Judge Rules Snooki, MTV Can Keep Filming In Pelican Island

An Ocean County judge has ruled that MTV and Snooki can continue filming at a Pelican Island home.

In July, a Pelican Island zoning officer concluded that the filming of Nicole “Snooki” Polilzzi and Jennifer “JWoww” Farley's vacation for their MTV series at a rental home on Sunset Drive South owned by Seaside Heights' Director of Community Improvements Mike Loundy  was a violation of zoning laws and constituted a “non-permitted use in a residential zone."

Loundy was issued a violation notice and he would have 10 days to respond to the Township. Taping would be allowed to continue during that time.

The Ocean Signal reports that Superior Court Judge David Millard has ruled against the Berkeley Township zoning board and ordered Loundy to apply for a variance. Loundy has applied for a variance application, according to Berkeley Township Business Administrator Christopher Reid, and may be heard at a future zoning board meeting.

Ron Gasiorowski, a Red Bank lawyer representing the homeowners who are trying to bar the production and filming of the show on the mostly residential Pelican Island told the Signal, “This is not a decision to decide the case, but a decision to see what happens at the zoning board level.” He expects that if the zoning board grants the variance it will wind up in front of a judge again.

Reid says the next zoning board meeting is in September.

Concern From Residents

Many residents were concerned after learning of Snooki and J-Woww's plan  to vacation in the rented home with their respective families believing there would be an increase in traffic and noise on the quiet residential island. Many residents are still working on rebuilding their homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy and saw their presence as a distraction.

Rocco Vita says tourists haven't flocked to the home during taping. “The people are very nice. The guys that do security are very friendly. The actors themselves say hello and I have a 15-year-old daughter getting a kick out of it," he tells the Asbury Park Press.

As Township officials and residents went public with their concerns a war of words started on Twitter with Polizzi calling her critics “haters” who should “grow up.” She took their rejection personally as an attack on her family and says she has moved beyond the wild behavior she displayed on MTV’s Jersey Shore.

Snooki and J-Woww did continue their vacation in the Toms River area as MTV is promoting a third season of their show "Snooki & JWOWW" to begin airing in October. In a sneak preview the pair is seen doing a charity dog wash in Toms River.