Ventnor to State: Sorry, Beaches Not Available for Summer Dune Building


Ventnor is mad as hell…and they’re not gonna take it. In quite a turn of events, Ventnor leadership has informed the State of NJ……NO…..to summer dune building on the beaches.

Bulldozers, dredges, pumps and steel pipes are no longer welcome along our Ventnor shorelines…until AFTER Labor Day….so says Ventnor Commissioner Landgraf in a letter to the State crafted on May 3.

Local residents & visitors believe Ventnor leadership is taking a unique, and smart stand against the economy crippling, dredging / dune building scheduled to start June 8…..and going til at least July 12.

Here’s the OFFICIAL, ‘No Summer Dune Building’ statement from Ventnor Commissioner; Lance Landgraf.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection unilaterally informed Ventnor this week that it is altering its beach replenishment schedule.

Once again, far-flung bureaucrats are placing the disruptive work from June 8 to July 12 and likely beyond – squarely at the height of summer tourism season.

Unfortunately, the city, its business and our residents have made other plans at this time and our beaches are unavailable for the dune and replenishment work. Our city has multiple concerts, a surf camp, Independence Day celebrations and thousands of visitors coming to town for their hard-earned summer vacations.

We hope the state understands that this revised timing simply doesn’t work for Ventnor.

Ventnor has enthusiastically supported the state and the Corps dune and replenishment work from day one – and we will continue to do so if they adhere to their original timeline. It is important work, but so is the summer tourism season. We simply cannot allow one to jeopardize the other.

Today, we are notifying the state and the Army Corps of Engineers that our beaches will not be available for the replenishment and dune work until after Labor Day, which is when they had previously said the work would be performed.

Lance Landgraf, Ventnor City Commissioner.


Congressman LoBiondo, Resident of Ventnor, Taking Heat Over Dune Construction

Congressman Frank LoBiondo, a Ventnor resident, is aware of the disruption that beach dune work can cause. Especially during the peak summer season. Screams from local Ventnor & Margate elected officials & taxpayers have so far, fallen on deaf ears. Downbeach business owners are also questioning Mr. LoBiondo’s effectiveness in protecting the Margate & Ventnor summertime economy, much of it Real Estate related.

Additional, Relevant Notes:

NJ Congressman LoBiondo has also dropped the ball on recreational fishing in South Jersey. Flounder is the #1 fish for summer visitors, and new rules for Summer 2017 will kill bait shops, party boats & family fun. Fishing is part of the state’s #2 industry.

On May 3, Brigantine City Council discussed greater likelihood of Army Corp of Engineers building a new jetty at the north end of Brigantine Island. This is exactly what Margate, Ventnor….and especially Longport, should consider.

Downbeach dredging & beach dune building is simply a way to spend tax dollars on projects that are always in need of replacement. LoBiondo wants that Sandy Relief money spent asap….no matter what.

DEP (Dept of Environmental Protection) & Army Corp of Engineers claim disruption will be limited due to ‘1,000 ft at a time’ work areas. Not true. Are YOU gonna place your beach chair right next to that loud racket & mess? We doubt it. Bugs, seagulls, smoke, dirty water and other debris from the non-stop pumping and spewing… will ruin….at least 2,000 ft of beach at a time.

This project is being called ‘bridge-gate by the sea’. Revenge for not bending over…and blindly accepting un-needed & un-wanted dunes.

Gov Christie claims that dunes will protect expensive shore properties from flooding. Presumably, dunes would lower insurance rates too? Not exactly.

Flood insurance rates are based on overall municipal ‘ratings’… NOT whether a dune is in place. ex: Margate can build 25 ft dunes, but flooding will still occur due to back bay surge. Most front-beach damage during a storm comes from high winds and flying debris….not crashing waves.

For more: DownbeachBUZZ.com


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