State suit targets
private beach clubs
By AP from the Home
News Tribune Online September 23, 2006
TRENTON, NJ -- The state filed
suit yesterday against the Borough of Sea Bright and nine private beach clubs
there seeking unrestricted public access to beaches in front of the clubs.
In the lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court in Monmouth County, the state
argues that the private beach clubs have profited by charging fees for use of
beaches in Sea Bright that have been built and maintained through publicly
funded beach replenishment and beach nourishment projects costing some $29
million since 1995.
The beaches are resources that belong to the people of the state, and "we will
continue to take whatever action is necessary to protect the people's right to
access these natural resources and enjoy them," Department of Environmental
Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson said in a statement released late
yesterday afternoon.
Under New Jersey law, the area from the water line to high tide is considered
public, said Jeff Tittel, president of the Sierra Club's New Jersey chapter.
"They received public money for improvements to the beaches but don't allow
public access. That's pretty despicable," Tittel said. "They want
our money, but they don't want us."
A call to Sea Bright Mayor Joann Kalaka-Adams was referred to the borough
attorney, who did not immediately return the call yesterday evening. Calls
to several of the nine beach clubs were also not immediately returned.
The lawsuit also seeks records of all beach fees Sea Bright has collected since
1992. The state alleges that Sea Bright kept $17.7 million in beach fees
in 2004 that was never used as required by law for maintaining beaches and
providing services related to beach maintenance.
The municipality charges a daily beach access fee of $7, and a seasonal fee of
$95.
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