Sadly we report….get ready for some ugly dune building, destined to obstruct the summer views & cool breezes in Ventnor & Margate. Might these unsightly mountains hurt home values as well? Most real estate agents think so.
A handful of Margate homeowners kept up the good fight though. They dug deep and bankrolled their own lawsuit to keep fake dunes out of this section of Absecon Island.
On Feb 3, these valiant homeowners suffered another loss. A U.S. District Court Judge ruled the proposed dunes would NOT cause a nuisance, be a public health hazard, or harm any beachfront homes in Margate. The City of Margate reluctantly raised the white flag months ago.
In addition to unsightly, view-killing, mountains of sand, Margate residents know all too well that flooding comes from back bay surge, not the front beaches. Our bulkheads have worked rather well for decades, said a 32 yr. resident of Margate who wished to remain anonymous.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the NJ Dept of Environmental Protection have been pushing to start dredging and pumping for years. They might get their wish, come this spring. Tractors, bulldozers and pump barges will fire up their diesel engines to begin the loud dirty work in early April. They’ll start in Atlantic City, and will work their way down towards Longport throughout the spring… and maybe early summer? We shall see.
The Downbeach Current reports that the proposed dunes will be a whopping 100 feet wide and about 13 feet high. Neighbors fear water will pool between the dune and Margate’s already effective bulkhead system. Others are concerned that Ventnor & Margate will suffer from unsightly mountains that kill summer breezes and views of the ocean.
Ventnor is now the only portion of the Absecon Island boardwalk where you can sit, walk and bike ride….and actually see the beach and ocean.
Some think contaminants, garbage and animal feces will gather there…..and could turn the beach into a “junkyard.”
Cost of a dune drainage plan will cost taxpayers about $10 million. It could take up to 18 months to design and install.
Why is unpopular dune project with limited benefit still moving forward? It’ all about the $63.3 million of taxpayer money specifically earmarked for this project. It’s waiting patiently to be spent. If not used for Absecon dune building, that cash goes back into the general fund, for use in future emergencies.