A request to Surf City officials from the owners of a home under construction to continue a retaining wall on the east side of their 18th Street property, or the west side of the oceanfront dune, will be directed to the borough engineer.

Christine Hannemann, borough clerk/administrator, said Michael Curcio and his wife, Julie, would work with Frank Little of Owen, Little and Associates of Beachwood to determine the right course of action for the project.

Michael Curcio reached out to borough officials in a Jan. 30 email asking for permission to continue the block retaining wall on the east side of the property and to replace the broken wooden wall currently in place. Curcio also said he and his wife would like to replace the current pavers with either all pavers or a small center area filled with stones and surrounded by a border of pavers. He also submitted landscape renderings and photos of what currently exists at the site.

When the Curcios received approval for their new home, they did so with the agreement that theyd dedicate 10 feet of their property to the borough to increase the width of Ocean Terrace, Michael Curcio said in his email.

Since the proposed work does not fall within a federally funded dune project footprint, approval is required only from the state or local authorities, according to Steve Rochette, public affairs officer, for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District.

Any individual who removes or alters dunes could also face charges from the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP, as the non-federal sponsor, is responsible to operate and maintain the Long Beach Island beach replenishment project, which includes dunes and all other features of the project, according to the Army Corps.

The DEP has state aid agreements with municipalities that spell out state and legal regulations prohibiting the removal of any dunes in New Jersey, according to the Army Corps.

Removal or altering the dunes is definitely a violation, the Army Corps said recently in response to a question regarding the clear cutting of dune vegetation in Ship Bottom. NJDEP is in charge of enforcement, but local municipalities have brought cases against homeowners.

The matter of the clear cutting of dune vegetation is expected to be heard in Ship Bottom municipal court March 6. The case was adjourned Jan. 16, allowing the appropriate parties time to develop and submit a plan to restore dune vegetation.

Under Ship Bottom municipal code, dune restoration requires an application be made that includes a description of the activities to be performed, the equipment to be used and any other information the borough engineer deems necessary to properly review the proposed work. Restoration work cannot begin until a permit has been issued by the borough. The work must then begin within 10 days and be completed within 30 days unless otherwise approved by the governing body, according to municipal code.

At its Jan. 28 meeting, the Ship Bottom Borough Council unanimously introduced an ordinance that would, once adopted, beef up beach protection, including the removal of dune vegetation. The proposal calls for a maximum $2,000 fine for anyone violating or failing to comply with any provision of the boroughs beach protection and bulkheads law.

Its the maximum fine allowed, Kristy Davis, municipal clerk, said at the time.

Currently, the monetary fine is set at no more than $1,000 as well as the possibility of imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days or community service not to exceed 90 days, or a combination of the three as determined by the municipal judge. Imprisonment, community service and the discretion of the municipal judge remain the same in the proposed measure.

Mayor William Huelsenbeck said multiple tickets can be given on the same violation for each successive day the situation hasnt been remedied.

A public hearing on the proposed Ship Bottom ordinance is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 25, at borough hall, about 10 days before a clear cutting of dune vegetation at a new construction site on the oceanfront side of 17th Street is scheduled to be heard before Judge James Liguori.

Gina G. Scala

ggscala@thesandpaper.net

Read more here:
Surf City Property Owners, Borough Engineer Working Together on Oceanfront Retaining Wall Request - The SandPaper

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February 22, 2020 at 3:51 am by Mr HomeBuilder
Category: Retaining Wall