Point Pleasant Beach business owners and residents say that they got shortchanged after a beach replenishment project came and went.
The replenishment project was conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers after Superstorm Sandy. But the people in Point Pleasant Beach say that after the project was complete, they were left with very little beach.
"What we have here is virtually nothing, the beach is essentially gone,” says Councilman Paul Kanitra.
The town now sports a 20-foot high sand dune with public access walkways. Kanitra says that the ocean waves continuously eat away at the base of the new beach. He says that the town did not get what it was promised.
“We were promised from the bottom of the dunes there would be a 75-foot berm heading out to the ocean and about a 25-foot transition zone to the water,” the councilman says.
Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid says that he met with the Army Corps and contractors about the issue. He says that he is optimistic that they will return to correct the problem.
“They know about the scarping problem. They've been up there, they've seen videos,” the mayor says. They're going to be talking about…coming back and putting sand on the beach."
Mayor Reid says that there is no definite timeline when crews could return to Point Pleasant Beach. He also reached out to Rep. Chris Smith about further action.
Smith says in a statement, “I have been in touch with the Point Pleasant Beach mayor and council, as well as the Army Corps which is now doing a thorough assessment. We have been assured that they’ll get right back to construction, and I will be working to ensure that they do not let up and that all appropriate federal support is made available.”