County hears Open Space request for Sunset Beach WWII fire control tower restoration

Will Hanson, Director of the County Planning Department, presented an Open Space Historic Preservation funding application from Cape May MAC for the World War II Fire Control Tower at Sunset Beach. Hanson said the tower "qualifies for funding because it is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places" and provided a slideshow overview of the site's location, historical significance and the proposed preservation work.

Hanson described the project budget as approximately $345,000 and noted Cape May MAC is eligible to receive up to 50 percent of eligible project costs as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. The county funding request is approximately $172,626; MAC has applied to the NJ Historic Preservation Trust Fund for a matching grant and told the board the project cannot proceed unless both funding sources are secured. Vice Director Bulakowski asked whether the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority would be approached again; Hanson replied CRDA is not part of the current funding proposal. The Open Space Board will follow a 30-day public notice and a 45-day public comment period before forwarding a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.