Community Opposition Causes Pull Back on Lower Dune Project

VILLAS – Just a few moments into a special meeting about the Beach and Shore Drive Public Access Project in Lower Township, hundreds of residents began interrupting and jeering Lower Township Grants Coordinator Colleen Crippen during her presentation. Mayor Michael Beck immediately and repeatedly asked the overflow crowd to respect the need for decorum so that everyone could be heard.
By the end of the meeting at township hall, residents of Ward 2 were heard loud and clear by their elected officials and the project was halted.
The project in question was designed to create a six-foot wide sidewalk, with improved access points to the beaches along a one and a half mile stretch of the Delaware Bay. The project included some encroachment into a dune that caused concern to local residents who had visions of Superstorm Sandy still fresh in their minds. According to Crippen, the focus was to be on safety for walkers, beachgoers and bikers who share the road with vehicular traffic in the recreational area. Many residents complained that this project would only attract more tourists to their neighborhood and disrupt their own quality of life that they have enjoyed for many years.
Crippen continued explaining the plan and answering some of the community criticisms. She noted that very few people would drive all the way to this location from other areas to use the beaches, and that there is no flood zone issue. Crippen added that no dunes will be removed, and that beach vegetation would be added as needed during the project to ensure erosion is limited. She reemphasized that safety is the primary goal of the project. Many residents voiced their doubts that safety was truly the goal of the project at all.
After the presentation by Crippen on the timelines and scope of the project, Lt. Patrick Greene, of the police department, repeated their support for the project as a public safety issue, even though there have been no reported accidents along this 1.5-mile portion of the township.
Residents were not pleased with that support and loudly suggested that police instead begin enforcing speed limits along Beach Drive.
Dr. Stewart Farrell, director of the Coastal Research Center at Richard Stockton College of N.J. spoke about the science involved in creating sidewalk access in this area. He cited that the beach is retreating in this area, but only at a rate of about two feet per year since 1832. He felt that the beaches are stable and that the project plan will not adversely impact the beaches here any more than they would without the project. He agreed that preserving the dune is indeed an important feature, but that the project would not remove or damage the dune because of the firm nature of the land base in that area.
Farrell also described another beach project planned by the Army Corps of Engineers for the area, stating that this project is not connected to the sidewalk/dune municipal project and that the federal project would help protect the local beaches that residents are concerned about. He indicated that this project needs to be completed regardless of the ultimate decision on the sidewalk access project.
During a series of exchanges between residents and Recreation Advisory Board member Steve Morey about the details of projected dune heights and FEMA issues, Deputy Mayor Norris Clark stepped forward and took an impromptu survey of the attending residents who continued their vocal opposition during much of the meeting.
“Who thinks this is a bad idea and no amount of information will make a difference?” Clark asked. At this nearly every hand in the hall shot quickly into the air. “How many want to have more information before deciding?” About 20 hands went up. “How many think this is a good idea?” Four people raised their hands. With that, there was a round of applause.
The question-and-answer period revealed how determined residents were to stop the plan. Approximately 30 to 50 people lined up to present their views, none in support of the plan. As one after another resident rose to criticize the project or ask questions that revealed deep concerns about the project, Councilman James Neville (R-2) who represents the residents of that ward stepped forward and asked the packed room, “Do all of you oppose this project?” The room erupted with a loud “Yes!” Neville replied, “then that’s what we we’ll do” … “The police will enforce the laws. We will pull back from this project and not ask the county Open Space people for any money for this project.”
The large crowd seemed a little stunned by this statement and several repeatedly asked Neville to repeat his commitment. Another wanted to know if a council resolution withdrawing the grant application would be passed and further, if another resolution killing the project for good would be introduced. Neville and Beck both agreed to have council consider these resolutions to kill the project at council meetings. Many residents left in a triumphant mood as questions continued to be posed to the township officials. Some remaining residents asked about other safety options such as lowering speed limits and strict enforcement on Beach/Shore Drive, or making the street one way at certain times.
In his final statement of the meeting, Neville stated, “The project (sidewalk/dune) will not happen,” and the fishing pier that had been on a prior plan “is also dead.”
Further council action would be required to finalize that decision over the next two council meetings.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.