To Boost Fort Monmouth Redevelopment, Towns Can Still Issue Special Liquor Licenses

NJ GOP Assembly

Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls will have greater flexibility under a law allowing them to issue special liquor licenses for projects in the Fort Monmouth redevelopment area. The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn and signed by the governor last week, gives the former military site more time to attract businesses that serve alcohol.

Flynn said, “The five-year deadline the towns had to issue the liquor licenses was too restrictive for Fort Monmouth, which is only halfway through its redevelopment plan. This gives investors and developers more time to realize the potential of the site, and the towns the chance to continue to attract projects that can boost the local economy.”

The former U.S. Army base permanently closed on Sept. 15, 2011 and is now being managed by the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority. The authority is currently about half way through a 20-year redevelopment plan that includes the creation of mixed-use properties, like shopping, entertainment, eateries, offices, a sports complex, a hotel, residences and more. Netflix also began an $850 million project at the site last year. 

In 2018, the Legislature authorized the creation of additional liquor licenses for projects located within Fort Monmouth. Under that law, the towns had three years to issue a dozen licenses to businesses in the redevelopment area and an additional two years to transfer them to another town. To date, four licenses have been issued. 

Flynn’s measure (S2825/A3906) removes the municipalities’ time limit to issue the remaining eight liquor licenses.

“The successful transformation of Fort Monmouth is good for Monmouth County, our communities and the entire state of New Jersey. It shows that we support strategic growth and new economic activity,” Flynn said.