By Daniel Nee
Nearly nine months after Superstorm Sandy hit the Jersey Shore, there's one number Bob Martin, the state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, has on his mind: 1,249.
That's how many easement agreements need to be signed by oceanfront homeowners along New Jersey's coastline before beach replenishment projects that will bulk up protective dunes can get off the ground coast-wide.
While replenishment projects in Ocean County's northern barrier island and Long Beach Island have garnered the most media publicity, similar projects are planned in Atlantic and Cape May counties.
In order for the projects to move forward, oceanfront homeowners must sign easements which would allow the dunes to be built and maintained partially on property that is privately owned. Some homeowners have refused to do so, saying the protective dunes would block their view of the ocean, or open to door to more public access to private beaches.
On Monday, the state Supreme Court threw out a $375,000 jury award given to a Harvey Cedars couple who claimed their oceanfront home lost value since their ocean view was blocked by the protective dune after the borough took their easement through eminent domain. The court ruled unanimously that the special benefit of protection must be considered when calculating fair value in such a taking. Harvey Cedars officials argued that the couple was owed just a few hundred dollars.
Though the ruling has improved the likelihood that municipalities will use eminent domain to take the slivers of land from holdouts, thus speeding up the process for the projects to begin, the fight for better dune protection could remain a long one.
Martin said the 1,249 holdouts represent "a little less than half" of the total number of oceanfront property owners statewide, about 2,500.
About 800 of the remaining 1,249 are in Ocean County, he said.
"The governor has made it clear," Martin said, speaking to reporters this week at the pavilion at Brick Township's public ocean beach. "We want the easements, we're going to get the easements, and we're going to build the shoreline."
Martin said the state will do "whatever is necessary" to get the easements from oceanfront homeowners.
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