The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has granted a CAFRA permit for the first of six Wildwood high-rise hotels which have already gained city approvals.
The CAFRA permit, which stands for Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, is necessary for any new project which proposes 24 or more units, 49 or more parking spaces, or is located near water. It normally takes a minimum of two years – sometimes much longer – to satisfy NJDEP that their stringent conditions will be met.
The Starlight Resort Hotel became the first to gain the nod from NJDEP. That project is located between Juniper and Glenwood Avenues on the east side of Ocean Avenue and would offer spectacular views of the ocean, beaches, and island. BMF Investments, which is now expected to sell the property to a developer with big bucks and building experience, received approval for a 23-story, 255-foot tall building consisting of 264 residential units (about half sold as condos but all available for hotel rental), a 200-seat restaurant, 654 parking spaces, a spa/swimming pool/fitmess club, and some upscale retail shops.
One condition of the CAFRA permit was that the City of Wildwood create a parking authority and BMF contributes $442,000 to that authority. The city is already in the process of creating that authority. The city previously placated NJDEP by implementing a comprehensive municipal plan, which designated which areas of the city’s eastside could accommodate high-rise construction.
Many interested observers expected the Nouveau Wave, a 25-story high-rise to be located between Rio Grande and Andrews Avenues at Ocean Avenue, to be the first to receive the coveted CAFRA permit. They were turned down over a year ago and needed to make a few changes to their application before gaining approval. Reportedly, they’ve made a few project alterations by adding more hotel units so their application had to be redrawn prior to being resubmitted.
As the high-rises come on line, which should begin by 2011, the convention center should boom and the island will ascend into the next level of its renaissance.
- Mountain Man