Brant Beach Bulletin
October 15th, 2025
This issue covers beach erosion, efforts to grow an oyster reef in the bay, the opposition to the Hands project, and – hooray! – our blinking lights.
❖ Our beaches were hit hard by the recent storm. For the first time in 29 years, there is no Federal funding allocated for beach replenishment. You are encouraged to contact your representatives.
US Senator Cory Booker: casework@booker.senate.com
US Senator Andy Kim: press@andykim.com
US Representative Jeff Van Drew: 202-225-6572
❖ The Living Shoreline project off Clam Cove is moving forward with the purchase of a barge to help construct an artificial reef made of restaurants’ discarded oyster shells seeded with baby oysters. The goals are to improve water quality through the oysters’ remarkable filtering abilities and to build a reef to protect the shoreline from wind and waves. Angela Anderson and the Long Beach Township Field Station are spearheading the effort, described here in a recent article.
❖ Roughly sixty homeowners attended the Commissioners’ Meeting to voice their opposition to two new zoning ordinances (25-16C and 26-17C below) that they feel were specifically crafted to support the proposed hotel at the site of the current Hands store. The Land Use Board denied the Hands application at its August 13 meeting. To proceed, the developer would have to bring forward a new and substantially different application for review.
The three Commissioners listened to the homeowners’ objections but voted unanimously to clarify the existing provisions allowing rooftop pools on hotels and the 75% maximum for impervious coverage, and to add a provision allowing the maximum to be exceeded if an approved “positive onsite recharge system” is installed, which is an underground tank or pipes to hold and slowly discharge water within the property.
❖ Traffic lights started blinking on Monday, October 6. Speed limits along the Boulevard in Brant Beach were raised from 35 to 45mph a week earlier, which makes some but not all homeowners happy.
❖ Dune grass is available for planting starting October 17. You may pick up bundles at the Public Works Yard on 81st Street from 8am to 2pm Monday through Friday.
❖ A homeowner asked how to dispose of unwanted plastic trash cans. The Public Works department on 81st Street accepts them.
COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING
Representatives from the Brant Beach Taxpayers Association including Pete Potochney, Mike Fahner, Janis Metz, and Ben Tonti attended the October 11 Long Beach Township Commissioners’ Meeting.
Ordinances
❖ Proposed on First Reading. First reading ordinances are available by visiting, emailing or telephoning the Township. They are no longer available on the LBT website.
25-18C: This ordinance, offered on First Reading at the September meeting, was re-introduced with a revision. This ordinance would expand the time period allowed between preliminary site plan approval and final site plan submission. The current time period is six months. Last month, two years was proposed. This month, three years is proposed, with extensions up to two years. Final site plan approval would expire after two years unless building permits are secured.
25-19: Authorizes the purchase of a wetlands lot near the LBT Marine Education Field Station on Marshall Avenue in Holgate for $10,000. The Township is buying lots near the Field Station when they become available to support conservation efforts.
25-20C: It is already unlawful to use security cameras on private property in a way that invades the privacy of others who have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This proposed ordinance updates allowable camera locations. Cameras would be permitted on the front or rear of a structure, but not on a side that faces another residence. If the camera can record at an angle of 180° or greater, it must be located at least 5 feet from the side wall. Cameras would be prohibited at heights above 10 feet on any structure adjacent to a residence.
❖ Passed on Second Reading Full text is here.
25-14C: Creates a new chapter in the Township Code for state-mandated regulations regarding the removal and replacement of trees by property owners.
25-15C: Creates a new chapter in the Township Code for state-mandated regulations regarding stormwater quality and improper disposal of waste.
25-16C: Retains the area allowed for impervious ground cover at 75% but allows properties to exceed the limit with an approved positive onsite recharge system.
25-17C: Establishes that the existing ordinance prohibiting rooftop pools only applies to residential properties.
Thank you for your continued support of the Brant Beach Taxpayers Association.
