Initiative aims to support U.S. Coast Guard expansion, national security, airport sustainability
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Cape May County commissioners are trying a different approach to build housing on land at the Cape May County Airport.
Commission Director Leonard Desiderio announced last week that the county is seeking to build rental housing for U.S. Coast Guard personnel and related others on an 18-acre tract at the airport.
In October 2025, commissioners said they were working on an ambitious proposal to put several hundred units of mixed-income housing, creating “a city within a city” on 33 acres at the airport because of the need for more affordable housing in the county.
They were working on that plan while negotiating with the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) to get more control over the airport.
However, this past winter, the Federal Aviation Administration put the kibosh on those plans.
According to a statement from Crystal Essiaw, public affairs specialist in the Office of Communications of the Federal Aviation Administration back in February, “the FAA has a longstanding policy of not approving the use of airport property for residential development and notified the Cape May Airport owner and operator that it would not do so in this case.”
Cape May County owns the airport and the DRBA operates it.
Desiderio, Commissioner Bobby Barr and county Administrator Kevin R. Lare had discussed that plan after giving the DRBA a five-year notice that it was not going to renew its contract.
In a different approach, Desidero said the commissioners have asked the DRBA to formally apply for a “Change of Land Request” to the FAA so it could develop the rental housing on 1.8 percent of the almost 1,000-acre airport property.
“This targeted, mission-critical project would create permanently leased townhomes reserved exclusively for U.S. Coast Guard personnel; other military members supporting airport operations; airport maintenance; police, fire, and EMS personnel; and other essential personnel needed for national security, disaster response, and emergency operations,” a release from the county stated.
“Cape May County is proud to be the Coast Guard’s home county,” Desiderio was quoted as saying. “This is a plan the county has been actively developing and working toward for the better part of a year in anticipation of the Coast Guard’s expanding mission and growing needs for proximate work force housing.”
Desiderio emphasized that the initiative promotes national security priorities and represents a rare opportunity to align local action with major federal investments in TRACEN Cape May.”
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew recently announced the Coast Guard awarded a contract valued at as much as $400 million to Whitinig Turner Contracting Co. for design and construction of new facilities at the Coast Guard Training Center (TRACEN).
The contract is the largest shore construction award in Coast Guard history and is part of a broader effort to modernize the service’s only accession point for enlisted personnel. The work is funded through the Working Families Tax Cut Act (WFTCA), which includes historic investments to upgrade training facilities and infrastructure, and annual appropriations.
“This marks a historic milestone in modernizing Training Center Cape May and developing the next generation of Coast Guardsmen,” Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Phil Waldron, a former Recruit Company Commander, said when it was announced earlier this month. “By improving living spaces and facilities, we are not only bettering the quality of life for recruits, staff and their families, but also enhancing our service readiness and ensuring the Coast Guard is able to meet the future demands of the nation.”
TRACEN Cape May has capacity to train 5,500 recruits annually without relying on temporary modifications, but with the new barracks, the Coast Guard expects to increase the number of annual recruits to more than 8,000 annually by 2030.
County officials noted that the Trump Administration’s Force Design 2028 calls for a massive increase in USCG members by 2028.
Commissioners want to act now to provide housing to match the Coast Guard expansion at TRACEN.
“The need is urgent — Cape May was designated a Critical Housing Area by the Coast Guard in June 2025 precisely because of the severe shortage of affordable, proximate housing,” according to the county. “The Coast Guard, along with the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, have long relied on the Cape May County Airport to support military operations. Without on-site workforce housing, military personnel and essential workers face unsustainable commutes that impair rapid response during national security incidents, natural disasters, civil unrest or other crises.”
“This is a positive, forward-looking solution that benefits all the federal, state and local entities invested in our national security,” Desiderio said. “The Coast Guard; our military partners; police; fire; EMS; medical staff who support emergency room, trauma, and ICU; and airport operations.”
The county is working with Van Drew and state officials and the mayors of the 16 municipalities in the county to move the project forward.
Talking about the expansion at TRACEN, Commanding Officer Capt. Amanda Lee said, “This investment marks a historic milestone in modernizing our facilities and ensuring we are fully prepared to develop the next generation of Coast Guardsmen while maintaining the highest standards. By improving infrastructure and quality of life, we are not only strengthening our workforce but also enhancing our readiness and ability to carry out critical missions that protect the nation’s maritime interests.”
Earlier housing proposal
Back in the fall, Desiderio and Barr pointed to the need for affordable, mixed-income housing in the county, where home prices have continued to rise, making much of the housing unaffordable.
“We want to try to keep people in Cape May County — we envision this as a community within a community in Lower Township,” Desiderio said of the earlier housing plan. “I think all of Cape May County would like to see something where people can afford to bring up their children in the county.”
The 33-acre site they chose was along the western-most part of the airport and abuts a residential area.
Desiderio said the site was perfect for the type of housing proposed because key infrastructure already is at the airport — a fire department, the Lower Township Police Department and emergency medical services. A nearby 14-acre parcel the county owns that is not part of the airport is available for other non-housing development.
“This is a perfect location and a perfect parcel to do this,” Desiderio said.
It was not clear if the 18-acre parcel proposed for the Coast Guard rental housing is in the same location.
– By DAVID NAHAN and CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Cape May Star and Wave staff
