Wildwood Crest commissioners signal intent to withdraw from state/Army Corps dune project over beach-shrinking concerns

Wildwood Crest commissioners said they are preparing a formal resolution to withdraw from a state-funded dune and beach renourishment project after an engineering review suggested the plan would reduce the borough's existing beach width.

The concern centered on borrow areas A and B in the proposed plan, which local engineers and commissioners said would remove sand offshore and "substantially shrink" the borough's beach in places where it is now 1,000 to 1,500 feet wide. Engineer Mark DeBlasio told the commission the municipality has roughly $1.1 million available from a Boardwalk Preservation Fund for pier work, but that the Army Corps/state plan did not deliver previously anticipated construction credits for the fishing pier.

Why it matters: Commissioners said smaller beaches would diminish public access and could shift the long-term cost and responsibility for future renourishments to local taxpayers if federal funding for periodic renourishment is not guaranteed.

At the meeting, one commissioner summarized the board's view: "I think it's safe to say we all share the same concerns" (Mayor). Another commissioner said he was "100%" opposed to moving forward without stronger guarantees from the state and the Army Corps. Commissioners noted the state stated it would not take sand from borrow area C, but the board's survey and engineering review showed likely impacts if sand were taken from A and B.

Commissioners discussed next steps including drafting a resolution to withdraw from the state aid agreement. The meeting record shows a plan to add a formal withdrawal resolution to the agenda at the commission's next meeting, with commissioners asking the clerk to place it on the docket for consideration.

Engineering and funding details discussed at the meeting included: - The borough's surveying confirmed the proposed plan would reduce beach width in vulnerable areas; engineers said any renourishment would probably require follow-up projects and funding commitments from Congress for periodic replenishment. - The Boardwalk Preservation Fund money (roughly $1.1 million, per the engineer) could be applied to pier improvements, but an anticipated credit for pier construction did not materialize under the current state proposal.

The commissioners did not vote on a withdrawal resolution at this meeting; the record indicates they will consider a formal resolution at the next meeting (public notice and scheduling to be confirmed).