City to acquire bus co., home for $2.2 million Public hearing on bond ordinance set for Jan. 22 municipal meeting BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer LONG BRANCH - The City Council introduced a $2.2 million bond ordinance last week to support the acquisition of James Keelen's home and bus company business on Belmont Avenue. Keelen has been part of the anti-eminent domain movement in Long Branch and has been fighting the city to save his property in the Broadway Corridor redevelopment zone from being developed. At the Jan. 8 municipal meeting, council introduced a measure to acquire Keelen's property after a settlement was reached between the property owner and the city. "This is not an eminent domain action," said Councilman Brian Unger at the meeting. "It is a voluntary action. "James Keelen voluntarily entered into this with the city, therefore, I vote yes," he said. The city will issue $2,100,000 in bonds and pay a $105,000 down payment for the acquisition of the Keelen property, according to the ordinance. The public hearing and final vote on the bond ordinance is scheduled for the Jan. 22 municipal meeting at 8 p.m. Broadway resident Kevin Brown, who has also been fighting to save his property in the Broadway redevelopment zone from condemnation, asked council at the meeting to stop using eminent domain to acquire properties for private redevelopment projects. "Obviously a landowner will sell their property if given the proper incentive," Brown said. "That has happened in the Keelen matter. "We don't need to force people to give up their holdings," he said, adding, "Can I rely on [council] not to use eminent domain from this point on?" Council President Michael DeStefano and council membersMary Jane Celli and David Brown said they are committed to moving forward with the city's redevelopment plan. "We are committed to a redevelopment plan," Celli said. "We are not going to change our course of action." Brown told council that he is not opposed to redevelopment. He said he is against the city using its power of eminent domain to acquire property in order to make way for the redevelopment project. "We want you to redevelop," Brown said. "We want you to stop using eminent domain. If you guys have come to terms and you won't use [eminent domain] anymore, I won't have to raise funds for awareness. "The power rests in the council," he said, adding, "You can stop this." Keelen began operating his business, Keelen Bus Co., at 142 Belmont Ave. in 1992 and seven years later he purchased a home next door to his company. He later learned that both his business and home are located in the city's Broadway Gateway sector of the Broadway Corridor redevelopment zone. A designated developer has not been selected for the Broadway Gateway sector of the redevelopment zone yet, according to City Attorney James Aaron. The Broadway redevelopment zone, one of six redevelopment zones designated in the city, extends across 72 acres from SecondAvenue west to the railroad tracks. Permitted uses in the Belmont Avenue section of the redevelopment zone, where Keelen's home and business are located, include college campus housing.