1
00:00:00,590 --> 00:00:30,570
That's right. I forgot you're not in Alaska this year in Germany. Two, two, two, two, family still with you. Okay, we are alive. Lauren, you want to take us away, please? Yes, this is a meeting of the Lakewood Township Committee for July 8th, 2026. This is a special meeting adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the press and posting the municipal building. According to the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act and JSA 10 colon 4-6, it was also published in the

2
00:00:30,570 --> 00:00:34,230
the Township Legal Notices on June 29th, 2026.

3
00:00:34,630 --> 00:00:36,450
The special meeting of the Township Committee

4
00:00:36,450 --> 00:00:37,930
is for the purpose of hearing an objection

5
00:00:37,930 --> 00:00:40,670
to the renewal of plenary retail consumption license.

6
00:00:41,450 --> 00:00:46,550
1514-33-048-001, which is Lake Terrace Manager, LLC.

7
00:00:47,130 --> 00:00:50,030
The public is welcome to participate using LEBECS

8
00:00:50,030 --> 00:00:51,870
by either computer, which is audio visual,

9
00:00:52,250 --> 00:00:54,270
or by phone, which is audio only.

10
00:00:54,410 --> 00:00:57,610
The phone number is 408-418-9388.

11
00:00:57,610 --> 00:01:04,870
The meaning ID and password is 263-1-139-5454.

12
00:01:05,270 --> 00:01:09,890
All participants will be muted upon entry, but may participate by using the Star 3 if

13
00:01:09,890 --> 00:01:13,910
using the phone to raise your hand or by clicking the raise hand button to be recognized

14
00:01:13,910 --> 00:01:14,650
via computer.

15
00:01:15,050 --> 00:01:18,010
Comments may also be emailed to comments at Lakewood-NJ.gov.

16
00:01:18,330 --> 00:01:23,150
This meeting is live streamed and recorded at Town Hall streams at https-townallstreams.com.

17
00:01:23,610 --> 00:01:24,370
Thank you much.

18
00:01:24,490 --> 00:01:25,430
We have a roll call please.

19
00:01:25,430 --> 00:01:27,310
there's. Mayor Coles. Here.

20
00:01:27,970 --> 00:01:29,610
Deputy Mayor Miller. Yeah.

21
00:01:30,010 --> 00:01:32,230
Committeeman Lichtenstein. There.

22
00:01:32,710 --> 00:01:34,430
Committeeman Ackerman. Yeah.

23
00:01:35,010 --> 00:01:37,090
Committeewoman Fuentes. Here.

24
00:01:37,870 --> 00:01:40,830
Also present is how to attorney Stephen C care.

25
00:01:41,810 --> 00:01:44,410
Municipal manager Patrick Donnelly.

26
00:01:45,150 --> 00:01:47,410
Mayor before we begin my day is the attorney's

27
00:01:47,410 --> 00:01:49,250
then to their appearance starting with the object.

28
00:01:49,250 --> 00:01:56,150
Director. Certainly. Good afternoon, everybody. Vincent Delicchio, R.C. Cheyne Associates,

29
00:01:56,230 --> 00:02:02,810
on behalf of 1650 Oak Street LLC. Thank you. Good afternoon, Matthew Ferevanti, the

30
00:02:02,810 --> 00:02:07,570
law firm of G.R. Dan O'Heller and C.S. Law on behalf of the applicant, Lake Tyrus Manager

31
00:02:07,570 --> 00:02:14,270
LLC. Thank you both very much. Good afternoon, Adam Feffer, co-counsel on the

32
00:02:14,270 --> 00:02:20,270
off of Lake Terrorist Manager. Thank you. Okay, can we all please rise and salute the flag please?

33
00:02:29,010 --> 00:02:35,710
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for

34
00:02:35,710 --> 00:02:43,490
which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

35
00:02:46,490 --> 00:02:51,190
Lauren, do you have a brief prayer today? Yes, I do. Heavenly Father, you

36
00:02:51,190 --> 00:02:59,010
to give you our thanks for their many blessings. We ask for their blessings upon this township committee and all those in authority so that they may serve the people.

