Politics & Government

Toms River Officials Say All Towns Must Work Toward Dune Project

Council will consider resolution on Tuesday, July 23 in town hall

All municipalities from the Manasquan to Barnegat Inlets should consider using eminent domain to ensure a substantial federal dune project can be completed, states an upcoming resolution up for consideration by Toms River’s Township Council.

In a news release issued Thursday, council Vice President Maria Maruca, who represents Ortley Beach, Silverton and the other Ward 1 communities heavily-damaged by Superstorm Sandy, said that a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dune project will only protect shore towns if it is contiguous.

“We need to think beyond our individual neighborhoods and beyond our individual towns in building an effective dune system and beach replenishment project that will protect life and property for all of us,” said council Vice President Maria Maruca in a statement.

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Last week, Toms River officials said they plan to use eminent domain to gain access to properties if owners do not grant easements. The ruling in a Harvey Cedars eminent domain case has given Toms River officials the go-ahead to move forward with eminent domain proceedings, which were too risky of an option before the court's opinion, mayor Thomas Kelaher has said.

The township plans to send letters to the property owners that have not yet granted an easement for the project. That letter will have a deadline to sign, which Maruca has said will be the end of July.

Find out what's happening in Toms Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We need a synergistic plan for the whole region,” said Ward 2 Councilman Brian Kubiel in a statement.

Among Kubiel’s constituents is Toms River’s Green Island section, which also took heavy damage from Sandy.

“All of us who live here have one thing in common—the Atlantic Ocean,” Kubiel said. “What good is it for one town to have dunes and the next town does not? The gushing of destructive hurricane waters knows no municipal boundaries.”

The resolution—which will be considering during the council’s 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, July 23 in town hall—will urge surrounding municipalities to voluntarily obtain easements or institute eminent domain proceedings to begin dune restoration, if necessary.

Eminent Domain is now a “viable policy option for municipalities” because of the Harvey Cedars case, council President George Wittmann said in the news release.

“A contiguous dune program for the entire Jersey Shore is what we need and we need it now,” said Maruca. “This is an issue that should unite all of us.”


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