As a courtesy to our SHPOA Members, we’re bringing you a summary of each Stone Harbor Work Session and Council Meeting. Intended as summaries, these intentionally don’t have a lot of details and are not a substitute for the official Borough minutes.
Work Session
Resilient Environment and Landscape Rulemaking
At the request of Cape May County, Peter Lomax presented an analysis of a proposed rule that would implement NJ Governor Murphy’s Executive Order to undertake a comprehensive revision to land use rules to respond to rising sea levels, extreme weather and recurrent flooding.   The state Department of Environmental Protection will begin Resilient Environment and Landscape (REAL) rulemaking in August that will significantly expand the acreage in Cape May County under land use regulation and require comprehensive revisions to the regulations governing coastal management, wetlands protection, flood control, and storm water runoff.
Lomax concluded that the rule is intended to discourage development on the barrier islands and low-lying coastal areas. He explained that the rulemaking was based on a study that utilized the “best available predictive climate science” to estimate sea level rise over the next 76 years, employing the estimate that sea levels will rise by 5.1 feet by 2100 (a 17 percent probability). 
Lomax anticipated that 581 acres in Stone Harbor (65 percent of all acreage) would be located in an Inundation Risk Zone (IRZ) and subject to a new and thorough evaluation process that would be applied to new development, redevelopment, or significant renovations (those where the cost of the renovation exceeds 50 percent of the market value).  Structures located in an IRZ would be required to be at least 16 feet above sea level at the finished floor.  Lomax stated that the evaluation for project approval would include an impact evaluation, which would consider the potential impact to adjacent lots and water displacement, and many additional factors such as review of on-site alternatives, modification of designs, and building placement on the lots.
Lomax added that the regulation would expand the acreage currently regulated under The Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA), requiring a structure’s first finished floor to be 5 feet above the current FEMA flood elevation.  He stated that properties (99.8 percent) in all but one acre in the Borough would be subject to the new standard.
Lomax advised the Council to do a thorough examination of the proposal and give consideration to the Rule’s potential consequences to local zoning laws, height requirements, tax assessments and insurance.  He asserted that while the rule would be an extremely broad single expansive reform, it could be revised to respond to sea level rise at a gradual pace, over a shorter timeline with incremental standards. He pointed out that the 76-year target was based on the assumption that most infrastructure would have useful life of at least 50 years, which may not be appropriate for a community where the housing turns over at a more rapid pace.
Cape May is reaching out to all the municipalities in the County and circulating a draft resolution that would address concerns brought up by the local communities. Lomax indicated properties across the county would face new scrutiny and that only Woodbine would not be required to follow this new comprehensive regulation for permitting.
The proposed rule is currently expected to be published on August 5, according to Lomax. NJDEP has announced that it will conduct three hearings during a 90-day public comment period. At the end of the comment period, NJDEP may issue a final rule or revise the rule and re-open the comment period. Lomax anticipated that the Rule would likely be adopted in 2025 and allow a year for implementation.
For the presentation, please visit: https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/07.16.2024-Work-Session-Agenda.pdf
For additional information, please visit: https://dep.nj.gov/njreal/
Handicapped Beach Access
 
Borough Administer Manny Parada recommended that the Council consider an ordinance to designate one additional handicapped parking space at the end of streets that have ramps to the beach. The Streets are 88th, 92nd, 101st, 103rd, 105th, 114th and 119th.  He expected that the ordinance could be enacted this year and implemented for the 2025 season.
2024 Property Taxes
 
Chief Financial Officer Cynthia Lindsay stated that an ordinance which would be voted during the Council meeting to extend Stone Harbor taxpayers a 25-day grace period on their 2024 property taxes.  Tax payments are due August 1, but the extension will allow later payment without interest penalties. Lindsay reported that Stone Harbor continues to wait on Cape May County to certify the rate and that the bills would be delayed.
Regular Meeting
The Council approved a number of Ordinances and Resolutions, including:
•Ordinance 1669 – Authorizing angle parking in the 400 block of 94th Street.
•Resolution S-146 – Establishing a 90-day grace period for payment of property tax.
•Resolution S-140 – Changing the hours of the Construction Office to 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM with public hours from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM . 
For legislation discussed at the meeting, please click: https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/07.16.2024-Regular-Meeting-Agenda-and-Documents.pdf
For a video of the meeting, please click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pAoKavWE8s
 
 
NOTE: The Cape May County Herald recently had  articles related to topics covered at this Council Meeting. These articles can be found along with others as part of their coverage of Stone Harbor.
 
As you may know, our friends at the Cape May County Herald are offering SHPOA members only an exclusive discount for Herald subscriptions — 25% OFF with code “SHPOA” — and they are also providing your association advertising space in print and online for us to promote the association and the initiatives important to our members.
 
To subscribe and use the discount, please click on https://capemaycountyherald.com/subscribe/ and use promo code “SHPOA” at checkout to claim your 25% discount. Only valid for new subscribers.
To read past Stone Harbor Council Meeting summaries, please click here: https://dev.stoneharborpoa.org/category/borough-meeting-summaries/
 
To watch recordings of past meetings, please click here: https://stoneharbornj.org/agendameetings/watch-mayor-and-council-meetings-online/