37
00:02:59,870 --> 00:03:01,930
All this we ask in my name, amen.

38
00:03:02,650 --> 00:03:03,010
Thank you.

39
00:03:03,910 --> 00:03:05,790
Okay, Lauren, you want to lay out the ground rules?

40
00:03:06,270 --> 00:03:06,450
Yes.

41
00:03:07,850 --> 00:03:15,170
This is hearing for the objection to the renewal of the liquor license for 1514, 3030, 48001, which is Lake Terrace Manager.

42
00:03:15,370 --> 00:03:19,030
Each side will have four minutes to present their case and a two minutes for a rebuttal.

43
00:03:20,310 --> 00:03:25,110
Thank you. I also want to recognize that we did receive letters from both sides. They have

44
00:03:25,110 --> 00:03:29,290
been entered into the record and everybody in the Tasha committee has reviewed them. With that,

45
00:03:29,390 --> 00:03:33,950
we'll open the hearing who wants to go first. The objective should go first because the

46
00:03:33,950 --> 00:03:40,810
a burden of proof is on them. Okay. Yes. That's it. Take it away. All right, so good afternoon,

47
00:03:40,970 --> 00:03:46,250
everybody. So at its core, this matter is pretty straightforward. Tasha is being asked to renew

48
00:03:46,250 --> 00:03:50,230
will liquor license for a property that at our opinion, as it exists today, does not

49
00:03:50,230 --> 00:03:56,950
have the requisite approvals to legally function as a banquet hall. As I'm sure everybody

50
00:03:56,950 --> 00:04:01,270
is familiar with the history, but a brief run through back in 2005, this property was originally

51
00:04:01,270 --> 00:04:07,970
approved as a school with an accessory assembly hall. About five years later, they got a liquor

52
00:04:07,970 --> 00:04:12,870
license. A lot of that is contained in our objection later was based off of a couple representations,

53
00:04:12,870 --> 00:04:17,650
which we're not holding the accurate, such as the fact that it was not approved as a catering facility,

54
00:04:18,350 --> 00:04:21,870
such as the fact that it was located within 200 feet of the Binance Brook School,

55
00:04:22,270 --> 00:04:26,470
and such as the fact that it failed to list all of the businesses operating out of there,

56
00:04:26,590 --> 00:04:36,010
listed only Greenwald Caterers, not the other ones that were operating out of there.

57
00:04:39,150 --> 00:04:43,770
Secondly, as we all know, the property did seek a use variance a few years back.

58
00:04:44,530 --> 00:04:48,030
They sought that use variance specifically because of banquet hall is not permitted in

59
00:04:48,030 --> 00:04:48,690
the M1 zone.

60
00:04:49,410 --> 00:04:53,750
That was emitted by the applicant that was found by the board that was found by the board

61
00:04:53,750 --> 00:04:54,110
engineer.

62
00:04:54,450 --> 00:04:55,570
So there's no dispute on that.

63
00:04:56,690 --> 00:05:01,570
And third, a use variance was ultimately granted in 2024 that approval is being challenged

64
00:05:01,570 --> 00:05:07,470
and Superior Court. More importantly, though, as it stands right now, there's been no

65
00:05:07,470 --> 00:05:12,650
letter of completeness issue. The resolution compliance on the use variance remains outstanding.

66
00:05:12,890 --> 00:05:17,750
There hasn't been a zoning permit issued based on that use variance and those subsequent

67
00:05:17,750 --> 00:05:25,130
CO based on that zoning permit. So as of right now, they're holding an unperfected approval

68
00:05:25,810 --> 00:05:31,550
which for our purposes here today is no approval. At the moment, the property does not have

69
00:05:31,550 --> 00:05:38,850
have what it requires to operate at a banquet hall, which means for your purposes that

70
00:05:38,850 --> 00:05:42,870
a liquor license is currently being used in connection with a use that is not yet lawfully

71
00:05:42,870 --> 00:05:43,290
established.

