The Public Pays to Protect Beach Houses
I have a difficult time finding much sympathy for these beach front owners who are losing the houses to the sea down in LBI. I don’t see why it is the responsibility of the municipality to protect the beach front property owner’s house from being swept away by the surf. Shouldn’t the property owner pay for his own sand instead of having the tax payers pick up the tab? Moreover, if the owner can’t afford to buy his own sand, then maybe he should move further inland.
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/2/06
BY JOE ZEDALIS
MANAHAWKIN BUREAU
LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP — Two Ocean Boulevard homes, assessed at $2.1 million each, gave new meaning Wednesday to the phrase "waterfront property."
Wind-driven waves from a mild cold front Tuesday night and Wednesday morning swept sand from under the homes, leaving 6 feet of supporting bulkhead pilings exposed and 6-by-6 beams dangling 2 feet from the nearest solid ground.
Township Commissioner Robert Palmer said municipal officials approved an emergency appropriation of $150,000 to pay for sand to be trucked in to rebuild the 18- to 20-foot dunes that overnight were worn down to half their size, swept away by the ocean.
In the North Beach section, 20-foot dunes were also severely damaged, appearing sheared in half, Palmer said, though no homes were threatened.
This most recent case of erosion again focused attention on the multimillion-dollar beach replenishment and storm protection project that is pending in five of the six towns that share the island. The project is in jeopardy because many homeowners have refused to sign access and work easements needed to do the work. Long Beach Township needs approximately 600 easements. As of last week, the township had about 50.
More…
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/2/06
BY JOE ZEDALIS
MANAHAWKIN BUREAU
LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP — Two Ocean Boulevard homes, assessed at $2.1 million each, gave new meaning Wednesday to the phrase "waterfront property."
Wind-driven waves from a mild cold front Tuesday night and Wednesday morning swept sand from under the homes, leaving 6 feet of supporting bulkhead pilings exposed and 6-by-6 beams dangling 2 feet from the nearest solid ground.
Township Commissioner Robert Palmer said municipal officials approved an emergency appropriation of $150,000 to pay for sand to be trucked in to rebuild the 18- to 20-foot dunes that overnight were worn down to half their size, swept away by the ocean.
In the North Beach section, 20-foot dunes were also severely damaged, appearing sheared in half, Palmer said, though no homes were threatened.
This most recent case of erosion again focused attention on the multimillion-dollar beach replenishment and storm protection project that is pending in five of the six towns that share the island. The project is in jeopardy because many homeowners have refused to sign access and work easements needed to do the work. Long Beach Township needs approximately 600 easements. As of last week, the township had about 50.
More…
posted by Little_Silvered at 7:06 PM
2 Comments:
I see where you are coming from, and while the immediate concern is for the owner of the beachfront property, a breached dune is something for concern to all home owners in the vicinity.
So suppose your beachfront property neighbor is too cheap to repair the dune. The town wont pay to repair it. Is everyone in the neighborhood going to have to have their property at risk?
I think the cost of dune repair is one of the assumed tax costs that a home buyer factors in when buying property in a beach town, whether beachfront or not. I'm sure the owners of the beachfront property pay sufficiently more in property taxes to make up for the benefit.
This is what was reported in the APP on Saturday.
[After receiving Saxton's letter, acting DEP Commissioner Lisa E. Jackson said she remains "committed to securing public access to those beaches that are being replenished at significant public cost." Good. The rest of the state's taxpayers shouldn't have to pay to widen the beachfront along the island if they aren't able to use it. Providing beach access is the least the beachfront property owners should do in return for the storm protection the replenishment project would provide.]
Post a Comment
<< Home