HTA February 2024 Newsletter
Storms continue to hit our dunes hard but there is some consolation in knowing there will be replenishment this year.
If you are on the Island this weekend, be sure to support the Beach Haven Fire Department by attending their turkey dinner fundraiser ($25 per person) from 12-8pm on Saturday (Feb 17).
February Recap
- Beach Conditions – Replenishment
- HTA Membership for 2024
- Child Caught in Sand Collapse
- Possible Multi-Unit Development in Holgate
- Dune Planting
- LBT Budget Meeting with Taxpayer Associations
- Wind Farm Updates
- LBT Recycling Calendar
- Relevant Township Ordinances Passed on Second Reading
- Relevant Township Ordinances Moved on First Reading
- Save the Dates
Updates
- Beach Conditions
- The Township has been bulldozing sand back up to the dunes during blow-out tides. However, we should not expect normal beach access at many entrances until much later in the Spring as future storms would undo much of the Township’s work.
- LBI continues to be first on the Army Corps list for replenishment projects. This may begin as early as late Summer although they are expected to start from the north end of LBI so it will hopefully not interfere with the summer season in Holgate. We will continue to closely monitor this.
- We remain frustrated with the lack of potential State and Federal approvals of the planned groins to better retain our sand.
- HTA Membership for 2024
- Thank you for the members who have already joined in 2024. For everyone else, please sign up now. Not only will this ensure your continued receipt of our newsletters and other breaking news communications, you will save our Board members a tremendous amount of time that can be put to other productive activities on your behalf. Please sign up online at: https://bit.ly/HTAMembership2024
- Child Caught in Sand Collapse
- This occurred recently in Sea Girt but it remains a great fear for every Shore community including Holgate. The child was dug out by his father and was quickly released from the hospital after an examination. But when this happens, we are seconds away from tragedy. Please instruct family, friends and renters to not dig deep holes and to stay away from the dunes at all times. https://bit.ly/SandCollapseOn2YearOld
- Possible Multi-Unit Development in Holgate
- There remains no update from NJDEP regarding what areas between the Tebco, Newport and Steven streets may be buildable. If you would like to join 200+ neighbors in taking a stand against further open space development in Holgate, please add your name to the letter to the NJDEP by contacting tebcowetland@gmail.com
- Please continue to remember we need the Township to be a willing partner in the protection of this land; it would be highly counterproductive for anyone to publicly speculate that the Township has any other motive.
- Dune Planting
- Tentative date is set for the morning of Saturday, May 18 but we are awaiting confirmation that plants can be obtained by then.
- Important: We can only plant where we have water sources. If you are an oceanfront owner who lives next to a beach entrance, please respond to this email to volunteer access to your water so we can water for 4-6 weeks and get the roots established before summer. We will reimburse you for the cost of the water.
- LBT Budget Meeting with Taxpayer Associations
- At the request of the 6 LBT taxpayer associations, we met with the Mayor in January to get a preview of this year’s municipal budget. We appreciated this opportunity and came away with the impression the Township is managing its finances well. The HTA will continue to focus on long-term, strategic issues that will impact future budgets and our taxes.
- Rising cost of trash collection, insurance and pensions are all expected to adversely affect our taxes in the future.
- Wind Farm Updates
- New Jersey officials approved two new offshore wind projects on [January 24], projects they expect will power 1.8 million homes across the state. They will be located 40 miles off Atlantic City and 50 miles off Barnegat Light.
- The latest Wind Farm Update (#21) features information on the new projects, the status of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Atlantic Shores project closest to LBI, and more. This is now located in the passworded Member Access section of our website.
- LBT Recycling Calendar 2024
- While you should have received a hard copy in the mail, you can also download the calendar: https://bit.ly/LBTRecyclingCalendar2024
- Relevant Ordinance Passed on Second Reading
- 24-01. NJ Division of Personnel requires that all municipal jobs must have an established salary range and each employee’s salary must fall within the appropriate range. This ordinance fulfills that requirement.
- Adopted ordinances in the process of being incorporated in the Township’s code can be found here: https://ecode360.com/laws/LO1479
- Relevant Ordinance Moved on First Reading
- 24-04. Clarifies parking space requirements for new construction. Essentially, each required space must have adequate ingress and egress to the street.
- 24-05. Establishes landscaping fees, requires construction permits for any plantings over 12 inches in height and increases the distance plantings must be from public roadways.
- 24-06. Requires businesses to have insurance certifications and “Mercantile” licenses for commercial establishments with outdoor seating.
- First-reading ordinances are supposed to be available on the LBT website by the Friday following each public meeting. If available, you can find them in the LBT Public Meeting Info section within the Government tab under Administration at www.longbeachtownship.com
- Save the Dates
- Next Commissioners Meeting is Monday, March 4 at 4pm in the LBT Courtroom
- First Town-wide Yard Sale, Saturday, May 25 (permit required)
- HTA Spring Membership Meeting, Saturday, June 8, 10:00am
- Second Town-wide Yard Sale Saturday, June 29 (permit required)