News Archive

Middle Township’s Summer Concert Series at the Ockie Wisting Recreation Complex Tuesday July 20th.

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Middle Township granted extension to continue work toward fair housing plan

Public hearing on ‘mandatory set-aside’ ordinance scheduled for August 16

Middle Township took further steps toward establishing a detailed fair housing plan as it anticipates a court order granting the municipality more time to finalize its strategy.

New Jersey Superior Court Judge John C. Porto extended the Township’s immunity from builder’s remedy lawsuits through Sept. 30 as it works on a fair housing plan. Such remedies can permit developers to construct multi-family housing with affordable housing allocated outside the scope of local zoning regulations.

As part of its commitment to voluntary compliance on affordable housing, the Township is scheduled to meet with the Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC). The organization filed a court motion arguing the Township’s immunity had expired, while the municipality maintained its status had not changed as it worked toward resolving outstanding issues.

The Township entered into negotiations with FSHC in 2019 to address its obligation under fair-share housing formulas.

“We are gratified to see Judge Porto extend the immunity through the end of September,” Mayor Tim Donohue said.  “We continue to work in good faith toward a solid plan that aligns with the Township’s vision for sustainable development while creating reasonable opportunities for affordable housing.”

Based on the discussion at a July 7 Case Management Conference, with the consent of all parties, the judge scheduled several steps:

• A requirement for the Township to complete a framework of its Fair Share Plan by July 30.
• A mediation session between the parties on Aug. 5.
• A follow-up conference with the court on Aug. 19.

Meanwhile, the Township’s planner is actively working on a plan to ensure compliance with affordable housing regulations.

The Township took a major step toward its plan by introducing a mandatory affordable housing set-aside ordinance within the Town Center zoning district at its July 7 Township Committee meeting.

The ordinance establishes a 20 percent mandatory affordable housing set-aside requirement for “any residential development located in the TC ‘Town Center’ zoning district.” The rule would also apply to the residential portion of a mixed-use project that consists of five or more new residential units. The Town Center district is the district serviced by public sewer.

Affordable units would be integrated with market-rate units, not in separate buildings or separate areas, according to the ordinance.

The ordinance passed a first reading at the meeting. A second reading, public hearing and consideration for adoption is set for 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Township Committee meeting.

Gandy calls for reopening of Scotch Bonnet Crabbing Pier

Middle Twp. Deputy Mayor seeks county partnership to restore affordable family-friendly attraction

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The crabbing pier at Scotch Bonnet has been closed for three years. Township Committee members support a community petition urging officials to reopen the pier.

Middle Township Deputy Mayor Ike Gandy today called for the creation of a working group between the Township and the County of Cape May to develop a timely and achievable reopening plan for the family-friendly crabbing pier at Scotch Bonnet on Stone Harbor Boulevard.

The crabbing pier was “closed for repairs” nearly three years ago. No steps have been taken since then to address the safety concerns that forced the pier’s shutdown in late July 2018.

“For generations of Middle Township families, the Scotch Bonnet Pier was a summer tradition,” Gandy said. “My grandfather took my dad crabbing there and my dad took me. We hate to see that special experience for families come to an end.”

Gandy pointed out that many hard-working families can’t afford a boat or a fishing charter.

“Regular folks should not be robbed of access to our waterways and affordable opportunities to fish, crab and enjoy the unique natural beauty of Middle Township,” Gandy said.

Middle Township has reached out to County Engineer Robert Church and Commissioner Will Morey to request a meeting with Township Administration and Municipal Engineer Vince Orlando. The Township aims to discuss the challenges in repairing the pier and develop strategies for how to approach them.

“We know there are structural issues, safety concerns and parking problems to be addressed. This is not an easy fix,” Gandy said. “But if we only did what was easy, we wouldn’t get much work done.”

Gandy believes the time to act is now, as the county prepares for the paving and improvement of Stone Harbor Boulevard this fall. The pier is on the north side of the Scotch Bonnet Bridge, along Stone Harbor Boulevard.

“The county should incorporate plans for a parking area and traffic-calming measures at Scotch Bonnet into their pending paving project on the Boulevard,” Gandy said. “This would be a great first step to addressing the needed upgrades and ensure that we build real momentum to reopen the pier for our families.”

Gandy lauded residents’ efforts to draw elected officials’ attention through a grassroots petition drive to reopen the pier. All three members of Township Committee have signed the petition.

