Land Swap Could Lead to a New Wegmans

OCEAN TWP., NJ-This Monmouth County community’s township council has introduced an ordinance that would, if passed, okay a land swap that could lead to a new Wegmans supermarket here. The upscale chain, which has been moving aggressively into the Garden State, has units open in Manalapan, Bridgewater and West Windsor, and additional stores proposed here and in Woodbridge.

The ordinance would give developer Sunset Arcadia Centers Inc. a quarter of an acre behind the existing Ocean Plaza. In return, Sunset Arcadia would give the township 1.5 acres adjoining another portion of the shopping center’s site. The quarter acre would give the owner of the 130,000-sf strip center room to build another 16,000 sf at the southern end of the complex, which is where Wegmans wants to open its new unit.

The swap would also allow the developer to increase the property’s highway frontage, and would provide a slope easement for grading purposes, according to a spokesperson. The proposed ordinance is slated to be heard by the township council in mid-January.