New Plans For Long Branch's Sea View Towers Presented

By Christopher Sheldon

There are new plans for the long-vacant Sea View Towers on Ocean Avenue in Long Branch.

The owner of the property is looking to demolish the two seven and a half-story towers and build a single, 12-story building which will house a maximum of 100 residential condominium units.

The plans for the new building were presented to the Long Branch Planning Board on Wednesday night, but the board did reach a decision on whether or not it will approve the project.

Attorney Dennis Collins said the owner needs a variance from the board because only four-story buildings are permitted in the zone. The owner also needs a front yard setback variance and a parking variance for the project.

Engineer Stuart Challoner said the building will have 249 parking spaces in a underground parking garage and that the owner is also looking to add 55 spaces along Ocean Avenue and South Bath Avenue for public parking. 

The building will also have a luxury health spa/gym, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. Challoner said the spa would be reserved for residents but that there would be limited seasonal membership for the public.

Challoner said the building would feature a sloped design so it will not block the the sun on the Ocean Avenue side during the summer months.

The entrance and exit to the facility would be located on South Bath Avenue .

Several residents of nearby condominiums and apartments attended Wednesday night's meeting and objected to various aspects of the plan.

Most objections were pointed to the amount of parking associated with the project and that the overflow will worsen what is already a congested parking situation during the summer months.