Ramada Inn, Toms River, N.J. (Photo: Ramada)
The Ramada Inn hotel in Toms River will convert 100 guest rooms into the same number of executive offices, an attorney representing its owner told the township’s planning board Wednesday night.
Seeking approval for a change of use, attorney Harvey York stressed to board members that there would be no new construction or changes to the building footprint under the plan by Westwood Two LLC, the property owner. The hotel is located at 2373 Lakewood Road (Route 9), near its intersection with Route 70.
“The applicant is taking the hotel portion, which is a long, narrow building with about 100 rooms, and converting those 100 rooms to 100 executive offices,” York said.
The renovated offices will be leased to business owners, while a 52-unit extended stay portion of the hotel would continue to operate as it current does. Additionally, a banquet facility and restaurant on the site will remain open.
“We’re just turning 100 rooms into 100 executive offices, which requires board approval,” York reiterated.
Ramada Inn, Toms River, N.J. (Credit: Google Earth)
Brian Murphy, an engineer consulting on the project, said the office use is permitted in the Rural Highway Business (RHB) zone, in which the hotel property is located.
“We’re going to be updated the look of it,” Murphy said. “It has an older look, and we’ll be investing a substantial amount of money into the site and making it much better looking than it is today.”
The board approved the change of use application unanimously. Medical office use will be the only type of restricted category, as such facilities require special parking and building amenities.
