Wildwood Beach Improvements Get CAFRA Permit

WILDWOOD – The next phase in the revitalization of Wildwood took a major step forward when the city received a Coastal Area Facilities Review Act (CAFRA) permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for the city’s beach programming and improvement plan.
“The city of Wildwood is excited about the beach plan,” said Mayor Ernest Troiano. “Originally, we were concerned some of our concepts might be a little aggressive for the setting, but Remington, Vernick and Walberg Engineers was able to package our ideas into a plan acceptable to NJDEP.”
The city is situated on a barrier island in New Jersey’s environmentally sensitive coastal zone. As a result, all activities on the beach are governed by NJDEP through CAFRA and its related coastal zone management rules. With a length of 7,100 feet and a width approaching half a mile, the city’s beach is large enough to create 73 acres of programmable space subject to state environmental regulations.
While development is normally prohibited on the east (beach and ocean) side of the boardwalk, city engineers were able to successfully negotiate with NJDEP officials to obtain their approval. The seasonal/temporary nature of the elements proposed and the limited and controlled portion of the beach to be utilized can collectively enhance public access to the beach and the ocean, thereby meeting NJDEP’s core policies.
According to City Engineer Marc DeBlasio, “NJDEP’s staff was receptive to the city’s goals and was tremendously helpful in guiding us through their regulatory framework. “We may not have received approvals for every item on the city’s wish list, but we were able to reach a compromise on significant issues,” said DeBlasio.
The beach programming and improvement plan envisions a variety of active and passive components designed to broaden Wildwood’s appeal and expand its market both during and beyond the traditional tourist season.
“Historically, uses on the beach have been limited to traditional seaside sunning and bathing, along with occasional special events. Without discounting these activities, they do not create the type of on-going excitement to redefine Wildwood,” explained City Planner Stuart Wiser. “While many plan elements, such as cabanas, beach chairs and surfing lessons are traditional seashore offerings that do not require state approval, other elements, such as permitting recreational vehicle parking on the beach and creating semi-exclusive beach resort areas, are more challenging given New Jersey’s strict environmental regulations. It was the combination of these unique elements that ultimately worked in the City’s favor.”
As director of Revenue and Finance as well as Planning and Redevelopment for the city, Commissioner Peter Byron saw an opportunity to address the city’s fiscal needs while simultaneously reinforcing Wildwood’s position as a leader in family-oriented entertainment.
“We considered beach badges as a way to raise revenue, but then realized our half-mile wide beach gives us an opportunity to add value to the visitor experience,” said Byron. “Rather than placing the financial burden on visitors by charging fees to use the beach, we are bringing in attractions and permitting operators to charge for additional activities. If you don’t want to participate in one of those activities, our beach is still free. It’s still beautiful and it’s just as enjoyable as it has always been.” The city will derive revenue from the beach programming and improvement plan via a combination of concession fees, revenue sharing from events and corporate sponsorships.