Major Stories
On Halloween, the Danish firm Orsted unexpectedly withdrew from its commitment to construct two wind farms off the county’s coast. Convinced that the facilities would cost the county more than $1 billion in tourism revenue, county and municipal officials fought the granting of federal approvals for the project. It was only late in the year when, convinced that the Orsted projects were dead and incapable of resurrection, the county ended its litigation over the project.
Another perceived threat to the Shore came in the form of enhanced, climate-driven land use regulations know as the Resilient Environments and Landscapes program. REAL became the focus of the county’s resistance to regulations that are based on a projected sea level rise 75 years into the future. County officials called for a more gradual approach to potential climate impacts on coastal zone development, one that accounts for the financial impact of the regulations.
Public protest was sharp over unexpectedly high increases in the electricity bills in the South Jersey region served by Atlantic City Electric. Complaints that bills had soared by 200% or even 300% caused state officials to hold hearings in Trenton and led to federal field hearings organized by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2). Both ACE and the state Board of Public Utilities came under attack for the rate hikes. Simultaneously reports were issued showing double digit increases in electricity demand in the Garden State caused by major growth in data center power usage and federal and state initiatives to electrify major areas of the economy, from transportation to home heating to industrial use.
Cape Regional Health System was acquired by Cooper University Health Care. The small, independent nonprofit hospital that began life as Burdette Memorial Hospital in 1950 found it could no longer function optimally in a health-care world dominated by much larger entities. The merger promises to bring greater access to highly specialized care to Cape May County.
The year also saw the end of the partnership between Cape May County and the Delaware River and Bay Authority over the management and use of the county airport. Rather than allow another 30-year lease to go into effect automatically, the county told DRBA that there would be no renewal. The decision led to a visible rupture of the relationship between the two organizations and has left the county with the need to find a new operator for the airport. It also will leave county taxpayers with an estimated $30-million-plus bill for what the county will have to pay DRBA for airport assets built by and paid for by the agency. The county has yet to reveal its plans for the airport site.
Republicans were triumphant in the General Election, with the county backing President-elect Donald Trump by the greatest margin of his three presidential races, easily returning Van Drew to office and totally dominating county and municipal races. County Republicans saw only one defeat, when their Senate candidate, Cape May’s Curtis Bashaw, was defeated by Democrat Andy Kim.
January/February/March
The first quarter of the year began with a new recycling law going into effect that set minimum recycling content requirements for containers and packaging sold in the state. The statute called attention back to the mandatory recycling process that has been a municipal burden since a 2018 decision by China sent shock waves through the international markets. Recycling no longer represented a revenue stream for county towns but rather a new expense. Some towns are still grappling with the impact of those 2018 decisions, including Cape May City, which is seeking to set limits on curbside recycling.
Back in January Middle Township approved the repurposing of an old Wawa and dermatology clinic on Route 9 and Avalon Boulevard as a cannabis retail shop. One year later the shop has yet to open, but now appears close to doing so.
In January Ocean City finally settled the long-standing acquisition of property belonging to a now defunct car dealership, the county turned service at the Crest Haven Nursing Home over to a private company, and the Herald provided an in-depth story on what has been holding up the Five Mile Island dune project by the Army Corps of Engineers.
In February an individual charged in a fatal crash during an unauthorized car rally in Wildwood was sentenced to 25 years.
Meanwhile, Stone Harbor created a new residential zone on Linden Lane that gave relief to cottage owners who wanted to build second stories. The change in zoning was not applied to the three narrow streets known collectively as The Courts.
The struggle between North Wildwood and the state Department of Environmental protection continued, with the state agency refusing to approve permits for a new bulkhead the city said was needed to protect municipal property.
Many county residents cried foul in March when the county cut down more than 10 acres of trees to create new parking at the popular county park and zoo.
That same month saw the Legislature pass and Gov. Phil Murphy sign a redesign of the state’s affordable housing statute, coming in time for the Department of Community Services to issue proposed housing obligations for all of the state’s municipalities. The law requires that each town must set its obligations by a binding resolution on or before Jan. 31. DCA suggests that the county’s total obligation is 992 living units.
