Property in bribery scandal still woods; Mayor took from three developers

Asbury Park,NJ. -"The 80-acre Apple Farm tract, which former Mayor Terrance D. Weldon accepted a $50,000 bribe to help rezone for higher density housing five years ago, remains a wooded swath at West Park Avenue and Green Grove Road. Nevertheless, it's still owned by the company connected to developer Moshe 'Michael' G. Gohar of Long Branch, who was indicted last month on federal charges that include offering that bribe to Weldon. Since Weldon's arrest four years ago, Apple Farm Development LLC has attempted to unload that parcel to other developers. A deal to sell the land in 2004 to Matzel & Mumford Corp., a division of K. Hovnanian, which is part of Hovnanian Enterprises, fell through, said Township Manager David R. Kochel. Weldon pleaded guilty to three counts extortion charges in the fall of 2002. Matzel & Mumford wanted to construct 67 unattached condominiums on an 80-acre tract at the Tinton Falls municipal line...Weldon also extorted $9,000 in three payments from a second developer, Continental Properties, to ensure subdivision approval and final site plan approval for the 328-unit Rolling Meadows at Wayside development...The U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark has previously said that the developer made the third $3,000 payment in an effort to 'curb Weldon's insistence' that the developer use certain attorneys for the closings.The third count of extortion involved the developer of six residential homes along Mark Place, also in the Wayside section, south of Deal Road and just east of Route 18. The developer made two payments totaling $5,000 after Weldon slipped a piece of paper with the number '5000' to him as the amount Weldon expected to receive to support requested variances...In each count, the developer making the payoff had become convinced that Weldon's help was necessary in securing the township's cooperation, Kochel said."...
03/13/06