“Nearly 1,300 residents and visitors who love the pier and cherish their memories crabbing with friends and family have signed the petition,” Gandy said. “I would be honored to present that petition to the Board of Commissioners on behalf of the people of Middle Township.”

Those who support the reopening of the Scotch Bonnet Crabbing Pier can sign the petition at change.org/p/elected-officials-of-cape-may-county-nj-repair-scotch-bonnet-crabbing-and-fishing-bridge

Rio Grande fire commissioners and Fire Company members team up to add Ockie Wisting flagpoles 

Middle Township will acknowledge contributors during July 13 concert at the rec complex 

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Ockie Wisting Recreation Complex is named for a veteran Rio Grande Fire Company member. Now the site has two flagpoles that were donated and installed with the help of the fire commissioners and fire company. 

Middle Township’s Ockie Wisting Recreation Complex recently received a patriotic donation from the Rio Grande fire commissioners – two brand-new flagpoles.

Former Fire Commissioner J. Gregory Neill was attending a summer concert at the Ockie Wisting Complex when Mayor Tim Donohue expressed interest in a flagpole for the park, which opened in 2017. Neill, whose family previously participated in flagpole donations in the Township, decided to spearhead the new effort at Ockie Wisting.

Now the flagpoles are up, and Middle Township will honor all who contributed to it at an upcoming summer concert on Tuesday, July 13.

The District 2 Rio Grande fire commissioners donated the flags and poles. Firefighters from Rio Grande’s all-volunteer District 2 supplied water for the concrete and helped pour the concrete. John McNulty, owner of Bayshore Landscaping, donated the concrete and additional labor.

Ockie Wisting already had a special tie to the local fire company. The complex is named for Robert O. “Ockie” Wisting, a 51-year member of the Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Company, who lost his life during a fire call. Wisting is the only fire fighter in Middle Township killed in the line of duty.

Neill, who is still a Rio Grande firefighter, rallied support for the project among members of the Middle Township Fire District #2 and the Rio Grande Volunteer Fire Company. He said he wanted this project to have meaning to those who visit Ockie Wisting.

An additional flagpole, contributed by the same group, is located at the Railroad Ave Recreation Complex.

“The Township greatly appreciates the additions of the flagpoles to both Ockie Wisting and Railroad Ave Recreation Complex,” said Mayor Tim Donohue. “We’re thankful to Greg Neill and his family for leading the initiative and all those who contributed to the projects.”

“This is our way of honoring past and present firefighters and past and present fire commissioners for their service and commitment to the fire district and the Township of Middle,” said Neill.

Neill noted that the American flag became particularly important to his family after his son, William, joined the United States Marines Corps. five years ago. Neill and his family previously were involved in flag donations at the Rio Grande Fire Company and two at Goshen Complex.

Middle to hit pause on recreational cannabis licenses

Township will introduce ordinance amid lack of clarity on state regulations

Middle Township will introduce an ordinance on July 7 to ban, at least temporarily, all classes of recreational cannabis licenses.

The Township has supported the pending application of the Insa medical cannabis facility in the municipality and sought public input on permitting dispensaries. But the complexities of state legislation leave too many questions for the Township to proceed at this time.

“Since the law to legalize adult-use cannabis passed in February, the Township has been doing its due diligence to make the most well-informed decision on this important issue,” Mayor Tim Donohue said. “In order to be confident that our plans serve the best interest of the Township, we need to fully understand the state regulations and we need a final answer on whether or not the application for a medicinal cannabis facility planned for Indian Trail Road is going to be approved by the state. We still don’t have those answers and the clock is running out on us.”

After New Jersey legalized marijuana, municipalities were given an Aug. 22 deadline to regulate the public use, sales and manufacture of cannabis within their borders.

Middle Township already acted to ban marijuana smoking in public spaces, which is consistent with its regulations on cigarette smoking and alcohol use.

The Township has not received the necessary details and direction from the state to move forward with marijuana licenses, Donohue said. If a municipality takes no action to ban recreational adult-use sales by the Aug. 22 deadline, cannabis sales are permitted by default and the municipality cannot propose a ban for another five years.

Middle Township was among several communities to approach state lawmakers about extending the Aug. 22 deadline until the state could provide more clarity. But the date was not changed and Middle Township must take action at its next meeting to pass a ban by the deadline.

“It’s a frustrating situation for the Township Committee,” Donohue said. “More than two-thirds of Township voters supported legalization and we are already on the record in support of the Insa application for a medicinal cannabis facility here. I believe we are moving toward a consensus that would permit at least one recreational dispensary.  But we simply do not have all the information needed at this time to be comfortable with that decision.”

