North Wildwood remains locked in a legal battle with the state over how best to replenish its beachfront after storms. North Wildwood has some very narrow beaches, making it prone to erosion, and township officials say typical replenishment strategies won’t work.
North Wildwood has spent more than $20 million on projects to protect its shores. The state Department of Environmental Protection has alleged for years that those fixes were done without a permit and actually hurt the environment, fining the town more than $12 million in February. North Wildwood sued the state in January, asking it to pick up the tab for the unpermitted work. Just this week, the DEP approved the emergency repairs.
There is a state-funded project to bring beach replenishment to North Wildwood, but it won’t start until next year. North Wildwood had to make agreements with surrounding municipalities to finish the application. Shawn LaTourette, DEP commissioner, said it took years for the municipalities to come to the table.
