CAFRA OKs expanded beach use

Written by Staff Reports Thursday, September 27, 2012 01:38 pm

WILDWOOD – The state has given a green light to more seasonal activities on the beach, including recreation vehicles and “semi-exclusive areas.”

The state Department of Environmental Protection approved a CAFRA permit for the city’s beach programming and improvement plan, according to Remington, Vernick & Walberg Engineers, the city’s engineer and planner.

The permit under the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act will allow recreation vehicles, expanded beach events and “semi-exclusive beach resort areas,” according to a statement from the firm.

A representative of the firm said Monday that the beach plan included sizable beach bars as well as a fitness area (see related story, Page 4).

It is unusual for the state to approve permits for areas on the ocean side of bulkheads and boardwalks, but the firm cited the size of Wildwood’s beach and its own efforts as reasons for the approval.

“Remington, Vernick & Walberg Engineers was instrumental in creating the city’s beach plan and providing guidance through the permitting process,” reads a statement from the firm.

The planned uses would be seasonal and would not hurt public access to the beach, the statement said.

“Originally, we were concerned some of our concepts might be a little aggressive for the setting, but Remington, Vernick & Walberg Engineers was able to package our ideas into a plan acceptable to NJDEP,” Mayor Ernie Troiano said in a prepared statement.

The DEP regulates activities on the beach through CAFRA and its Coastal Zone Management Rules.

With a length of 7,100 feet and a width approaching half a mile, the beach is large enough to create 73 acres of programmable space subject to state environmental regulations, according to the engineer.

“We may not have received approvals for every item on the city’s wish list, but we were able to reach a compromise on significant issues,” said city engineer Marc DeBlasio of Remington, Vernick & Walberg.

The plan aims to bring more people to Wildwood and to expand the season for visitors.

“Historically, uses on the beach have been limited to traditional seaside sunning and bathing, along with occasional special events. Without discounting these activities, they do not create the type of ongoing excitement to redefine Wildwood,” said city planner Stuart Wiser, also of Remington, Vernick & Walberg. “While many plan elements, such as cabanas, beach chairs and surfing lessons, are traditional seashore offerings that do not require state approval, other elements, such as permitting recreational vehicle parking on the beach and creating semi-exclusive beach resort areas, are more challenging given New Jersey’s strict environmental regulations. It was the combination of these unique elements that ultimately worked in the city’s favor.”

Commissioner Peter Byron, director of both Revenue and Finance and Planning and Redevelopment, saw a way to raise money for the city.

“We considered beach badges as a way to raise revenue, but then realized our half-mile-wide beach gives us an opportunity to add value to the visitor experience,” he said. “Rather than placing the financial burden on visitors by charging fees to use the beach, we are bringing in attractions and permitting operators to charge for additional activities. If you don’t want to participate in one of those activities, our beach is still free.”

Under the plan, the city will make money through a combination of concession fees, corporate sponsorships and revenue sharing.