Island Water Sports Aqua Park in Stone Harbor.
MARGATE – Contrary to rumors splashing local Facebook pages, the city has not approved a waterpark along the Amherst Avenue bayfront, city officials say. However, one of the partners of the park, which would mimic Island Water Sports in Stone Harbor, the project is simply “proposed” at this time.
“We would like to do it, but it’s just proposed at this time,” said Maggie Day, a partner in the project.
News that Island Water Sports would open a 50,000-square-foot water park by next summer on the bay along Amherst Avenue broke on 6ABC’s Aug. 16 “Down at the Shore” summer fun news segment, but the announcement may have been premature, city officials and Day said.
Posters to several Facebook pages, including the newly formed Margate Homeowners Association, said they believe the project is a “done deal” agreed to behind closed doors, but that’s far from the truth city officials said.
Margate Mayor Michael Becker said the first he heard about the water park was last week. He has not seen the 6ABC news clip and has not met with anyone on the project, he told Downbeach.com in telephone interview Wednesday afternoon.
According to City Commissioner John Amodeo, however, the city may soon meet with the water park developer to discuss the idea.
On Tuesday, Amodeo said the city was approached with the idea years ago, but nothing ever developed. Amodeo said City Planner Roger McLarnon recently received a request to meet from the owners of Island Water Sports.
“We are anxious to sit down and meet with them,” Amodeo said. “They floated the idea two years ago, but then we never heard from them.”
McLarnon said the only contact the city has ever had with the company was more than 18-months ago to review zoning for the area.
Amodeo said rumors that the city has already approved it are not true, but the idea is intriguing.
“Nothing has been done by Margate, but we will submit an application soon,” Day said.
A developer would need the approval of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to use the bay to construct the floating recreational park, Amodeo said.
“We don’t own the water,” he said.
Day said what is proposed is not a full-fledged water park with permanent structures such as a lazy river.
“There are no structures being built. It’s just inflatables that are put into the water at the beginning of the season and come out in fall,” she said.
Day said the aqua park would provide the public with access to the bay like they have at the beach.
The area is located between Stacey’s Surf and Paddle and the Barbary Coast project being developed by builder Jim Leeds.
The property includes 275 feet along the bulkhead and includes a riparian lease, Day said.
“We are preparing an application for the DEP, but we have not filed for permits yet,” she said Thursday evening.
McLarnon said the city also has not received an application for development of the project.
“Originally, they wanted the Leeds property,” McLarnon said. “We haven’t seen any DEP permit applications, which we usually get, and they have not filed an application with us. No file exists. We don’t even know which property they bought.”
Earlier this year, the city revised its zoning maps to allow development on certain lots in the Waterfront Special District on the upland side of the Amherst Avenue bulkhead. The change paved the way for redevelopment of two marinas. The city recently transferred ownership of seven parking spaces in the Amherst Avenue right-of-way in exchange for Leeds’ agreement to replace 175 feet of city-owned bulkhead. He is planning to build an office and two residences at the old Integrity Marine site.
On April 19, commissioners assured the public that new construction would only be allowed at Integrity Marine, Capt. Andy’s Marina and possibly at Blue Water Marina, where a building already exists on the upland side of the bulkhead.
All three commissioners stated the city would never allow development in areas where buildings do not currently exist.
Harbor Vista resident Ed Berger stated the ordinance was too broadly written and expressed concern that allowing construction on currently undeveloped lots would spoil bayfront views.
Berger also said transferring ownership of parking spaces to the developers of Integrity and Capt. Andy’s could set a precedent for the city selling parking spaces to future developers along the waterfront and specifically for a water park to run their business, Berger said.
“There was no deal made,” Amodeo said. “We will never allow development along that strip. We can’t prevent the 200-square-foot building at Blue Water Marina from being raised, but nothing else is happening in that area.”
Amodeo said the city’s Master Plan was approved last year with the goal of building a promenade along the waterfront that ties into the Washington Avenue pedestrian corridor connecting to the central business district.
“I personally and this commission very strongly support the business community, but there is nothing going in there in the future,” Becker said.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg said McLarnon assured him that “if there is not a building there now, there never will be a building there. The ordinance specifically excludes that from happening.”
Since the project could affect the entire Amherst Avenue neighborhood, which includes other marinas, restaurants and residences, the company will be required to present the concept to the Planning Board, Amodeo said.
“I would recommend they go before the Planning Board to be open and transparent. It’s up to the Planning Board to hear the concerns of residents and neighbors,” he said.
McLarnon said the company would be required to file a site plan “to see what they are proposing.”
“We need to see what they need. Is there any development on the upland side of the bulkhead, parking, electric?” McLarnon said. “They need to show us plans when they are ready.”
The Stone Harbor park charges $35 for 45 minutes of playtime on floating inflatables, including climbing walls, launch pads and slides. The park also offers paddleboard and kayak rentals and a water-propelled flyboard that lifts wakeboarders 20 feet into the air.
According to 6ABC meteorologist Adam Joseph, who did a backflip off one of the inflatables, the Margate aqua park would be “the largest in the world.”
