Why Bay Head tells Christie ‘no’ on easements
“They’ve been pilloried in the press and condemned by state officials and even some of their own neighbors.
Still, Bay Head’s oceanfront homeowners remain adamant and united: They will not sign easements necessary to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to erect 22-foot dunes and expand the beach in front of their properties. Their stance has set up a showdown with Gov. Chris Christie and state officials who insist that they will obtain easements, by litigation if necessary.
“We’ve maintained our property for many years without their assistance,” said East Avenue resident Thacher Brown, whose beachfront property has been in his family since 1928. “We think this is a huge waste of money. They want to put in sand that is just going to wash away.”
Northern Ocean County’s portion of the Barnegat peninsula was badly battered by superstorm Sandy more than two years ago, with the ocean blasting through the dunes in Mantoloking and carving an inlet that cut from the sea to the Barnegat Bay. Homes were swept away and there was massive flooding on the barrier beach as well as the mainland.”
Mikie, Jean. Asbury Park Press 3 November 2014.