Take Action: Route 37 Shelter Conversion
Tracking the zoning process and public hearings for the HABcore emergency shelter conversion at the former Pelican Inn and Suites.
Upcoming meetings
No meetings are confirmed as public yet for this issue. Check the contacts below for posted agendas, or sign up for alerts on the Take Action index and we'll post here the moment a hearing is scheduled.
How to submit public comment
- Confirm the meeting date, time, and location on the Township's official Zoning or Planning Board page (linked above). Agendas are typically posted a few days in advance.
- Most board meetings include a public comment period. Written comment can usually also be submitted in advance to the board secretary or Township Clerk. Confirm the current process and deadline on the Township site, since procedures can change.
- Keep comments focused on zoning, process, traffic, flood-zone site conditions, and emergency-services capacity. See the issue page above for background you can cite.
- Remember that hearings and written comments become part of the public record.
Official contacts
We don't want to publish names or phone numbers we haven't verified are current, so start with these official pages, which are kept up to date:
Template letter
Feel free to copy, personalize, and send this. Personalized letters in your own words are generally more effective than copy-pasted form letters. Use this as a starting point, not a script.
To the Toms River Zoning Board / Planning Board and Township Council, I am writing as a resident near 3324 Route 37 East regarding the proposed conversion of the former Pelican Inn and Suites to an emergency shelter facility. I am asking the Board/Council to ensure the following are addressed through the normal public process before any approval is finalized: 1. Zoning determination: whether this change of use requires a variance and/or site plan approval under the HB (Highway Business) zoning designation, and if so, that the required public hearing is scheduled with proper notice to neighboring property owners. 2. Traffic and parking impact on Route 37 and the surrounding streets, including emergency-vehicle access. 3. Site conditions: the parcel's location within a FEMA AE flood zone and what floodproofing or mitigation measures are planned. 4. Emergency-services capacity: confirmation that police, fire, and EMS resources serving this corridor can support the facility's operations. 5. A public hearing with adequate advance notice, at which residents can ask questions and submit comment on the record. I am not asking the Board to deny this application on the basis of who would live at the facility. I am asking that the process be transparent, that all applicable zoning and site-plan requirements be followed, and that residents have a genuine opportunity to be heard before a decision is made. Thank you for your attention to this request. [Your name] [Your address] [Date]