Beck, Pallone back city’s bid to preserve Bradley Cove
Both submit letters in support of city's Green Acres application
New Jersey state Senator Jennifer Beck and U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone have both endorsed the city’s effort to secure Green Acres funds for the preservation of an area on the city’s northern beachfront.
The two have submitted individual letters of support addressed to Martha Sapp, the acting administrator of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres program, for inclusion in the city’s application to secure Green Acres funds to purchase the rights to build on a .6 acre tract of oceanfront property back from developers.
Last month, the council voted 5-0 to submit the Green Acres application seeking funds for up to $4.5 million for the purchase.
Waterfront redeveloper iStar Financial has city approval to build a 15-unit townhouse development called Bradley Cove at the sight, which stretches along the northern beachfront from the city’s sewerage treatment plant north to the Loch Arbour border. [Photo of protesters lined up along the outline of the development’s footprint shown above].
The Sun obtained copies of the letters, which both address the area’s exposure to potential future storms and current popular use as a recreation spot by fisherman, dog owners, surfers, beachgoers and environmental enthusiasts.
In her letter dated July 16, Beck said she “fully supported” the city’s application to acquire the funds to purchase the land back and their vision “to create an Oceanfront Park that will be preserved as open space, protect public access, and safeguard against future storms.”
“Bradley Cove is extremely valuable to the quality of life not only for the City’s residents and coastal wildlife, but also for resilience strategies in an age of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns,” the letter states.
In a separate letter dated July 15, Congressman Frank Pallone wrote that the proposed development at the site, which was “extensively damaged during both Hurricane Irene and Sandy” and lies in a coastal high hazard zone, would encroach on existing Green Acres open space.
Although the city has seen a great deal of growth and development in recent years, Pallone said the land in question is “unique in its location and sensitivity and would be best left in a natural protected state for perpetuity.”
Brian Cheripka, iStar’s vice president of land, said the developer would not draft a formal letter in support of the application as their lawyers advised doing so could compromise their legal interests but that the company maintains it will consider preservation provided the developer “receives fair treatment and just compensation.”
The value of the land remains in question.
The Monmouth County Board of Recreation Commissioners ordered an appraisal in the months before Hurricane Sandy in 2012, but the appraisal has yet to be certified because of valuation issues raised by the storm, county officials have said. The uncertified appraisal places the land’s value at $3.5 million, Freeholder Director Lillian Burry has stated.
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