By Doug Miller
The comments were included in a formal report that was presented to the city manager Jan. 13. A copy was obtained by the Herald.
The report says that it is the opinion of the board, which includes citizen volunteers from throughout the city, that the Army Corps project will benefit Point Lookout on Long Beach's dime, and that it will significantly impact the quality of the beach experience in Long Beach by fixing problems that do not exist.
"There is no immediate crisis forcing Long Beach to unconditionally accept the 'take it or leave it' plan from the USACE," the report reads. "Long Beach's situation is significantly different from that of Point Lookout, which does have an erosion problem. We are concerned that in combining the two projects, the needs of the 35,000 residents of Long Beach will be subordinated to the needs of a few thousand residents of Point Lookout and Lido."
The report states that the city "must demand a more measured approach targeted at our specific needs," and "The City Council must exhaustively pursue a local preferred plan and reach out to political leaders to support us; in summary, 'Fight like hell' for a preferred local plan."
Four recommendations were made:
- That the city fight for a better, less radical plan from the Army Corps.
- That the city get past the "environment of distrust" created by the Army Corps "to establish a more transparent process."
- That if the Army Corps does not budge, the city develop its own plan.
- That the city consider hiring a coastal engineer, separate from the city engineer, to help in developing, analyzing and overseeing the storm-reduction plan.
Further, the report urges the construction of sand barriers under the boardwalk, rather than a dune farther out on the beach. The concern outlined in the report is that the dunes would grow unchecked, which would reduce the amount of usable beach, and further, that the dunes could become home to rare species, which would further impede public access.
City Manager Charles Theofan said that his office has been negotiating with the Army Corps for a better situation, ideally a project without a dune that uses the sand accumulated under the boardwalk as a barrier. "There's been extensive dialogue between the corps and [City Engineer] Rob Rabb," said Theofan. "This is all a work in progress. One question is if part of this project could include funding for a new surface for the boardwalk, since the accumulated sand touching the wood might deteriorate the wood."
Theofan added that Rabb's department would like to see the boardwalk eventually converted from wood to a synthetic material.
The plan on the table, proposed by the Army Corps of Engineers, includes the dumping of 7 million cubic yards of sand onto the beach, from Point Lookout to Nevada Avenue, in order to raise the beach to an average of 10 feet above the high-tide line. The plan calls for the construction of a dune that would run the length of the beach, south of the boardwalk, and the rehabilitation of the jetties, or groins.
The project would cost $90 million, the bulk of which would be funded by the federal government. The city's share of the project would be $5.9 million, the Town of Hempstead would chip in $3.755 million, and Nassau County would pay $22,500.
"I greatly appreciate the work and time the Planning Advisory Board has put into the Storm Damage Reduction Project," said Councilman Leonard G. Remo. "I look forward to seeing their recommendations, because I think this is a project that still needs to be crafted for the best needs of our city."
The citizens of Atlantic Beach and East Atlantic Beach opted out of the project, since accepting federal or state money for their beaches would force those communities to open them to the public. They are currently residents-only and, in certain locations, club members-only.
Ironically, any improvements in Long Beach's beaches will benefit East Atlantic Beach, since prevailing currents push sand west, and the improvements must taper off for a quarter-mile, so the end of the project would "begin" at Nevada Avenue and taper off through East Atlantic Beach.
It is that westward movement of currents that is killing the beaches of Point Lookout and has been the impetus for the project.
"I'm just so anxious to move this project along," Theofan said.
Comments about this story? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
