Dune Deck Ordinance In Point Pleasant Beach Would Update Regulations

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — The Point Pleasant Beach Borough Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday night to update its deck rules for oceanfront homeowners.

The ordinance, which goes to the borough Planning Board before it is presented for a second reading and public hearing on Feb. 21, adds language to allow homeowners to build decks on the top of the dune.

The proposed ordinance, which can be read here, aims to resolve enforcement problems that resulted from a conflict between the borough's ordinance and permissions granted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Before Superstorm Sandy, a number of oceanfront property owners had decks on their property that let them see the ocean, borough attorney Kevin B. Riordan said. Once the Army Corps beach replenishment project built up the dunes, they could no longer see it.

The Army Corps has said homeowners could build small decks on top of the dune, so long as the height of the dune was not changed, Riordan said.

People who had decks on the front of their home, on the land side of the dune, were being told they had to tear down the decks.

"If all they are trying to do is get their view back, do we really want to make them take it down?" he said.

Mayor Paul Kanitra said the only issue with decks is situations where homeowners built them without permits and built them larger than permitted.

"Some people were building tiki huts," he said. "If all you're trying to do is get back the view and you're allowed to, you shouldn't be penalized for it."

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