{"id":24994,"date":"2014-10-08T20:46:41","date_gmt":"2014-10-09T00:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brigantinenow.com\/?p=24994"},"modified":"2014-10-12T08:45:27","modified_gmt":"2014-10-12T12:45:27","slug":"bulking-back-bay-bulkheads-brigantine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brigantinenow.com\/bulking-back-bay-bulkheads-brigantine\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulkhead Battle on the Back Bay of Brigantine"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Hurricane Sandy flooding in Brigantine (and many places along the Jersey coast) was a result of tidal surge along the back bay. Water overflowing too low bulkheads, or no bulkheads at all.<\/p>\n

Should Brigantine put more focus on bulkheads, in addition to house raising?<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to a Beachcomber News report from last summer, this prickly issue has pitted neighbor against neighbor. Councilman Joe Picardi noted Gov. Christie\u2019s recent executive order dealing with protective dunes and suggested that the issue was \u201cprivate interest vs. public safety.\u201d Members of council have anticipated that the issue will affect bayside homeowners who do not have the financial ability to correct any deficiencies with their bulkheads.<\/p>\n

The Beachcomber story from Oct 8, 2013 continues: John Butler, of E. Shore Drive, suffered flood damage from Sandy. Butler plans to rebuild, and would like to keep the boat ramp that has been there more than 40 years. Before he can rebuild, the bulkheads need to be replaced. Butler asked the city to approve a bulkhead cutout for the boat ramp. He requested that he be allowed to install a flood gate and have the cutout at \u201celevation 7.\u201d<\/p>\n

City Engineer Ed Stinson told council that it would be preferable if the elevation was raised to 8 feet. Council agreed to allow Stinson and Butler\u2019s engineer to come to an agreement, with the understanding that Stinson\u2019s decision would be final.<\/p>\n

Last year, city council passed a resolution to seeking FEMA money that would help with infrastructure repairs and flood mitigation. The boat ramp, city dock, city owned bulkheads, improved new pumping stations and other flood mitigation systems are all targeted for improvement.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But what about bulkheads?<\/h2>\n

The bayside of Brigantine is bulked up with bulk-headed. 95% of are privately owned. Approximately twenty properties don\u2019t have any bulkhead at all. Some bulkheads need repair. About 40% are at 6 footers, which was the standard height of bulkheads in the 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s. Today, the mandatory height for new bulkheads is 9 feet along the bay. Alas, not enough to stop Sandy, which saw a 10 feet. back bay tidal surge. Many say 9 feet is acceptable.<\/p>\n

WATCH VIDEO from City Council Meeting OCT 1, 2014…..Bulkhead question for council….<\/p>\n