72
00:05:45,410 --> 00:05:54,490
So in our position here, it would be for one, premature for the committee to consider

73
00:05:54,490 --> 00:06:00,110
renewing this liquor license, A, while the proceedings are still pending before the

74
00:06:00,110 --> 00:06:03,830
for your court and as I'm sure you're aware of the ABC as well, but more importantly

75
00:06:03,830 --> 00:06:09,530
certainly before they complete the resolution compliance and obtain the

76
00:06:10,610 --> 00:06:15,530
requisites, the requisite approvals. Certainly, if the committee does never the

77
00:06:15,530 --> 00:06:25,690
last choose to renew this, I would just ask that the committee's reasoning be

78
00:06:25,690 --> 00:06:31,930
I explained as far as to do you believe that the existence of his zoning permit is somehow

79
00:06:31,930 --> 00:06:39,330
not applicable to this property's ability to operate because it is certainly our position

80
00:06:39,330 --> 00:06:44,150
that it is and I believe that all the land use treatises and law would be in agreement

81
00:06:44,150 --> 00:06:44,850
with us on that.

82
00:06:47,430 --> 00:06:53,910
So without needing to take the rest of the 51 seconds, we would ask that you not renew

83
00:06:53,910 --> 00:06:58,990
this. Is it appreciate that, um, Adam? Matthew, do you want to

84
00:06:58,990 --> 00:07:04,110
rebutter? You want to start with your four minutes? Yeah, um, I, I'll take it

85
00:07:04,110 --> 00:07:10,490
from here, Adam. Um, Matthew, four minutes. This is on my four minutes.

86
00:07:10,790 --> 00:07:15,690
Okay, thank you. I won't take four minutes, though, because I'll, it'll be less.

87
00:07:15,970 --> 00:07:20,690
Um, Matthew, fear of on to on behalf of the applicant. I just want to focus on what

88
00:07:20,690 --> 00:07:24,550
What this committee's standard of review is, because it's not set forth in the Objectors

89
00:07:24,550 --> 00:07:32,490
Challenge, NJAC 13 colon 1-12.1 sets forth the grounds for the denial of an application

90
00:07:32,490 --> 00:07:35,570
or the refusal to renew a license.

91
00:07:37,470 --> 00:07:45,250
A 20-year litany or recitation of the land used background of this property or an erroneous

92
00:07:45,250 --> 00:07:50,670
assertion that the applicant does not, as we stand today, have a valid land use approved

93
00:07:50,670 --> 00:07:56,470
will to operate this does not constitute a ground for the denial of a renewable license.

94
00:07:56,910 --> 00:08:02,490
It's not one of the enumerated grounds that is set forth in the administrative code.

95
00:08:02,910 --> 00:08:08,730
That's probably why the objector doesn't cite to the relevant regulation in its objection.

96
00:08:10,490 --> 00:08:17,290
We dispute the contention that the property owner does not have a valid and enforceable land

97
00:08:17,290 --> 00:08:22,990
use approval. There is no stay of that resolution, notwithstanding the fact that it's currently

98
00:08:23,390 --> 00:08:30,790
the subject of litigation, the Superior Court. Quite simply, there is no ground presented

99
00:08:30,790 --> 00:08:35,450
by the subjector to justify the denial of this application, and we would request that

100
00:08:35,450 --> 00:08:41,190
the committee renew the license. Lastly, there is no requirement that this committee set forth

101
00:08:41,190 --> 00:08:46,930
with any kind of written decision as to why it's going to renew the license or reject

102
00:08:47,390 --> 00:08:54,010
the objectors challenge. There is no requirement under the law for that. We simply request

103
00:08:54,010 --> 00:08:59,350
that this committee does what it's done for the past several years, not with staying the

104
00:08:59,350 --> 00:09:04,950
same exact arguments previously made and renew this license. I thank you for your time

105
00:09:04,950 --> 00:09:05,530
this afternoon.

