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Residents press council over Promenade construction and access as borough stresses funding deadline
Summary
Council and staff defended a coordinated Promenade extension and Sylvan Lake bulkhead project that reuses excavated soil and preserves funding; residents raised concerns that temporary stairs at 3rd Avenue block access for seniors and people with disabilities, and council said ramps are planned in later phases but federal permitting limits immediate changes.
Bradley Beach's mayor and staff updated the council on concurrent shoreline projects, saying contractors have mobilized equipment and temporary stairs are in place to preserve beach access while the Promenade extension and Sylvan Lake bulkhead work proceed.
"The contractor is mobilized ' equipment and materials and performing prep work this entire week," the borough's staff member said, describing staging and temporary access measures. Staff and council highlighted that excavated soil from the Sylvan Lake project is being reused to backfill the Promenade work, a pairing officials said saves hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Council members stressed tight sequencing to maintain parking and access and noted a funding deadline for the promenade: an official said the borough risks losing approximately $4,000,000 in grant funding if required project milestones are not complete by Dec. 31. "So it is critical that that gets done before the end of the year," an elected official said.
During the public-comment period, resident Sandy Chapman, who identified herself and gave an address, criticized the timing of construction and said temporary stairs at the 3rd Avenue entrance effectively bar older and disabled residents who rely on lockers and easier beach access. "My wife will not be able to go to the beach this summer," Chapman said. She asked whether the temporary stairs are ADA-compliant.
Council and staff replied that permanent ramps were not feasible this season because of permitting constraints and that the temporary stairs are intended to provide access until ramps can be added in a later phase. "We have plans to add three more ramps next year," the mayor said, adding that federal permitting requirements (referred to in the meeting as "capra" regulations) limit what can be installed immediately. Council acknowledged that the temporary stairs appear steep and said staff will continue to seek ways to minimize disruption.
What happens next: staff said it will continue public updates via signs and QR codes linking to the borough website, and promised to post regular project status updates. Residents raising ADA concerns were directed to follow up with borough staff and the borough attorney for technical and legal details.
