Commission delays introduction of PILOT agreement for a second time
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Sept. 10 on a bond ordinance to fund capital purchases. Introduction of a second ordinance outlining a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement for the Wellington Avenue redevelopment project, was delayed for a second time while officials further investigate the tax incentive program.
Ordinance 2026-014 appropriates $880,000 in funding to purchase a dump truck with plow, a utility truck, street sweeper and line-striping grinder. A down payment of $41,905 will come from the city’s capital reserve account, and the remainder of the principal amount, $838,000, will be funded with temporary bonds and notes over the next 14 years. Any grant funds received will reduce anticipated principal and interest. The amount bonded is within the debt limitations set by New Jersey’s Local Bond Law.
According to Commissioner of Public Works Lance Landgraf, the dump truck will replace one that “got beat up” during last winter’s ice storm, is rusted out in spots and “on its last legs.”
Parts are no longer available for an older street sweeping machine that has approached its useful life and needs to be replaced, Landgraf said. A new model on display at last year’s League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City will be purchased to replace it.
Although the model on display was an electric vehicle, the city will purchase a gas-powered model at half the cost, Landgraf said.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10.
Also at that time, the city is likely to introduce an ordinance outlining terms and conditions for a PILOT agreement with Ventnor Holdings Urban Renewal, LLC, which is planning to redevelop a commercial parcel on Wellington Avenue next to the Dollar General store. The developer plans to build a four-story self-storage facility with outdoor recreational vehicle and boat storage and has received all approvals from the Planning Board.
Introduction of the PILOT agreement, Ordinance 2026-013, was “continued” for a second time while the city collects more information about the long-term tax exemption requested under the NJ Long Term Tax Exemption Law (NJSA 40A:20-1, et seq.). The length of the PILOT has yet to be cited in the ordinance.
According to the draft ordinance, “the city acknowledged that the redeveloper has already made substantial investment into the project and the Redevelopment Area” and the project will “result in other benefits to the city through the redevelopment and revitalization of the Redevelopment Area by providing, among other things, construction and permanent employment after the completion of the project.”
It is likely the ordinance will be on the Sept. 10 meeting agenda for introduction with a public hearing and adoption at a subsequent meeting.
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