106
00:09:13,230 --> 00:09:13,930
Thank you.

107
00:09:13,930 --> 00:09:14,450
I don't have the time to be

108
00:09:14,450 --> 00:09:14,710
said.

109
00:09:15,830 --> 00:09:17,250
It's two minutes Jason.

110
00:09:18,970 --> 00:09:20,310
Thanks for being honest with me.

111
00:09:20,410 --> 00:09:21,170
You've got to go away with that.

112
00:09:23,170 --> 00:09:24,250
I don't think I'll need the

113
00:09:24,250 --> 00:09:25,370
more so.

114
00:09:28,690 --> 00:09:30,900
You've heard that the there's

115
00:09:31,550 --> 00:09:32,610
no stay on the resolution.

116
00:09:33,090 --> 00:09:33,990
You've heard that.

117
00:09:35,030 --> 00:09:36,490
The grounds for renewal.

118
00:09:37,410 --> 00:09:46,290
We're not excited. What you didn't hear is any dispute as to the fact that this property did not do its resolution compliance, does not have its zoning permit, does not have its CO.

119
00:09:46,470 --> 00:09:52,710
You didn't hear anything about that. And it's for the simple reason that it doesn't. It's an imperfected approval right now.

120
00:09:53,870 --> 00:10:01,070
Certainly, you cannot go getting approval for a site plan and then turn around and build

121
00:10:01,070 --> 00:10:02,910
the project before you've gotten your compliance.

122
00:10:03,710 --> 00:10:09,190
You can't get approval for a use and start undertaking that use before you have gone

123
00:10:09,190 --> 00:10:09,910
through your compliance.

124
00:10:10,930 --> 00:10:16,930
And that's particularly relevant here because the lessons that you are being asked to renew

125
00:10:17,990 --> 00:10:25,230
It goes simply well beyond your ability to renew it, it is not used right now, that is

126
00:10:25,230 --> 00:10:28,990
functioning in a legally cognizable way to this township.

127
00:10:30,210 --> 00:10:35,030
And therefore, awarding it a renewal of a liquor license for that very use that is

128
00:10:35,030 --> 00:10:40,890
not legally cognizable to this township right now would be beyond the board's power and

129
00:10:42,590 --> 00:10:47,930
It should frankly not be not be under taken here today, so I have with.

130
00:10:48,590 --> 00:10:55,470
Thank you very much appreciate that. Steve question. Do I need to open this hearing to the public for comment on this or is that done under the public comment?

131
00:10:55,510 --> 00:11:06,390
I would say that comes later. Let me just say that it's now Mr. Fiovite's turn. If he has a so-called model so to speak, he has had the additional two minutes to respond to Mr. Delricchio.

132
00:11:06,390 --> 00:11:14,110
And I, it's my opinion as sort of being the judge here that all this takes is a yes or no vote

133
00:11:14,110 --> 00:11:19,530
or an out and vote. It's not, this committee is not a land use board, but a review the conditions

134
00:11:19,530 --> 00:11:25,170
of a liquor license. So Matthew, do you have anything you want to do in rebuttal to Mr. Del

135
00:11:25,170 --> 00:11:32,390
Rickios? Sure, very, very briefly. There is no, there's no authority for the proposition

136
00:11:32,390 --> 00:11:42,670
that and quote, unperfected land use approval, end quote, somehow justifies or provides a basis to deny a license renewal.

137
00:11:42,910 --> 00:11:48,970
No authority has been presented by the objector in its written submission. No authority has been presented or cited this afternoon.

138
00:11:49,630 --> 00:12:01,070
Not only is there no authority, it's simply incorrect. We have a land use and site plan approval and we are now permitted to use this property formally as a banquet hall.

