl for portions of the buildings came from a desire on the part of borough officials who saw other materials as higher-end and less prone to wear in the coastal environment. Hovnanian, according to testimony, had always favored vinyl, but agreed to comply with the redevelopment plan’s specifications when they were adopted by the borough council.

“We capitulated at the time, but we would like relief at this time since we’re going out to bid,” said Carl W. Erler, an attorney representing Hovnanian.

The request led to resistance from some board members, including Thomas Faragalli, who expressed concern after seeing vinyl siding at his own home deteriorate and need replacement due to the harsh coastal environment. He questioned whether the material could withstand the weather and remain in place after the builder turned the development over to a homeowners’ association.

“Vinyl siding doesn’t do well on this island,” he said. “I think you guys should consider sticking with the higher-end stuff – I think it will look better down the road.”

Joseph Lipanovski, an architect with Hovnanian, countered that numerous other projects in town include vinyl siding on all sides, and the latest products on the market closely resemble other materials and are able to withstand the elements at a lower cost. Since other portions of the building would utilize vinyl siding, switching to a different material on one side could actually take away from its aesthetic appeal, he added. Lipanovski said prices for the units have not yet been determined, but they would by “in the $700,000 range.”

“The reason we always contemplated it is because we wanted to maintain standard consistency of the material,” he told board members. “Turning around to the rear, which is fairly highly visible, from all aspects of the community, we wanted to make sure that the uniformity in style is maintained throughout the four sides of the building.”

Lipanovski said vinyl siding is “by far, the predominant material” in new construction in town.

Erler said the exterior appearance of vinyl versus alternative materials were so close that renderings of the future townhomes could not even be changed to reflect the difference. Indeed, some board members went on to express their surprise at the quality of samples passed out at the meeting, and how well they mimicked other materials at a lower price.

The board’s 4-3 approval of the somewhat-minor change effectively signaled the final leg of preparations before the company’s multi million dollar investment into the borough would come to fruition. Surrounding the buildings, Hovnanian plans to add flora to the site and will rebuild curbs and drive aisles that are reflective of the borough’s redevelopment plans, as well as the county’s design of the Boulevard business district’s sidewalks. There will be concrete curbing and sidewalks installed along the side streets and granite-block curbing along the Boulevard. Altogether, Hovnanian will plant 48 trees, 130 shrubs and a buffer between the complex and its residential neighbors.

Hovnanian paid $4.7 million for the property and plans to invest $16.4 million into the construction 24-unit townhome community, representing one of the largest investments of its kind in borough history. The timeline for construction – which is also governed by the redevelopment agreement between the company and the borough – calls for the first building to be constructed before the end of 2026.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS — The weekend nor'easter has led to the postponement of Sunday's annual Ocean County Columbus Day parade.

Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vaz told New Jersey 101.5 that the three-day Italian Festival started as scheduled on Friday afternoon along Grant Avenue and continues on Saturday. Ocean County Parade Committee chairman Michael Blandina said the festival was "very crowded" late Friday afternoon

New Jersey 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow expects Saturday to be cloudy and dreary with a few showers but a calm day overall.

However, the festival and parade are cancelled for Sunday as the entire Jersey Shore is impacted by the nor'easter. Zarrow expects wind gusts of 40-60 mph on Sunday with moderate to major coastal flooding.

Organizers plan to reschedule the event for October 19

Bladina said that prior to the changes, both events were expected to attract 80,000 to Seaside Heights. He expects most of the scheduled parade participants to be back on the 19th.

"We lose a couple of bands because they got other commitments. We lose a couple ofgroups and organizations. But we might even pick up some that couldn't make it this week," Blandina said.

The parade will definitely lose a group from Italy that was performing, as they are scheduled to leave on Thursday.

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Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Getaway Spots to Check Out This Summer in New Jersey

Here’s something to consider, New Jersey residents. If you still want to get away for a little bit this summer but can’t afford it, think about doing a staycation right here in the Garden State.

