Long Branch council adopts ordinance granting easement for beach erosion project

Long Branch City Council adopted Ordinance 005-25 on April 9, 2025, authorizing an amendment and restatement of the deed of dedication and a storm-damage-reduction easement for Block 298, Lots 4.03 and 1.02 to allow the State of New Jersey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct and maintain a beach erosion-control project.

The ordinance, introduced March 26, 2025, was the subject of a public hearing at the April 9 meeting. Council President Viera opened the hearing and said members would accept public comment on that ordinance only; no members of the public spoke during the hearing, and the council closed the public portion before advancing to a final vote.

On a roll-call vote the council adopted Ordinance 005-25. The roll call recorded Dangler, Rassus, Vogt and Council President Viera as voting yes; Councilwoman Wittes was absent. The motion to adopt was announced as passed.

Council staff presented the ordinance as necessary to grant the easement to the State of New Jersey so that state and federal partners can carry out the erosion-control work. The ordinance text notes the beach project involves cooperation between the city, the State of New Jersey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; it does not set project construction dates or an effective date for the easement in the ordinance text introduced at the meeting.

Because the project requires state and federal participation, the ordinance delegates an easement to state authorities; any construction schedule, permitting, or federal approvals were not specified at the council meeting. The council also certified that the meeting had been published in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act before conducting the hearing and vote.

A consent agenda of resolutions later on the agenda was approved by roll call; the meeting's minutes for March 26, 2025, were also approved earlier in the session.