July 17, 2015
Julio Cortez/AP
In this photograph taken Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, a woman, right, scavenges on the beach while workers labor on the new seawall construction project to protect Mantoloking, N.J., from the Atlantic Ocean.
Superstorm Sandy has come and gone, but a storm is still brewing at the Jersey Shore.
This time it's over sand dunes, created to protect property from Mother Nature’s wrath but at the cost of obstructing some beachfront homeowners’ view of the ocean.
The state of New Jersey, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Protection, have vowed to construct protective sand dunes along the entire New Jersey coastline, but some beachfront homeowners are against the projects.
“We can no longer be held back from completing these critical projects by a small number of owners who are selfishly concerned about their view while putting large swaths of homes and businesses around them at risk," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been quoted as saying.
The homeowners own easements, or land privileges, for the swatches of beach surrounding their homes, and some won't give up those easements, despite the state's threat to use its power of eminent domain. (Though, as past lawsuits have proven, court fees may amount to more than the payback.)
On Thursday, the state made good on its vow by filing eminent domain actions against the owners of two homes — one in Ship Bottom, the other in Ocean City, CBSPhilly reported.
Officials hope the homeowners will hand over their rights before the case makes it to court, but they are willing to go forward with the lawsuit if need be, Larry Hajna, spokesperson with the Department of Environmental Protection, told CBSPhilly.
“We can no longer be held back from completing these critical projects by a small number of owners who are selfishly concerned about their view while putting large swaths of homes and businesses around them at risk," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been quoted as saying.
Read the full CBSPhilly report here.
