Aug. 20–JACKSON — In a series of hotel concepts with shopping space and nightclubs, state and local leaders have laid out their visions for developing a rural area of Jackson near Six Flags Great Adventure.

In a 61-page plan released recently, the state Division of Community Affairs’ Local Planning Services and a team of students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture & Design illustrated their ideas for bringing a 600-room hotel and adjacent attractions to the township.

“This is something that we were trying to do for many years,” Councilman Kenneth Bressi said.

Three years, in fact. Mayor Michael Reina proposed the plan for a hotel in the area around Six Flags Great Adventure in 2011 at a gathering of state officials and potential investors at the theme park.

With about 3 million people visiting Six Flags’ theme park and adjacent water park every year, and no hotel within nine miles, Jackson officials hope such a structure will keep visitors longer and entice them to spend more money at surrounding businesses.

“It’s a subject whose time has come,” said township Councilman Robert Nixon, who chairs the township’s Economic Development Committee. “The possibility’s there, and we should go out and grab it.”

The DCA and NJIT concept examines four sites adjacent to or near Six Flags’ parks, proposes monorails or high-wire gondola transportation systems, and layouts plans for nightclubs, shopping centers and spas surrounding an array of hotel designs.

“Without a doubt I’d love to see a project of this magnitude up in Jackson,” said Joe Fiero, a member of the township’s Economic Development Committee. “It’s way past time.”

“In the past, the landowners and the interested parties just have not been able to come together,” he added. “We’re hoping that at this point in time, the scope of the project (and) the economy will make some real excitement… and maybe we’ll get a shovel in the ground.”

The motivation for Jackson’s elected officials is clear.

“The main purpose of every economic plan is to reduce the burden of taxes on the residents, the municipal portion of it (the tax bill),” Reina said.

The township’s residential tax base is worth about $5.8 billion, while its commercial area is assessed at $607 million. Jackson’s residential-to-commercial ratio for tax collection is about 87 percent to 9 percent.

Reina and Bressi said the new hotel concept, which was funded by the DCA, coincides with a television segment set to air on the “Today in America” show, which broadcasts on FOX Business Network and CNN Headline News. The segment will promote Jackson as one of the best places in the country to live, play and work, Reina said.

With the completion of the “Today in America” filming, “we have a complete package to show people,” Bressi said.

In the next step toward realizing their goal, Jackson officials will send the DCA-NJIT concept and “Today in America” segment to hotel chains, hoping to attract a developer.

Nixon said Jackson residents will have a venue to host weddings, proms and large parties, or have a place where community organizations can meet.

Amanda Oglesby: 732-557-5701; aoglesby

@njpressmedia.com