Resort Ensures Public’s Access to Bay, Sea

STONE HARBOR — It’s all about “the water,” ocean and bay, and ensuring the public has a way to get there. That’s why the borough has filed its Municipal Public Access Plan with the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Officials believe it is the county’s first resort to do so.
The 16-page document, accessible via the borough’s website, notes that, in spring 2011, DEP proposed revised rules governing public access to the bay and ocean in all municipalities have access to tidal waters.
The plan states the municipality is “proactive in serving the needs of its residents and visitors,” by its street-end beach access points and to the bay via its municipal marina, from 80th to 83rd streets.
That marina, it notes, provides parking and a launching ramp for trailered vessels.
The reason the borough has submitted the document is to seek approval “so that public access requirements for permits will be waived in…the borough.”
As of December 2011, public access planning responsibility remains with DEP, according to the document.
Once given approval, the borough will be responsible to ensure public access to waterways in accordance with state law.
“There is abundant public access to the beaches, bays and lagoons, as well as to other recreational and natural features such as the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary,” the document states.
It cites the borough’s three miles of beachfront with 42 access points to 22 bathing beaches.
Beach badges, while required of all over age 12 from Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend, are free to all active duty military members, active duty N.J. National Guard staff and their dependents. Those persons must show their military identification cards to the Beach Tag office.
Public restroom facilities are provided along the ocean coast and bay shoreline.
There are 20 street ends that offer “visual and fishing access to the bay,” it states.
The street ends are maintained by the borough Department of Public Works. The Beach Patrol oversees lifeguards.
Daily beach raking is done seasonally, and trash and recyclables are collected from containers. There is free ambulance service to the local hospital for injured persons.
Persons with disabilities may access the beach on free surf chairs.
Surfing and surf fishing are allowed, as are catamarans and kayaks. Fishing is allowed on ocean beaches during the summer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those who swim after 5 p.m. do so at their own risk.
“The borough is taking steps to open up the bayside waterfront in the scenic Town Center to provide additional physical and visual public areas.
“Consistent with the…master plan, the borough has proposed the Shelter Haven Harbor Walk at 96th-98th streets and Third Avenue…” the document states.
There is a “pocket park” where the Shelter Haven (motel) was, at 96th and Third avenues, although the project “must be developed under the N.J. Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) regulations and easement requirements for waterfront development and walkways.”
The document notes that the access plan was “developed in coordination with borough planning, zoning and council members. The plan was submitted for public viewing and comment in December 2011. A public workshop was held Dec. 20 to discuss elements of the plan. The plan was to be adopted Dec. 20.
“At this time, the borough does not intend to create a municipal public access fund. If one is proposed for improvements to public access, then the borough will present the NJDEP with details on the structure and management of the fund,” the document states.
It also notes that it does not present any new or different elements that would change maintenance of public waterways access ways, nor will it change borough methods for responding to emergencies or for emergency vehicle access.