Communities that pass ordinances banning recreational cannabis sales before the Aug. 22 deadline have the option to make those ordinances less restrictive on their own timetables.

While residents have expressed a variety of concerns related to legalization, Donohue said marijuana can be used locally whether or not Middle Township permits recreational dispensaries.

“Banning recreational sales doesn’t ban legal weed from any town,” Donohue said. “Adult residents can still purchase and use cannabis, in its many consumable forms, from sources outside township limits, including delivery to their door from an approved New Jersey dispensary.”

Towns that permit dispensaries can tax retail sales up to 2 percent and wholesale transactions at 1 percent. Municipalities in other states have gained significant revenue, helping to reduce increases in property taxes, and fund cannabis education, addiction prevention and community policing efforts.

“The law as passed is complicated and the specifics of the regulatory environment remain unclear,” Donohue said. “In order to protect the Township, we must act to ban sales for now. In order to do so, we must introduce the ordinance at our July 7 meeting to beat the August 22 deadline.”

Middle Township proclaims July 7 ‘Miss New Jersey Day’ in honor of local pageant winner

PHL17 production coordinator Alyssa Sullivan is a 2014 graduate of Middle Township High School

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Cape May Court House, N.J. – When Alyssa Sullivan was crowned Miss New Jersey on June 19, her Middle Township High School vocal music teacher was thrilled, but not surprised.

“Seeing her perform, you just knew she was going to be Miss New Jersey,” said Debby Dalfonso, who watched the pageant via live stream. Sullivan, a lifelong resident of Cape May Court House, graduated from MTHS in 2014. Dalfonso directed her in musicals and choral ensembles throughout her high school years.

“Alyssa has always been a very confident, very driven person. Even at 14 years old, she knew what she wanted, which is very unusual in a high school student,” Dalfonso said.

Now another honor is on the way for the 25-year-old pageant winner; Middle Township will proclaim July 7 as “Alyssa Sullivan, Miss New Jersey Day.” Second runner-up and fellow Middle Township resident Augostina Mallous will receive a certificate of honor.

The proclamation for Sullivan, which will be read at the Township Committee meeting on July 7, notes that she “credits Middle Township as playing a huge part in helping her become the person she is today.”

“We’re very proud of Alyssa and we’re proud that Middle Township offers an outstanding education and values that help young people achieve their dreams,” said Mayor Tim Donohue. “Alyssa leads by example. She sets and achieves goals, and generously gives her time through community service.”

Sullivan’s character education platform is “Peer Challenge Commit 2 Character.” Through assemblies and other presentations, Sullivan encourages students to understand that high-risk behaviors could derail their futures.

The former Middle Township High School student, now a production coordinator at PHL17, is an example of what can happen when you stay on track, Dalfonso said.

“She’s easily one of the most tenacious, hard-working, determined people I have ever met in my entire life,” she said. “Her motivation actually makes me feel more motivated.”

Sullivan showed particular determination in her pursuit of the Miss New Jersey title. She competed in the pageant five previous times before her win. She also represented the state in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Contest and finished among the top 8 in the country.

Now she’ll go on to the Miss America Pageant, which will be held in December at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

“If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done. The real Alyssa could only take shape when I learned what it truly meant to follow my heart in every decision I made and throw away my doubt and fear of failure,” Sullivan said in a statement on the Miss New Jersey website.

Sullivan’s dreams also have included performing on Broadway and a career in broadcast journalism, said Dalfonso, who remains close with Sullivan and has helped her with interview coaching and other pageant preparations.

Sullivan’s faith and community involvement have kept her grounded. She was a founding member of the ACT Now Youth Group at Our Lady of the Angels Church, president of the Class of 2014 at Middle Township High School, and a member of many other school clubs. She has volunteered with organizations including Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Toys for Tots in Cape May County. Sullivan graduated summa cum laude from Rowan University in 2021 with a journalism degree.

Dalfonso, a previous pageant contestant, believes the competitions are a valuable forum for honing interviewing and performing skills. And she believes Sullivan’s extensive pageant experience and work ethic will give her an edge in the Miss America contest.

“I am so excited for her. Alyssa is successful because she is willing to work harder than everyone else.”

Middle Township Trash and Recycling Service for the Independence Day Week (July 5th-9th, 2021) will Remain as Scheduled.

Reminder:  Trash receptacles are not to be larger than 50 gallon capacity.  Larger receptacles will not be picked up.