Jersey Shore Beach Access Advocates Worry About New State Rules

Jersey Shore beach access advocates are concerned that new state rules may make it easier for towns to limit access, even if they are using public funds to replenish their beaches.

Advocates from the Surfrider Foundation, Citizens' Right to Access Beaches (CRAB), the American Littoral Society (ALS) and the New York-New Jersey Baykeeper held a press conference on Wednesday to let the public know it might get more complicated for them to go to the beach.

The state Department of Environmental Protection first proposed the new rules last summer and may publish a revised version as early as next month.

The organizations' representatives, who talked to reporters at the Bare Wires Surf Shop, 22 Atlantic Ave., Long Branch, said they have not seen the proposed rules since they had a chance to offer revisions to a rough draft a number of months ago.

But what they saw so far is not encouraging.

"Part of the new rules gives towns with a history of being restrictive the responsibility for managing access," said Tim Dillingham, ALS executive director.

Requirements for adequate parking and access, in exchange for funds for replenishment are not in the first draft of the proposed rules, Dillingham said.

And that could set back gains made through beach access court victories, he added.

Coscia, whose CRAB group started in Point Pleasant Beach, used a few, simple visual aids to make his point.

He pulled a folding chair out of a nylon sleeve and sat in it.

"What I'm doing right now is what people attempt to do all summer," Coscia said, pointing to the chair for emphasis. "And it should be as easy as what I just did."

He held up photographs of signs that said things like "Private Beach" or "Private Drive, No Beach Access," and said that's the last thing families want to see when they're trying to go to the beach.

"No one wants to try to have to figure out if they're going to get arrested if they go on the beach when they see signs like this, so they find a different beach," said Cosci, a Brick resident.

John Weber of Surfrider said he is urging the public to join his organization's postcard campaign to lobby Gov. Christie and the DEP not to allow new rules to go into effect that will further restrict beach access.