In March, the Cape May City Fire Department came home to a new fire station after a hiatus at the West Cape May facility during construction, Avalon continued to debate a potential change to zoning that would allow boutique hotels in the borough’s business district, and Sea Isle City pushed forward with its $20 million community center.
April/May/June
State aid to school districts continued to be cut, but the cushion of federal pandemic aid was no longer shielding the impact. A number of county school districts found themselves in serious financial difficulties and unable to resolve them. Two districts would start planning for a special election at which they would appeal to voters through referendums.
An appeals court ruled in favor of Senate candidate Kim, ruling that the use of the county-line ballot could not stand in the Democratic primary elections. The county line ballot format may not survive for any party in the 2025 primaries.
Continuing to react to what it sees as climate change-induced weather patterns, New Jersey in May produced an extreme heat plan.
The long battle between the DEP and North Wildwood over shore protection measures began moving toward ending as Murphy came to the city ahead of a hydraulic beach fill project.
May saw Trump make another rally appearance in Wildwood, this time on the beach.
Also in May, an amended Open Public Records Act passed the Legislature and was signed by Murphy even though there was a major public outcry against the revised statute. One of the major provisions it altered had required municipalities and school districts to pay attorney fees for litigants if the determination was that the denial of material was in violation of the statute; that now became discretionary.
AtlantiCare flexed its muscles, showing that it was going to be an aggressive player in the county as well as Cooper University Health Care. AtlantiCare won the ambulance contracts for the county’s two largest towns by population, Lower and Middle townships. Signs are up promising new services and facilities near the AtlantiCare medical complex off Route 9 in Court House.
July/August/September
Greeted as a “rain tax” by state Republicans when it was first proposed, the state’s embrace of stormwater utilities is catching on, with almost 100 municipalities considering this type of facility, which would allow for a new revenue stream for flood mitigation and stormwater management projects. One of those towns is very Republican Stone Harbor, which allocated more than $300,000 in the 2024 budget for the necessary preliminary studies.
A cannabis retail shop had a grand opening in North Cape May, joining the West Cape May establishment that was already open for business.
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian announced that his family’s Wonderland Pier would close permanently in mid-October. Eustace Mita, chief executive officer of Icona Resorts, has twice presented plans in Ocean City for the site. Many residents are resisting Mita’s latest proposal for the property, a luxury hotel.
In August the DEP published the proposed REAL coastal development regulations in the New Jersey Register starting the clock on their adoption or rejection next summer.
Voters in Dennis and Middle townships overwhelmingly rejected proposals from their respective school boards that would have increased the school tax levy in each town. But The will of the voters may not be enough to hold off tax increases, given legislation that allows school districts to increase the tax levy beyond that allowed by the 2% cap if the purpose is to replace funds lost through state aid cuts.
Former Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron entered a guilty plea in a state case accusing him and two other current city officials of improperly benefitting from the state health benefits program.
October/November/December
Another year of significant increases in the state employee health benefits program led three more county towns to pull out of the state system. Ocean City was the first to go for private insurance. This fall Sea Isle City, Avalon and Cape May City joined those that have left the state system.
South Jersey suffered much more intense drought than the northern parts of the state. It was considered the worst drought in 22 years. Cape May County, despite some recent rainfall, remains 100% in what is designated extreme drought.
Middle Township has signed a deal that could earn the township millions as it sells its ownership in a large redevelopment parcel on Indian Trail Road to Ryan Homes.
Federal legislation commonly known as the BEACH Act allowed Hereford Inlet sand to be used for beach replenishment projects in Stone Harbor, meaning a lower cost for such projects in the future.
The effort to make beneficial use of dredge material received support as a project to build up marshes on Scotch Bonnet Island.
North Wildwood and the DEP came to an agreement that settled their long-running dispute. The city dropped a $21 million lawsuit against the agency, while the DEP rescinded $12 million in fines levied against the city. North Wildwood ended up having to pay $1.7 million in fines.
A record storm season for the nation ended with no major storm making landfall close to Cape May County. But the storms elsewhere are nevertheless expected to have an impact through a continuing rise in home insurance rates.