139
00:12:01,070 --> 00:12:11,010
And the fact that the land owner is going through the process to obtain the necessary compliance does not stop this committee from renewing the license.

140
00:12:11,250 --> 00:12:13,290
It's that simple. Thank you for your time.

141
00:12:13,910 --> 00:12:21,770
Mayor in response to your question, I would suggest that you open this now to the public in case any of the public as a comment on whether or not this license should be reviewed.

142
00:12:21,770 --> 00:12:25,650
We heard the man is there anybody online who would like to be heard on this?

143
00:12:28,450 --> 00:12:32,530
I assume nobody was checking emails, not my texts.

144
00:12:33,390 --> 00:12:37,090
There are no emails that have been received on this, so I'm going to close the public hearing.

145
00:12:40,250 --> 00:12:41,970
Lauren, you want to go with the consent agenda, please?

146
00:12:42,510 --> 00:12:48,910
Yes, the resolution you have before you is a resolution to either approve or deny the renewal.

147
00:12:49,490 --> 00:12:51,650
I'll read the entire resolution as an approval.

148
00:12:51,910 --> 00:12:53,990
You can make a decision if you want to vote for that.

149
00:12:54,930 --> 00:13:02,850
It would be emotional with a denial, sorry about that resolution.

150
00:13:03,590 --> 00:13:08,110
So the first is it's resolution 2026-253 resolution of the Township of Lakewood County

151
00:13:08,110 --> 00:13:13,910
of Ocean State and New Jersey regarding Renewal Plenary Retail Consumption License 1514-3030-484-8-0-0-1

152
00:13:13,910 --> 00:13:19,750
for Lake Terrace Manager, LLC, whereas Lake Terrace Manager LLC situated at 1690 Oak Street Lake

153
00:13:19,750 --> 00:13:26,490
with New Jersey, 08701 is a holder of a plenary retail consumption license from 1514-333-048-001.

154
00:13:27,010 --> 00:13:31,510
And whereas an application has been filed by Lake Terrace Manager LLC for the purpose of renewing,

155
00:13:31,830 --> 00:13:35,490
plenary retail consumption license 1514-1330-48-001.

156
00:13:35,810 --> 00:13:41,250
And whereas that applicant has complied with all the requirements sent forth an NJSA-33-1-SAC,

157
00:13:41,730 --> 00:13:45,790
and NJAC-13-2-3.1-SAC.

158
00:13:45,790 --> 00:13:49,870
and whereas no objections have been received from the Lakewood Police Department and the inspection

159
00:13:49,870 --> 00:13:55,490
department has required, and whereas a timely objection was received on June 25th, 2026 to the

160
00:13:55,490 --> 00:14:00,270
renewal of the above mentioned license by the adjacent property owner 1650 Oak Street LLC,

161
00:14:00,830 --> 00:14:06,510
and whereas a hearing was conducted on July 8th, 2026 in regards to set objection and whereas

162
00:14:06,510 --> 00:14:11,690
based on the information presented during the above reference hearing, the township of the committee,

163
00:14:11,690 --> 00:14:12,910
the township of Lakewood County

164
00:14:13,510 --> 00:14:15,110
Votion and State of New Jersey has found that.

165
00:14:15,530 --> 00:14:17,170
I'm reading in the affirmative first.

166
00:14:17,990 --> 00:14:19,570
The allegation set forth in the subject

167
00:14:19,570 --> 00:14:20,550
and were not sustained.

168
00:14:20,890 --> 00:14:22,110
And the objection is hereby dismissed.

169
00:14:22,730 --> 00:14:24,390
Therefore, the renewal of the Lake Terrace Manager

170
00:14:24,390 --> 00:14:26,490
LLC plenary retail consumption license

171
00:14:26,490 --> 00:14:29,650
number 1514-3030-48001

172
00:14:29,650 --> 00:14:31,150
licensed situated 1690

173
00:14:31,450 --> 00:14:35,110
Oak Street, New Jersey Lakewood, New Jersey 08701

174
00:14:35,110 --> 00:14:35,870
should be approved.

