CAPE MAY POINT — With Memorial Day, the unofficial start to summer, coming up quickly, Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans said the Department of Public Works is preparing the beach for the season starter.
Yunghans said May 13 that Public Works has installed beach mats to help people cross the sand more easily and is waiting for more.
She said beachgoers should be aware of two oyster catcher nests on the beach. One is east of the Cape May Point Science Center at the edge of the state park and the other at Coral Avenue.
The nests are fenced off to keep people away and Yunghans said the borough has a meeting with the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to discuss how to protect the nests until the eggs have hatched and the birds have fledged.
Borough Commission is looking into revisions to the tree replacement ordinance. One part of that is the list of trees prepared last year. Yunghans said she would like the public to provide input on which native trees should be on the list.
“We’d love for you to let us know what you’d like to see on that list and we want to take everyone’s input into consideration,” she said, adding that the tree committee and a licensed tree expert would look at the list.
Yunghans said there would be another update on Lake Lily during the meeting May 27.
In other news, Yunghans said inclement weather has slowed work at the Public Works building.
“Part of the problem is there has been too much rain and they can’t work on the outside of the building. We’re grateful for the rain, so it’s a mixed blessing,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Elise Geiger said that although it is outside the borough, she is aware of the safety improvements planned by West Cape May and Lower Township at the intersections of Seagrove Avenue, Stevens Street and Sunset Boulevard.
“It’s a popular entrance and exit and the municipalities of Lower and West Cape May have had resolutions and agreements with the county to be adding crosswalks,” Geiger said. “It’s a difficult intersection given the streets are not lined up and the speed is high.”
She said the crosswalks should be in place by Memorial Day. Additionally, signs noting vehicles must stop for pedestrians are planned for those areas.
Geiger said she has reached out to the county engineer regarding the upcoming bike bath project on Sunset Boulevard.
“I would like to recommend further enhancements to this intersection, and I will update everyone when I learn more about the bike path timing,” she said, noting it is not expected until 2026 or 2027.
Geiger said the assessment project team is working on a re-examination of the Master Plan, including a 20-year planning horizon, what assets they are looking to protect and defining particular risks.
Mayor Anita VanHeeswyk noted the Planning Board meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the future.
“The reason it’s especially important this month is that the Planning Board will be discussing the fourth round housing plan element and fair share plan,” VanHeeswyk said. “If the Planning Board approves what our planners have updated, the changes will go into their plan, and then the commissioners will review and decide to move forward.”
VanHeeswyk said everything must be submitted by the borough solicitor by June 30.
“Our affordable housing consultants have updated our affordable housing operations manual, as well as our affirmative marketing plan,” she said. “Our planners work closely with Triad, our consultants, and a lot of very specific technical information is brought together for us.”
The Affordable Housing Trust Fund covers the certification costs, which solicitor John Amenhauser clarified comes from the development fees collected through the borough.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
