Republican Party incumbent Steven Boracchia with candidates Loretta Glickstein and Brian Boms.
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – For the past two years the borough’s narrative has been dominated by development and now it’s consuming the conversation leading up to November’s mayoral election.
Since taking office in 2016, Democratic Mayor Rhonda C. Le Grice has presided over a borough council bombarded with contentious topics like an intensely scrutinized affordable housing plan that was finally court-approved this past summer, a controversial 7-Eleven application that was green-lighted in August 2018, and a heated battle between a resident opposition group and Denholtz Custom Homes that continues to rage over the future of a 7-acre tract that overlooks Sandy Hook Bay.
Republican challenger Loretta Gluckstein, who has earned the confidence of Benson Chiles, the face of that resident opposition group – Neighbors for Waterfront Preservation – said it’s situations like the one concerning that waterfront parcel, known as the McConnell Tract, that she believes highlights a disconnect among the governing body, the planning board, borough professionals and the community.
“There’s not much open space on the water in our town and when I speak to people, it’s something they want more of,” Gluckstein, the former Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education president, said. “I want to keep that land as open space and I want to fund it with zero tax burden. I trust Benson (Chiles) to advise on that.”
The McConnell Tract is currently home to Blackfoot Mobile Marine Services, a boat storage and maintenance facility. Denholtz Custom Homes was approved in May by the planning board to construct 16 luxury townhomes on the property, which could fetch more than $1.5 million each.
Le Grice said she views the interest shown by devel- opers in various vacant lands or owned properties, such as the McConnell Tract, as “positive forward progress.” The mayor also pointed to new mixed-use structures in the borough’s First Avenue business district as further evidence of the municipality’s resurgence.
“Nothing is staying vacant on First Avenue for very long anymore,” Le Grice said. “Even when businesses close, new ones step in pretty immediately to fill the void. I’ve welcomed 17 new businesses over the past four years. There have been four unsightly vacant lots turned into new commercial and residential buildings. This all speaks to the revitalization of our business district and our community at large. New families want to be part of our community and it’s a wonderful thing.”
Incumbent Democratic Party Mayor Rhonda LeGrice, center, with candidates Linda Peng-Grooters, left, and newly appointed council member, serving one term, Kerri Kennedy.
Incumbent Democratic Party Mayor Rhonda LeGrice, center, with candidates Linda Peng-Grooters, left, and newly appointed council member, serving one term, Kerri Kennedy.
Gluckstein agrees that new interest in Atlantic Highlands is a positive, but the process of developing land and properties should be more inclusive and representative of the taxpaying public. “It all stems from better communication,” she said.
“If the town is to go in a certain direction then everyone has to be on board and pulling on the same rope,” Gluckstein said. “The public needs to be more informed and if I’m elected, I’d like to work with the borough to make our lines of communication better. The information needs to be where the people are, whether its Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or somewhere else. It’s not enough anymore to just post notices in the newspaper.”
Gluckstein said another big topic for which better communication is needed is what’s to become of the 3.67 acres of St. Agnes property located between Avenue D, South Avenue and West Highland Avenue.
Last month, Le Grice led a special meeting concerning the parcel, which includes the vacant Mother Teresa Regional School and the St. Agnes Thrift Shop, which is housed inside an old borough mansion.
During the meeting council members and residents discussed the possibility of purchasing the property from the Diocese of Trenton at a significantly reduced price, in order to control its future development, rather than be at the mercy of a developer.
Senior housing, open green space, ball fields and even a convertible swimming pool/ice rink were suggested, but Le Grice said the dialogue is still open.
“There aren’t a lot of opportunities, but we are always looking to increase and maintain our open space when possible,” Le Grice added. “We’re continuing talks with the Diocese and should have further clarification soon. This property could be part of the positive progress of our town and I hope the voters will keep me around to make the progress easier.”
Le Grice is running on a Democratic ticket with council hopefuls Kerri Kennedy and Linda Peng-Grooters. Kennedy is currently serving on council after she was approved by a 4-2 vote Sept. 25 to complete the unexpired term of former council member Louis Fligor, who resigned from the governing body after 18 years to accept a position as Atlantic Highlands’ new harbor manager. The group has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6).
Gluckstein shares an opposing Republican ticket with current council member Steven Boracchia and council hopeful Brian Boms. The group is advocating for more open space, as well as the total preservation of all seven acres of McConnell tract property. They also believe the town is being overdeveloped and wish to “restore purpose to the planning board.”
