Ken Langdon, chairman of the Ortley Beach Liason Committee applauded Wednesday's ruling from Ocean County Superior Court Judge Marlene Lynch Ford, giving the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, authority to take a portion of property from 28 beachfront holdouts against a protective dune project.

Photo courtesy of the Ortley Beach Liason Committee
Photo courtesy of the Ortley Beach Liason Committee
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"I get a little bit cautious in getting too overly happy," said Langdon due to the possibility the decision will be appealed, and further delay the project from going out to bid.

"Which means again, we're going to be looking at least another six months to a year before we actually see a piece of equipment up on that beach," Langdon said.

Langdon emphasized the Township needs to come up with a beach replenishment plan of its own if there is a delay, similar to maintenance programs in Lavallette and Seaside Park.

"Quite obviously, as we all know, that those two communities did not get hit anywhere nearly as bad as Ortley Beach did," said Langdon.

Landon has been pushing for a regular maintenance program for more than two decades, and said he hasn't been able to convince Toms River officials to understand Ortley Beach's value to the main land.

"The rateables that are over in this little three-quarters of a square mile, go a long way to providing Toms River with a significant amount of their revenue," Langdon said.

He noted that the Township did scarf the sand to build up dunes before the January storm this past winter, but said very little work has been done since then.

 

 

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