175
00:14:36,350 --> 00:14:38,570
Now, therefore, be resolved by the township committee

176
00:14:38,570 --> 00:14:40,250
of the township of Lakewood County Votion City

177
00:14:40,250 --> 00:14:43,210
New Jersey that the allegations in the objection filed of the renewal of the leak

178
00:14:43,210 --> 00:14:49,870
terrorist manager. LLC Planner Retail Consumption number 151430408-001 are found to have been

179
00:14:49,870 --> 00:14:55,170
unsubstantiated. The objection can be and is hereby dismissed in the leak terrorist manager LLC.

180
00:14:56,090 --> 00:14:59,810
Planner Retail Consumption license number 1514304048-0016.

181
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:06,080
In 90 oak Street, Lake New Jersey, 07, 01 license renewal can be and hereby is approved via further

182
00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:10,680
resolve that the certified copy of this resolution shall be provided to all parties of interest.

183
00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:16,080
Thank you Dave Bruth, what do all that means is that a yes vote means that you're in favor of renewing the lice.

184
00:15:17,940 --> 00:15:21,600
With that obviously, let's get it on motion and a second.

185
00:15:23,170 --> 00:15:29,970
motion by Debbie. By Debbie, thank you very much. Okay. I'll wait for a second. Then I'll say my piece.

186
00:15:31,270 --> 00:15:36,730
All right, so second by Isaac. Any discussion? Isaac you have the. I just I just wanted to put it

187
00:15:36,730 --> 00:15:40,850
on the record that my door school is next door to this property. And I had spoken to Steve Seeker before

188
00:15:40,850 --> 00:15:46,830
the meeting. And I asked him if it's still okay for me to vote on this. And he said in his opinion

189
00:15:46,830 --> 00:15:50,530
it is. I just wanted to bring it up in case any of the objectives have an issue with it.

190
00:15:53,290 --> 00:15:56,090
We have a motion in a second. No other discussion.

191
00:15:57,330 --> 00:15:58,250
Don't we have a roll call, please?

192
00:15:59,090 --> 00:16:00,430
Miracles. Yes.

193
00:16:01,350 --> 00:16:03,630
Get me a mere Miller. Yes.

194
00:16:04,630 --> 00:16:06,930
Committeeman Lichtenstein. Yes.

195
00:16:07,930 --> 00:16:10,290
Committeeman Ackerman. Yes.

196
00:16:11,390 --> 00:16:13,710
Committeewoman Debra Fuentes. Yes.

197
00:16:14,670 --> 00:16:17,170
Motion carries to approve the renewal of the liquor license.

198
00:16:20,350 --> 00:16:26,190
I'm going to open the meeting to the public. Is there anybody online who would like to be heard?

199
00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,620
Seeing nobody, we have received no emails for this today. So I'm going to close the public comment.

200
00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:36,840
We have any comments from committee members who

201
00:16:39,660 --> 00:16:43,720
take this early opportunity to remind folks that we have rescheduled our 4th

202
00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:52,220
of July fireworks with next Thursday July 16th at 8.45pm. Hopefully the objectors and everybody else will come and just get together and have some fun with us.

203
00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,720
That being said, I'll take a motion to adjourn.

204
00:16:58,260 --> 00:16:58,520
So made.

205
00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:00,100
Moved by Manage.

206
00:17:01,060 --> 00:17:02,160
Second by Debbie.

207
00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:02,880
All in favor?

208
00:17:03,540 --> 00:17:03,860
Aye.

209
00:17:03,980 --> 00:17:04,000
Aye.

210
00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:04,900
Any opposed?

211
00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:06,080
We're adjourned.

212
00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,780
Thank you very much for your time this afternoon.

213
00:17:08,380 --> 00:17:08,960
Thank you.

214
00:17:09,660 --> 00:17:10,280
Thanks, everybody.