Residents Oppose Longer Promenade, Mayor: Idea’s D.O.A.

SEA ISLE CITY – Sept. 13 was the regular meeting of City Council. It attracted a larger-than-usual crowd. The group of over 30 identified themselves as taxpayers and residents. They gathered to voice opposition to any move to extend the seaside promenade. 
The idea had been offered by Committee member John Gibson to build a packed gravel pathway along the length of the new dunes from First Street to 29th and 57th to 93rd Street.
By so doing, the extension would link with the promenade and, per Gibson, make for a safer and more seamless route for bikers and pedestrians.
Gibson had earlier made clear that many hurdles, including state review by the state Department of Environmental Protection and numerous others would all have to be cleared before anything could happen.
Nevertheless, residents and taxpayers organized an opposition group. They created a Facebook page under the rubric, “Don’t Pave Sea Isle’s Dunes” to begin coalescing support.
Opponents stated that any extension of the promenade would cause an increase in flood insurance premiums, create environmental hazards, and diminish the value of newly-built and existing dunes and lower property values.
To great applause and joy of the group, Mayor Leonard Desiderio announced that the plan to extend the promenade the length of the island “is probably dead on arrival after talking with the NJDEP.”
Boulevard Elevation Project
Council heard from County Engineer Dale Foster an update on the progress of the project to elevate and widen Sea Isle Boulevard.
The next phase will begin the week of Sept. 19. The project will cost $12.73 million and elevate the road 4.5 feet, to serve as an evacuation route. The price is additional to the $5.7 million spent by the county since it broke ground on the project in 2014.
The next phase will include paving the northern side of the roadway, rerouting traffic to the north side and beginning the elevation of the south side of the roadway.
Work on this phase must be complete before March 15. That date is when osprey habitat restrictions go into effect until Aug. 15. Working around these habitat restrictions “is a critical thing that is really extending the schedule of our project,” Foster said.
Start Talking to Uber?
Council member Mary Tighe requested that the city resume negotiations with ride-sharing, web-based platform Uber so that its drivers can continue to provide service in Sea Isle City.
Watershed Management
Council unanimously approved an ordinance on introduction and first reading to adopt a watershed management plan which is part of work to reduce flood insurance premiums for homeowners in the city through the Community Rating System. The program is administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and offers discounts on premiums obtained through the National Flood Insurance Program.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.