Toms River officials are facing backlash over a plan to seize property belonging to a local church to create a waterfront park. More than 6,500 people have signed a petition launched earlier this month to save Christ Episcopal Church property on Washington Street from being seized through eminent domain. A GoFundMe fundraiser has also raised nearly $15,000 to help the church fight the town’s plans. The campaigns were created in response to Toms River introducing an ordinance last month to acquire four properties through eminent domain — including the nearly 11-acre Christ Episcopal Church site. The move comes after Christ Episcopal Church recently proposed opening a homeless shelter on the property. The township wants to build a waterfront park with soccer fields and pickleball courts. Church officials say the township’s action is a clear retaliation in response to their homeless shelter proposal from last year. “This action is unjust,” Rev. Lisa Ann Hoffman, the church‘s minister, wrote in the petition. “It comes as the congregation seeks municipal approval to build a homeless shelter on their property as part of the church‘s ongoing ministries supporting those in need in Toms River.” “The church is not for sale. People matter more than Pickleball,” the petition says. In September, Christ Episcopal Church proposed converting its outreach office into a 17-bed homeless shelter — the first of its kind in Ocean County. The plan drew backlash from some residents who voiced opposition at local board meetings. Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick said on Monday that the petition doesn’t reflect local sentiment because many signers aren’t from the Jersey Shore town. “If you take a look at the petition, it says that 60% of the signatures are in the ‘area’ of Toms River and the other 40% are from outside of the area,” Rodrick said. “So I do not believe this petition is an accurate representation of how the community feels.” Church leaders learned less than a day before the township’s April 30 meeting that local officials were introducing an ordinance to acquire the church property, Hoffman said. Over 100 church leaders and community members attended the meeting to oppose the proposal. A second reading and final vote on the ordinance has been moved to July, according to township officials. However, on Thursday, Toms River’s zoning board is scheduled to meet and potentially vote on whether the church site qualifies for a variance. Because a homeless shelter is not currently allowed in the site‘s zoning district, the church is seeking an exception from the board. The plan to turn the property into a park is part of a larger waterfront redevelopment project that has been in the works for years, Rodrick said. The other three properties the township wants to acquire are privately-owned marinas on Water Street. Combining those properties would create a large municipal marina with public access to the water and nearby restaurants, town officials said. Christ Episcopal Church has been part of Toms River for 160 years. Its outreach office, which opened in July 2023, provides meals, clothing and other support to those in need. The 10.8-acre property, valued at nearly $2.5 million, is owned by the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey. Church officials said they are not selling the property and plan to fight the ordinance. “Eminent domain should never be used to control a church‘s ministries,” Hoffman said. Meanwhile, Rodrick said the township is “confident” it can legally acquire the property through eminent domain — a process that allows the government to pay fair market value without the owner’s consent. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nyah Marshall may be reached at nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com