Long Beach Township considers ways to gain easements

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Long Beach Township considers ways to gain easements

By DONNA WEAVER Staff Writer, 609-978-2015

Published: Thursday, October 09, 2008

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP - A citizens committee met Wednesday to discuss what can be done to convince 62 oceanfront homeowners to sign easements granting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Protection access to their properties to complete a beach replenishment project.

The committee is starting off with half of a mission - collecting easements on the south end of the township, putting easements needed on the north end on the backburner. Committee Chairman Bill Kunz would not elaborate on why the committee is focusing on the south end of the township and not including the north end.

The committee, which is made up of eight members, is collecting recommendations to give Mayor Joseph Mancini to determine the best way to collect the remaining easements for a plan dubbed "Project 31 South," according to Kunz.

No members of the public attended the meeting held in the township municipal complex, and Kunz said the public had not been invited. The formation of the committee, by the township, was announced at several public meetings, he said.

"What came out of that meeting was intended for the mayor. I'm not sure that the public needs to know what came out of the meeting until the mayor releases it," Kunz said.

However, The Press of Atlantic City reporter who arrived was able to stay for the meeting.

Topics including eminent domain, joining a regional beach access lawsuit against the DEP and how to reach out to homeowners who have not signed were all discussed.

The committee discussed corresponding with homeowners by mail and distributing packets with information about the beach replenishment project. But that plan came under fire from one member.

"We need to be careful about answering questions we came up with in a packet we put together. We have to be careful approaching this as experts," said Mark Davies. "We need to 'keep it simple, stupid.' Send out a short, simple letter with a copy of their easement."

According to Kunz, when he approached Mancini with a plan to send letters to homeowners, the mayor was not receptive. Kunz said Mancini thought it would be expensive, and homeowners would not respond.

"Sixty-two letters at 42 cents each is a small expense to get the point across," said committee member Bill Hutson.

A portion of the $72 million beach replenishment project was completed last year in Surf City. The project has been a point of contention and lawsuits for several years due to the easements.

Harvey Cedars is next in line to receive sand on its rapidly eroding beaches, once a bid is accepted by the corps. Two bids were returned last week, but the details have not been released.

E-mail Donna Weaver:

DWeaver@pressofac.com