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Newswire -- March, 2007
April Beach Project Update
Yet another wild and wooly month for beach issues on Long Beach Island. Some highlights from this past month include the final stages of the clean up from the WWII munitions dumped on the beach in Surf City while it was being enlarged for the beach replenishment project. Safety first has been the watch word, as about 100 fragments of WWII munitions have been discovered. None have proven to pose any harm to potential beach goers, and the clean up project will be completed by the end of May. Needless to say, this is not the help that those in favor of an Island-wide project were looking for.
Meanwhile, Ship Bottom has passed a new ordinance making owners of oceanfront property who have not signed easement agreements for future beach work responsible for any clean-up or beach rebuilding to their lots from future storms. Harvey Cedars and Beach Haven considered similar measures, but decided against them. Surf City was the first borough to put this type of plan in place, and it helped move the project forward.
Later in April, Ship Bottom accused a couple vocal in the battle against the beach project of tampering with the dunes in front of their home. The couple’s attorney, in turn, has filed a legal notice that they plan to sue the borough for harassment.
Finally, the DEP has given signals to Long Beach Township that there may be some “wiggle room” in the DEP’s demand for more public access as a predicate to a federal beach replenishment project on LBI. The current requirements include having public access to the beach every quarter mile and the construction of bathroom facilities every half mile.
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LBIDirect.Net - What its all about
LBIdirect.NET serves a couple of purposes. First, if you love LBI, this website is designed to provide helpful information to you.
A monthly newsletter is published which provides updates on what is going on at LBI.
The site is designed to help you find a great restaurant, shopping, entertainment, and more.
PLUS, the site will help you with timely articles about the real estate market on LBI, with the “Featured Properties” section highlighting some of the best values on LBI.
We hope you enjoy discovering LBI through this site.
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Tighter Restrictions on the Way!
A collection of state groups is asking the state to become more strict when it comes to building in the coastal areas. A coalition of state and federal environmental groups today called on New Jersey to take strong action to protect its coastal and ocean resources. The call came at a hearing held by the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection on proposed changes to the state’s Coastal Permit Program and Coastal Zone Management rules. These rules were last updated more than 25 years ago.
“The DEP needs to fully integrate ecosystem-based management into their ocean resources management so that they are making decisions based on the health of the entire ecosystem. We want New Jersey to lead the nation in protecting these resources for the future”, said one state Director.
Many people that plan renovations on bay or oceanfront properties currently face a massive amount of governmental red tape in getting permits for the work. These possible changes could further restrict and hamper oceanfront and bayfront development.
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Beach Badge Rates for 2007
Barnegat Light:
Seasonal preseason (before June 15): $20
Seasonal: $30; Weekly; $15; Daily $5
Beach Haven:
Seasonal preseason (before June 15) $20
Seasonal: $25 Weekly $15 Daily $5
Harvey Cedars
Season preseason (before June 15): $23
Weekly: $20; Dailey $6
Long Beach Township;
Seasonal preseason (before June 15) $25
Seasonal: $35; Weekly: $20 ; Daily: $5
Ship Bottom:
Seasonal preseason (before May 31): $25
Weekly : $17; Daily $7 Sat. and Sun: $5
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Global Warming Effect On Insurance
The Federal Government is looking in to the possibility that two federal insurance programs face “many billions” of dollars in possible damage claims, because that haven’t acted to limit risks from storm and floods resulting from climate change, while private insurers have.
Ramifications to LBI come in the federal funded flood insurance program required if you own a home and carry a mortgage on LBI. The Government Accountability Office, the audit arm of Congress, said in a new report that the National Flood Insurance Program has experienced multibillion dollar increases in damage claims because of heightened storm damage and flooding in the past three decades.
The Federal Government is discussing a cap and trade system to better manage expected increases in payouts.
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Quick
Bites
The Beach Haven Board of Commissioners has declared an ordinance, one that required fluoride to the borough’s drinking water supply system, to be null and void. Dentists, area wide, will be handing out business cards by the cotton candy booth in Bay Village.
Thespians rejoice! The Surflight Theater in Beach Haven has upgraded the digs for its acting troop thisyear. Deluxe accommodations are just about ready, next to the Surflight Theater. Total cost of the project is over $750,000, paid for by selling the old cast house and a generous donation…(no, not from John Davidson) Be sure to visit www.johndavidson.com for the penultimate guest of the new cast house!
The old trains that had been used as restaurants in Surf City are headed to the scrap heap, and will not be used as dining cars on the mainland, as originally planned. 120 tons of dining excellence will be melted down next month.
If only Barney Fife would have known about life on LBI! According to figures reported to the N.J. Police and Firemen’s Retirement System in 2006, no fewer than 14 of the township’s police officers made more than $100,000. LBT’s police are the best paid on the Island, by far. In comparison, it is interesting to note that a N.Y.C. rookie officer makes $25,100, $32,700 after graduation from the academy, and $60,000 after five years on duty.
On a related note, the Township is set to require all township employees who work with minors to go through a background check. Physicals will also be required for employees. Big Brother has arrived.
Curbs will be lowered in Long Beach Township to make access to fire hydrants better for firefighters.
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Real
Estate Trends on LBI
The major up-tick in sales evidenced in March did not translate into April sold stats.
Numbers for April ‘07 were almost exactly those of April ‘06, with average tickets holding, and inventory moving down just a bit from the prior month of March. Inventory is down nicely from April ‘06 numbers…..12% down from last year in single family homes.
The softest part of the market is in multi family homes and more expensive condo units. Sales in the entire condo category were up as a result of many very low end condo units selling on LBI. Most of these units were bayside dupex’s converted to condo form of ownership.
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