NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. — In a decision made on Tuesday, a coastal community in New Jersey that has long been anxious about the threat of destruction from powerful storms has decided to settle a dispute with the state over the conditions of its beaches and protective sand dunes. This conflict has spanned a decade and included a staggering $42 million in fines and legal actions.
The North Wildwood City Council unanimously agreed to a settlement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which involves the cancellation of $12 million in fines imposed on the city for unpermitted beach maintenance activities that may have contributed to environmental harm. In return, North Wildwood will withdraw its lawsuit against the state that sought reimbursement for $30 million spent on trucking and depositing sand onto its eroding beaches, which have been a favored destination for tourists from Philadelphia.
Mayor Patrick Rosenello expressed relief over the resolution, stating, “It’s a relief to move past this and forge ahead.” The Republican mayor emphasized that the city’s main request was equitable treatment regarding beach replenishment projects, similar to those implemented along much of the New Jersey shoreline. He added, “Our goal has always been to ensure we are treated like our neighboring communities.”
North Wildwood has suffered significant erosion, which has reduced its protective sand dunes to a precarious low. Despite this, the city has not received the comprehensive beach replenishment it sought from the state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — a situation exacerbated by funding obstacles and challenges in securing necessary easements from private landowners.
Last summer, an interim replenishment project was conducted by the state Department of Transportation after Governor Phil Murphy described the erosion in North Wildwood as “shocking.” Mayor Rosenello noted that this temporary effort has proven effective in the months following its completion.
Before taking effect next year, the agreement will open a public comment period. According to Rosenello, the larger beach replenishment project is anticipated to commence in North Wildwood in 2025.
Neither the State’s Department of Environmental Protection nor the Army Corps of Engineers responded promptly following the vote regarding the settlement.
Aside from concluding the litigation, North Wildwood is set to contribute $1 million toward the federal beach replenishment project when it arrives and will allocate an additional $700,000 to a state water pollution control fund. The settlement also outlines a defined regulatory process for North Wildwood to secure necessary environmental permits for future shoreline protection initiatives, such as extending the sea wall.
In previous instances, the city had conducted emergency repairs, including the construction of a bulkhead, without state approval. In 2023, New Jersey’s environmental protection commissioner warned that continued unauthorized actions could lead to severe consequences, including the potential loss of future funding for shore protection projects.
