Bay Front Homeowners Seek Bulkhead for Storm Protection

VILLAS — Lower Township Council passed a motion Nov. 19 to allow four residents who lost portions of their properties to Hurricane Sandy to build a bulkhead to keep their foundations from being destroyed by the next storm.
While the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must grant final approval, their approval is subject to council giving their blessing to the project since part of the bulkhead would be on township property.
Vince Orlando, an engineer with Engineering Design Associates, came before council with a request from four homeowners from Rosewood Avenue to Village Road that received property damage from the hurricane to build a bulkhead to protect their homes.
One year ago, Orlando appeared before council with a request from three homeowners just to the north of Rosewood Avenue to build a bulkhead. The project was approved by DEP and constructed before the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.
He said he was requesting a bulkhead for four homes just to the south of the other bulkhead.
“The (unprotected) properties did suffer extensive erosion during the last storm event,” said Orlando. “Fortunately, the bulkhead that was designed by our office remained intact.”
He said DEP was prepared to issue an emergency construction permit for the new bulkhead which would stretch 400 linear feet.
“It would run from the terminus of the existing bulkhead to the south to Village Road,” said Orlando.
He said the end of Rosewood Avenue at the beach would also be part of the project. Orlando said the four homeowners would pay to install 50 feet of bulkhead to protect that beach access.
As part of the approval, township council specified the bulkhead include steps down to the beach.
“Hopefully, within six to eight weeks, we may be under construction depending on our contractor and the availability of materials,” he said.
He said the concern was another storm could remove the foundation of some of the homes.
Township Solicitor Michael Donohue said he expected to follow up council’s motion with a resolution at its next meeting. He said Orlando would need to indemnify the township before construction could begin.
Lower Township Planning Director Bill Galestock brought a message from the township’s Planning Board recommending that a local ordinance requiring a dune review by the township be removed, specifically for the construction of bulkheads and other shore protection devices .
He said DEP had an extensive review and permit process for construction in dunes which did not exist when the township passed its dune ordinance in 1981. Galestock said the Planning Board felt it would be prudent after the storm to grant some relief to residents.
Council members were in agreement to eliminate the ordinance. Galestock prepared a draft ordinance for council.
Mayor Michael Beck said council would move forward on the issue at its next meeting.