Hurricane Sandy

Township: Public Meeting on Beach Easements Would Be 'Counterproductive'

Easements are required for public funds to be spent on replenishment of private beaches

Some residents want a public meeting to discuss the possibility of granting easements on their private property, allowing taxpayer funds to be spent on the replenishment of dunes wiped out by Hurricane Sandy. Township officials, however, do not favor such a forum. "To have one big open meeting would be counterproductive with 500 people," Council President Mo Hill said Wednesday night when a resident asked why township officials wouldn't talk about the issue in public. According to township solicitor Ken Fitzsimmons, the township is legally prohibited from spending taxpayer funds to replenish dunes on private property destroyed by Sandy. That’s no longer a problem should the property owners grant the township an easement. As a condition of …

•  183 Comments
• Photos (1)

jerseystrong

3:29 pm on Friday, January 4, 2013

Seriously, what other services do you not get that a homeowner in ortley gets outside of the private community? do the police come to your rescue if called? Will the fire department come to your house if it's burning down. I am a home owner in ortley and TAKE CARE of my property - driveway, backyard and all. I'm sick and tired of hearing about how you pay taxes and don't get any benefits. The …   more ›

Public Funds for Dune Replenishment Means Public Access

If the owners of private beachfront property in Ortley Beach want their dunes replaced by the township, they need to grant public beach access, township says.

Toms River has replaced the sand dunes on publicly owned oceanfront property in Ortley Beach that were washed away during Hurricane Sandy. The township is willing to extend the same courtesy to the owners of private beachfronts, too, but on one condition. And it’s not a small one. According to township solicitor Ken Fitzsimmons, the township is legally prohibited from spending taxpayer funds to replenish dunes on private property destroyed by Sandy. That’s no longer a problem should the property owners grant the township an easement. As a condition of the easement, however, Toms River is requiring property owners to grant the township public access to the beach between the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean in perpetuity. Suddenly, the private …

•  89 Comments
• Photos (1)

Ana Prodani

5:09 pm on Friday, December 28, 2012

No they don't. They're just angry that they can't afford to live there.   more ›