The expensive, three-year battle to stop the planned dune building in Margate is over. NJ DEP; Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will now proceed with their plans to build dunes along the beachfront of Margate, Ventnor and Longport.
Still to be determined: value of the 87 Margate city owned plots and needed easements via eminent domain. NJ State has only offered $29,600.
Margate spent $310,000 fighting the dune issue.
Margate still has a few concerns:
- Storm water flow from beach block to ocean
- Seawater collecting behind dunes
- Dunes maintenance
- Design and cost of storm pipes
- Street end crossovers
- Number of handicapped access points
- Dune grass upkeep
Bids for the project will go out later this year.
Margate’s neighbors were pleased with the outcome. Ventnor Mayor Beth Holtzman was happy with the news. A portion of the Ventnor boardwalk is currently unprotected. Over in Longport, Mayor Nick Russo was glad the dunes will soon be built.