Sure, you can go to the Jersey Shore, the Wildwoods, Atlantic City, but those are big tourist spots. Consider checking out these 10 getaway spots “off the beaten path.”

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. – The boardwalk will be bursting with Italian pride, live music, and family fun this weekend as the hosts its annual Italian Festival and Columbus Day Parade in Seaside Heights.

The three-day celebration kicks off Friday, October 10, with opening ceremonies and entertainment stretching from Grant Avenue to Ocean Terrace. Festivalgoers can expect a mix of traditional Italian performances, local favorites, and international acts — including I Canterini delle Riviera Jonica Melino Romolo from Roccalumera, Messina, Italy.

Crowds will also enjoy performances by The Cameos, Juke Box Legends, Patsy Palma, Bob Kulik, and Jimmy Bono Geany, who will perform throughout the weekend in the entertainment and dining tent.

The 34th Annual Ocean County Columbus Day Parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, October 12, along The Boulevard, featuring marching bands, floats, cultural groups, and vintage cars. This year’s parade once again honors Italian-American heritage and the local community’s long-standing ties to the Jersey Shore.

The Sunday lineup also features Mia & Frank, Rancho Folclorico “Dança Na Eira”, and the ever-popular Strolling Metropolitan Festival Band. The festivities will close with a final performance by the Juke Box Legends at 5:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.

The has hosted the festival for more than three decades, combining cultural pride with seaside tradition. Organizers encourage visitors to arrive early for parking and to check local listings for potential schedule changes.

From Italian folk songs to classic cars and boardwalk fare, Seaside Heights will once again transform into a vibrant slice of Italy — a celebration of culture, community, and Jersey Shore spirit.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. – A mighty nor'easter pounded the majority of the Eastern Seaboard throughout the weekend, closing beaches from Virginia to New York and creating coastal flooding in storm-weary areas that recently experienced flooding from back-to-back hurricanes brushing the U.S. East Coast.

The weekend started with heavy rain in the Southeast, leading to coastal flooding in Charleston, South Carolina. Roads were inundated with water, leading to closures for the city.

Some of the strongest wind gusts were reported from the Carolinas over the weekend, with a gust of 58 mph on Pine Island, North Carolina, and gusts over 50 mph in multiple other locations along coastal areas.

Along North Carolina's Outer Banks, road crews with the Department of Transportation worked furiously to clear Highway 12 for the storm-battered areas of Hatteras Island. Parts of the highway were closed on Sunday due to significant flooding.

FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne reported from Buxton, North Carolina, where nine homes collapsed over the past two weeks from coastal flooding and erosion caused by multiple tropical systems in the Atlantic. Yet another home appeared at risk of collapse with the latest round of relentless waves.

Nor'easter impacts crawled up the coast, as beachside communities prepared for the wind and coastal flooding to come.

Significant tidal flooding was forecast to peak in Virginia on Sunday and continue on Monday. FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell was in Virginia Beach, where officials were concerned about river flooding due to high tides.

In Ocean City, Maryland, FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray watched as the conditions rapidly worsened Sunday morning. Waves overtook the sandy beachfront, and winds near 50 mph blasted the area.

On Monday, the surf continued to pound the coastline.

As high tide approached, massive waves crashed onshore in Ocean City.

(Robert Ray / FOX Weather)

By Sunday, winds and nasty surf reached the Jersey Shore area, with big waves pounding areas in Ocean and Monmouth counties. The boardwalk in Seaside Heights was closed up ahead of the worst impacts.

Winds topped 60 mph at Barnegat Lighthouse on Long Beach Island on Sunday and continued to blast the Jersey Shore with 30-mph sustained winds on Monday.

New Jersey was placed under a state of emergency ahead of the worst weather impacts. On Sunday, New York was also placed under a state of emergency.

The wind and flooding threat from the nor'easter continued Monday, farther north, including New York and New England.