Tuesday, February 26, 2013
A proposed bill would require municipalities that accept state or federal aid to rebuild storm-damaged beaches to provide beach access free of charge
The Long Branch Council unanimously voted to oppose a Senate bill that would eliminate beach badge fees. Senate Bill 2368 was introduced by Sen. Michael J. Doherty (R-23) and Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-3) and would require municipalities that accept state or federal aid to rebuild storm-damaged beaches to provide beach access and beach restroom facilities to the public free of charge. “It is likely that state and federal taxpayers will provide hundreds of millions of dollars to repair and replenish New Jersey beaches that were washed away during Hurricane Sandy,” Doherty said in a news release. “Considering the massive public resources that will be directed at rebuilding many New Jersey beaches, it only seems fair to ensure …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Ordinance would allow max building height to be 33 feet
The Long Branch Council is looking at adopting an ordinance that would allow homeowners in flood hazard areas to build higher without seeking a variance. The current maximum height for homes is 30 feet, but after the council recently passed an ordinance that requires substantially damaged homes to be raised two feet, the city is looking to increase the maximum height to 33 feet. Long Branch Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Hayes anybody who is raising their would not be required to seek a variance from the Long Branch Zoning Board of Adjustment as long as the new height of their home is 33 feet or less, if the ordinance is adopted. Hayes said there have been 30 homes that are considered substantially damaged in Long Branch, but only one so …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Long Branch may add barriers to separate traffic from pedestrians who are using roadway for recreational activities
City officials are worried that the loss of the boardwalk along Ocean Avenue due to Hurricane Sandy will impact the safety of pedestrians along the street, especially during the busier summer months. Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said people who normally ran or walked on the boardwalk are now using the roadway, and that safety is an issue. "They have chosen to walk in the roadway, and we think this is a very unsafe condition, and we have started to look at it," Woolley said Long Branch Police Lt. Craig Spencer gave a presentation on a proposed, temporary change to the traffic pattern on Ocean Avenue and the installation of Jersey barriers to separate pedestrians and drivers. "The mayor can by his direction, if he feels …
Council passes flood prevention ordinance
Homes or businesses built or rebuilt in the city's flood zone will now be required to be 2 feet higher than the base flood elevation. The Long Branch Council made the requirement official by unanimously passing its revised flood prevention ordinance during Tuesday night's meeting. "Where trying to make things as easy as possible for people," Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider told residents who had questions about the ordinance. "If we don't require this, the flood insurance will be so catastrophically expensive, nobody will be able to afford it." Long Branch Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Hayes has said it would cost a homeowner whose home is 4 feet below the base flood elevation $9,500 per year for flood insurance after new costs come out …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Officials also expected to update Hurricane Sandy recovery process
The Long Branch Council is expected to vote tonight on the adoption of an ordinance that would require new homes and homes rebuilt after being damaged by Hurricane Sandy in the city's flood zone to be built 2 feet above the base flood elevation. The council voted to introduce the ordinance at its last meeting on Jan. 8. The public will be allowed to comment on the ordinance before it is voted on by the council. Tonight's council meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the ordinance is the first item on the agenda. For more information about the ordinance, click here. City officials are also expected to give a presentation on the Hurricane Sandy recovery effort at the council workshop meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Long Branch Office of …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
City still preparing bills for damage to boardwalk
City officials are now estimating that work on the reconstruction of the city's boardwalk after it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy may not begin until next spring or early summer, at the earliest. "As far as nailing the first nail, I would say a minimum of 18 months," Long Branch Police Sgt. Charles Shirley, who also works with the city office of emergency management, said. Shirley said FEMA is just now asking the city for its bills for damages including debris removal, emergency measures and parks and recreation; the category the boardwalk falls under. Shirley said City Engineer Jerry Freda has already put together an estimate on what the boardwalk would cost to rebuild as it was, but that the cost is not yet finalized. Getting that …
Public hearing set for next council meeting
The Long Branch Council introduced an ordinance on Tuesday night that would require new homes and homes rebuilt after being damaged by Hurricane Sandy in the city's flood zone to be built 2 feet above the base flood elevation. The city needs to review and adopt FEMA's recently released Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) maps and incorporate them into the ordinance to get mitigation funds from FEMA. To view the new ABFE maps, click here. The ABFE shows that Long Branch's flood zone has increased and insurance for homes located in these areas is expected to increase. However, raising a home will help lower the cost of obtaining flood insurance, officials have said. Long Branch Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Hayes said it would cost a …
Monday, January 7, 2013
FEMA releases search engine allowing residents to learn more about base flood elevation
New "Advisory Base Flood Elevations" are now posted to this interactive map from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which the agency says should provide a post-Hurricane Sandy picture of flood risk as residents rebuild. Residents can input an address and see what the advisory base flood elevation is specific to that location, as FEMA updates its site. The interactive map aims to equip residents "with more precise information about the flood risk they face, allowing them to make more informed decisions to reduce their personal risk to life and property," announced FEMA in a recent statement. With a storm surge and continued flooding along waterfront areas after Hurricane Sandy, the advisory base flood elevation hopes to answer the …
Friday, December 28, 2012
FEMA recently released Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps
A revised ordinance would require Long Branch residents within the city's newly expanded flood zone to rebuild their homes two feet above the base flood elevation. Long Branch Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Hayes explained the revised flood prevention ordinance during Thursday night's council meeting and said raising the requirement to two feet was the best option for the city. "We are recommending requiring homes in the special flood hazard zone to be rebuilt at two feet above the base flood elevation," Hayes said. "We thought two feet was a really smart way to do it." The city's current flood prevention ordinance requires homes to be built at the base flood elevation. Hayes said the city needs to review and adopt FEMA's recently released…
City to test lake sediment to see if county dredging is feasible
The city is taking the necessary steps for the county to dredge Lake Takanassee in the near future. Long Branch Administrator Howard Woolley said the county dredges two lakes per year and is now interested in Lake Takanassee. "We did a study a while back and found it would cost us several million dollars to dredge it ourselves, but (Monmouth County Department of Public Works Director John) Tobia has offered to do it for us at very limited cost to the city," Woolley said during Thursday night's Long Branch Council meeting. He said the city's first task is to test the sediment at the bottom of the lake to see if it is clean and can be used by the county as cover for its landfill. "If it comes up clean, we've got a great deal, if it comes up …
Steve McLeod
9:30 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I live in Long Branch right down the street from Seven Presidents County Park. As a local resident I am taxed three times just to walk on the sand. The county imposes a county park tax levied against local residences. In my case that dollar amount is over $1,100.00 per year. Then I have to pay again by purchasing a beach tag. Then I obviously pay a city tax the goes to maintaining the surrounding… more ›