Margate homeowners displeased with eminent domain filing

MARGATE, N.J. - They've been criticized by Gov. Christie as "amongst the most selfish people in the state of New Jersey" because they oppose man-made dunes in their city. And on Thursday, the governor took legal action, filing for eminent domain for beachfront easements.

On Friday, residents of Margate pushed back. In interviews, beachfront property owners and their neighbors said the governor doesn't understand the issue.

A defense against storms already exists, they stressed - a bulkhead along the beach that has guarded them through many a storm.

Now, they are preparing to again defend themselves against Christie in court.

"We're going to fight, fight, fight. We're going to fight until the last day," said Beth Turchi, 57, a Margate homeowner for more than 30 years. "And you know what we're not going to do? We're not going to call anybody names."

Proponents of the dunes frame the issue as a simple one of protection: Who could be against defending their town from storms? Are Margate residents, they ask, more interested in protecting ocean views than property?

"If I hear one more time about view -," said Turchi. Her second-floor view, the one she cares about, wouldn't be affected by dunes, she said.

Instead, she and others said, the real issue, one they have repeated for years, is that Margate is already protected by the bulkhead.

And, they say, dunes would raise new problems: committing the town to spending more money, complicating infrastructure such as sewerage lines, and making beaches less accessible.

"Our bulkhead is a better protector of property," said Glenn Klotz, 66, who has been involved in anti-dune efforts for 15 years and was raised with five siblings in a Margate beachfront home. "Our argument, if you boil it down, is relatively simple."

Residents bristled at the idea that they are being selfish by opposing the dunes.

Another beachfront property owner, asked about the governor's calling residents selfish, responded: "Well, what else is he going to say? I've been here for years on the beach and understand the issue. He doesn't."

Instead of labeling residents as "selfish," Klotz said, "I would use the term prudent, self-reliant.

"Stop calling us names. This is not a schoolyard fight," he said of Christie.

Bob Martin, the state commissioner of environmental protection, said Friday that eminent domain on public land requires a lengthy appraisal process, "not like the appraisal you would have when you are buying or selling a house."

Martin said the state also "is putting out a letter" to negotiate with 10 beachfront property owners.

The eminent domain filing came after years of pushback from Margate, including a referendum last year authorizing a legal battle.

When the state tried to take land through an administrative order, Margate sued, and a federal judge in January said eminent domain would be the proper process for the state to seize the city's land.

"We don't want you to do this. We want you to sit down and talk to us. But if you're going to do it, follow the law," said Klotz. "In the end, it's not really about the governor. Now, it's about the law."

Dan Gottlieb, 59, another anti-dune leader who has lived in Margate for his entire life, said he was feeling "pretty reserved" about the eminent domain news.

"I think we've won in the court of public opinion," he said. "This has evolved from an advocacy campaign to a legal issue."

Margate's opposition has blocked the $74 million Absecon Island portion of the state's plan to build dunes along the entire 127-mile coast.

Outside of Margate, many people see the dunes as an intuitive, even obvious, answer to the surges of water whipped up in major storms. The mayors of neighboring Ventnor and Longport have endorsed the plan.

Not everyone in Margate sees them as that bad, either. Sonny and Lois Stern, who have owned their house three doors down from the water for eight years, said they support dunes but can understand the opposition.

"Something like this should be really left to serious experts. . . . Emotions should play no part in it," said Sonny Stern, 85. From his second-floor home office, Stern can see the Atlantic Ocean - over what remains of a dune put up years ago.

Dunes would offer some additional protection, Stern said, but he wonders how often that protection would be needed or useful. How often will storms matching Sandy's wrath in 2012 come through?

"The question, of course, in people's minds is: Is this a one-time event?" he said.

Anti-dune activists say the bulkhead already proved itself during Sandy. Last week, they said, the bulkhead once again showed its use, protecting beachfront property from the Nor'easter that whipped the coast.

"The people of Margate know and love their community . . . and appreciate the need for the best protection against the storms," the city said Thursday. Their position: The best protection is their bulkhead.

"This is a barrier island, it's stupid for any of us to live here, so you can't expect Mother Nature to just not do what she does, OK?" said Turchi.

"It all comes back to this: We have a system that works, and Sandy proved it."

The DEP commissioner rejected the argument that Margate is well-protected by its existing bulkhead.

"Even in Margate, Sandy over-washed their entire beach and the bulkhead that is there was damaged," he said. "In fact, Margate got FEMA funding from Sandy relief to fix its bulkhead. It's a silly argument that they didn't sustain damage because of their bulkhead."

Residents interviewed noted that Christie had not been to Margate.

"I think the governor's just a busy guy," Turchi said. "You know, I don't wish him any ill will, but maybe he should get, like, a gallstone, and be in so much pain that his doctor tells him to take a day off.

"And he can come stay here. I've got a guest bedroom," she said. "I'll show him the bulkhead - we'll educate him. He just needs a little education."

jlai@phillynews.com

856-779-3220 @elaijuh

Inquirer staff writer Melanie Burney contributed to this article.