By JF Grodeska
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – National Oceanic & Atmosphereic Administration reports an 85% chance that 2024 will see an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms with 39 mph or higher winds. Every seaside community dreads news of a hyperactive storm season, but Atlantic Highlands is particularly vulnerable to the storms and the stormwater runoff cascading from the borough’s higher elevations.
During the workshop session of the June 6 Atlantic Highlands Planning Board meeting, the topic of a proposed ordinance amending the existing Stormwater Control ordinance was introduced.
A public discussion during the meeting touched on the problem of curbing and stormwater runoff in the elevated section of the borough. Ocean Boulevard, which winds its way above the municipal harbor, is maintained by the county. Much of the curbing is made of the same asphalt used to patch potholes in the roadway. After each storm, the asphalt curb deteriorates and crumbles, leaving private property vulnerable to erosion and damage.
The borough’s other steep slope road is East Highland Avenue. It is maintained by the borough and has concrete curbs. While the curvy nature of both roadways ensures stormwater runoff overflows the curbs, the damage to private property on East Highland Avenue is not as severe.
The ordinance needed to be updated after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) updated a section of the state’s administrative code relating to stormwater management in July 2023. The state mandated that all New Jersey municipalities adopt some form of this section by July 2024. The section provides minimum standards; however, individual municipalities may amend the code to more strict ordinances to meet the needs of each town.
“We have to meet the DEP minimums, but we can make certain sections of the ordinance more stringent, and that’s what we’ve done,” said council president Brian Dougherty, liaison to the planning board.
The 32-page borough ordinance (11-2024) mandates that “Flood control, groundwater recharge, and pollutant reduction shall be achieved through the use of stormwater management measures, including green infrastructure Best Management Practices (GI BMPs) and nonstructural stormwater management strategies. GI BMPs and low-impact development (LID) should be utilized to meet the goal of maintaining natural hydrology to reduce stormwater runoff volume, reduce erosion, encourage infiltration and groundwater recharge and reduce pollution.”
During the June 13 mayor and borough council meeting, the ordinance was approved, adding a further layer of protection for residents of Atlantic Highlands against the storms that ravage coastal communities each year.
EV Charging Stations
During a recent Harbor Commission meeting, Dougherty presented an overview of the borough’s EV Charging Station initiative, noting he and Blake Deakin, chairman of the Environmental Commission have been working on the project for about two and a half years. “It’s been a lengthy process,” he said.
The borough received grant monies from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the state Department of Environmental Protection to facilitate the building of EV charging stations within the town.
“We’ve settled on the preferred location that is eight parking spaces behind the ‘Welcome to Atlantic Highlands Marina’ sign in the harbor for a variety of reasons,” he said.
Dougherty called it an “ideal location” because of the proximity to an electrical supply. “That’s a huge concern when installing these charging stations.”
He further pointed out that the charging stations would be close to the Seastreak ferry, the head boats and harbor recreation areas. The chargers will generate revenue for the town. During the day, Seastreak riders could charge their electric vehicles; in the evenings and on weekends, restaurant and recreational visitors would have access to the stations.
The only obstacle to installing the charging stations is that the proposed parking spaces are part of Seastreak’s lease with the borough. Dougherty explained that the team has met with Seastreak officials and has come to a potential solution: swapping eight parking spaces in the Holly Tree parking lot for those currently leased by the ferry company.
As the borough is still negotiating with Seastreak, the matter was tabled until July’s mayor and council meeting.
The article originally appeared in the June 20 – June 26, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
