Article originally published in the Philadelphia Business Journal on November 2, 2015
A battle is underway between the city of Margate and the state of New Jersey on the question of building dunes along Margate’s beaches to protect the city in the event of severe storms and hurricanes. After the devastation suffered by New Jersey beach towns north of Margate where superstorm Sandy came inland, Governor Christie wants to build dunes along the entire New Jersey shore to protect life and property.
Dunes for Ventnor and Longport, cities to the north and south of Margate respectively, are being held up because they will not be adequately protected if Margate is not. Governor Christie has called the citizens of Margate selfish for not agreeing to the dune project, which will be funded by federal dollars.
A vocal group of Margate citizens is arguing against building dunes on the city’s beaches. In November 2013, 65 percent of the voters in Margate voted against the dune project. A year later, a non-binding referendum was passed by Margate voters by a much closer margin to authorize the city Board of Commissioners to take legal action to prevent the dunes from being built. This occurred in December 2014, when Margate sued the New Jersey EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to stop the project. Note that a very significant number of Margate homeowners are part-time residents but have official residences elsewhere, and therefore do not vote in Margate.
Continue reading on The Business Journals.
