Court Rules Toms River Street Can Secede to Join Neighboring Town

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP)  -- Homeowners along a street in Toms River have won another round in their efforts to secede and join a neighboring town.

A state appellate court ruling published Thursday upholds a trial judge's decision to let the residents of Bay Beach Way become part of Lavallette.

Bay Beach Way is located between Route 35 and Barnegat Bay.

The block's mailing address is Lavallette, and residents say their water, electric and cable service are provided by Lavallette.

They say they were snowed in for three days during the winter of 2003 when the town of Toms River failed to plow the road.

Toms River's Township Council has tried to block the move and says the residents want to take advantage of Lavallette's lower tax rates.