Inquirer editorial: N.J. pols are still beach bums on Shore access
New Jersey's leaders have been sticking their heads in the sand for decades to avoid dealing with competing waterfront uses. That has created disorder along the shores of rivers, lakes, bays, and the ocean, where dumps, refineries, and fuel storage compete with sensitive ecosystems, anglers, and people just trying to grasp a moment of peace.
New Jersey's leaders have been sticking their heads in the sand for decades to avoid dealing with competing waterfront uses. That has created disorder along the shores of rivers, lakes, bays, and the ocean, where dumps, refineries, and fuel storage compete with sensitive ecosystems, anglers, and people just trying to grasp a moment of peace.
Fortunately, skittish politicians have to follow a recent appeals court ruling and subsequent legislation requiring the state to set standards for beach access. The December ruling also threw out Gov. Christie's plan to effectively let Shore towns continue discriminating against nonresidents who want to use their beaches.
Shore towns do have legitimate concerns about safety and cleanliness, but all New Jersey taxpayers have spent a fortune on beach projects. Some municipalities have eliminated convenient parking or restricted it to two hours, effectively barring nonresidents from spending a day at the beach. Authorities also have looked the other way when beach clubs or homeowners have blocked passage to the water.
So intractable is the issue that even with the court's clear direction, representatives of conservation groups, towns, and businesses couldn't reach consensus on beach access recommendations to the state Senate Environment and Energy Committee. The failure shows how poor leadership has exacerbated territorial disputes.
The Senate committee should move a bill to establish rational guidelines for waterfront access soon. Its top consideration must be that the public paying to protect waterways has a right to enjoy the fruits of its investment.
The state's new open-space funding can help by subsidizing river walks in urban areas like those along the Delaware in South Jersey. Beach-tag revenue could be used to build walkways over dunes in areas that lack beach access. Communities with limited parking can offer shuttle rides for a small fee. Some already have low-priced jitneys primarily used as drunk buses.
New Jersey should help its towns plan for waterfront access by giving developers consistent rules. Projects that have to reduce access in one place can compensate for it with improvements nearby. The state also has to respect the property and privacy rights of those who live at the water's edge. They shouldn't have to clean up after others or fear trespassers.
There can be reasonable exceptions to any access plan for environmental sensitivity and security, including protection of petrochemical refineries and storage facilities along waterways. But there is no reasonable explanation for New Jersey's continued failure to guarantee the public peaceful access to its waterways.