SOMERS POINT — Residents gathered March 12 to express their displeasure with a plan to build a group home in their neighborhood.
City Council introduced an ordinance Feb. 26 to allow a developer building luxury waterfront townhomes to construct a group home for developmentally disabled adults on the other side of the city to satisfy affordable housing requirements.
Council had adopted a resolution Feb. 12 referring the amended 90 Broadway Redevelopment Plan to the Planning Board for review, but the item was not on the board agenda Feb. 18.
A special meeting of the Planning Board was held March 10, when members declared the amendment jives with the city’s Master Plan. City Council then voted 6-1 to approve the amendment March 12.
That clears the way for the group home to be built at 104 Cleveland Ave., a property owned by Planning Board Chairman Paul Striefsky.
Following the meeting, a photo was sent to the Sentinel showing an image of the lot with a sign stating “Dirty developer deals. McGuigan is a liar,” referring to Councilman Sean McGuigan.
The image was determined to be AI-generated, but the message was clear.
McGuigan called the incident “very disappointing.”
“I suspect this is being done by one or two people that don’t like a couple decisions that I made or initiatives that I supported,” he said. “The strategy is not to sway the vote but is to attempt to demolish my reputation.”
McGuigan said he provides his telephone number in public, and that anyone who has an issue with his vote or believes he lied can call him.
During a previous meeting, Councilwoman Morgan Slaughter questioned why City Council would introduce an ordinance that states the Planning Board approved of the plan before the board had even met to discuss it.
“This ordinance states that it was to be reviewed by them, but it wasn’t, and then also in this ordinance it says that they submitted recommendations to City Council and determined that it was in the best interest of the city to adopt the amended 90 Broadway Redevelopment Plan, but it wasn’t. I’m just curious as to why we’re even doing a first reading on this ordinance if it hasn’t even been discussed with the Planning Board yet,” she said.
Solicitor Tom Smith said it is a common practice, noting that the ordinance would be back before City Council following the board’s meeting.
“What’s the rush to do a first reading assuming that the Planning Board is going to send us in a certain direction if it hasn’t even been discussed yet?” Slaughter asked. “Why not wait until the Planning Board does provide a recommendation and then we develop the ordinance?”
She cast the lone no vote on the amended ordinance.
City Council voted July 10, 2025, to adopt the 90 Broadway Redevelopment Plan, designating the property an area in need of rehabilitation.
It is adjacent to John F. Kennedy Memorial Park and includes three two-unit bayfront homes and an apartment building.
Development plans call for their demolition and the construction of 24 townhouses on the property fronting Great Egg Harbor Bay, requiring an affordable housing element that is planned off-site.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
