Lower Township Zoning Board Rejects Boat Storage Yard Proposal

VILLAS, N.J. — The Lower Township Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to reject a proposal for a boat storage yard in the Tranquility neighborhood at its April 3 meeting. Joe and Eileen Baker, owners of Hinch’s Marina, sought approval to use a 7.5-acre parcel in the residential R-3 district to store 30 to 50 boats during the off-season.
The plan included building a two-story maintenance facility on about one acre of the property, leaving the majority of the land as green space. The proposal faced significant opposition due to concerns about noise, traffic, litter, and potential changes to the neighborhood’s character. Residents argued that the commercial use would disrupt the residential area and could lead to further commercial development. The board members, acknowledging the large turnout at the meeting, expressed that the level of opposition made it difficult for them to support the plan. They noted the concerns raised during the discussion as a key factor in their decision. Despite the applicants' argument that the facility would have minimal impact and be located 217 feet from Portsmouth Road with additional wooded buffers, the board voted to deny the application, preventing the development from moving forward.