What ever you use better be real wood. A lot of people pledged support based on Belmar using ipe WOOD, not plastic. Plastic gets too hot, it sags. You are going to need more support to keep it from sagging. Which means more wood, more work, more expense.
You want Belmar to be a cheap imitation of what it once was? That's what the joke will be.
I'm going to yank my family's donation if you use plastic. And I'll go somewhere else.

nehocblum Do it right or don't do it. The synthetic they had used was horrific , not durable and ugly among other things . If it could be proved that each tree harvested was replaced by two or more trees . It would be worth the wait and the fight. The money problem is non existent. We all know the Government could show where a shortage does exist is just "Hokem" just like the fake phony Bond Issue, the tourist problem well "let em wait" .The residents of Belmar deserve to see our tax dollars go back into our town for us tax payers. How much more would we have if we declared E verify in Belmar for licenses ,schooling and all other services would there be more money for us citizens of Belmar .What if there was parody in government salaries including the County and the private sector. What if all our Politicians Republicans and Democrats alike didn't blame us for all their failures. Beautiful Belmar needs to become that again before it's to late

The last boardwalk was plastic. It does sag and doesn't look too good when it sags. But this is only a temporary fix till next time. I remember how Fulton's Fish market Pier in NYC used Teak or some fancy wood like that and now it looks awful as that repair it
with Pressure treated lumber. I remember Pringle saying he was rebuilding the boardwalk in removeable sections after the 92 storm. Hey Belmar I've been waiting for a permit to do some work on my house. To me, my house is more important than your boardwalk. And remember, you'll be getting money and I'm paying my own way.

Ridiculous. Lame. Do the right thing. nO PLASTIC. Belmar will be a laughing stock. Plastic horrible planks and trailer concessions. All the work that has gone into re shaping the oceanfront going down the drain. One big D'Jais, the mayor's favorite place. Put your big boy pants on and stop the Sierra club bully in his tracks. STOP THE USE OF PLASTIC.

Keep the comments coming . Just maybe some one will listen. It's not only the boardwalk "The New Belmar " does not include new street lights , pruning our trees, fixing or helping to fix cracked sidewalks , code enforcement on rentals , fixing our cracked streets and regrading them for proper drainage, cleaning catch basins that run north and south "Do you think those Junctions Boxes have been cleaned recently".
Do think the town should have let Matise operate in that disgusting building to start with? Do you think Belmar should allow commercial vehicles on the streets at night? Does Spring lake? or does Avon and Bradlet?.
I know the answers will be very well thought through and put forth publicly bit will the same non answers we always get

BeAll of these comments include information every town should think about. We are all different in ways that people outside of nj can't even understand. We are Jersey Strong. Listen for oonce and stop thinking about what is easiest. We are still processing what happened during Sandy, dealing with the impact to our homes, some fighting flu or the possibilty of it. Alot of volunteers donated. Money from outside is still coming in. Let's make this a turning point where gov't FINALLY listens to the people and does what's right.

I love the boardwalk when it was redone in trex. It looked so nice and Im happy that it will look that way again. In time, everything else will fall into place. Im very proud of the mayor and the governor and all the hard work that everyone is doing to restore the shore up and down the coast. Keep up the good work. Jersey Strong!

I'm proud of the Mayor and Belmar.... Everyone knows something you don't.... we are working for a boardwalk that lasts. Everything needs maintenance. I'm not a boat person but I can compare a MAINTAINED teak boat to one than is not maintained.

so, wait a minute here, the Mayor is saying that doing the boardwalk right and making sure that the wood used is being replanted and that we do not have to redo the boardwalk in five years for the year round residents is not as important as making sure the bennies have a boardwalk for Memorial day? I think this is exactly what has been wrong with Belmar for a long time. It is not about the residents, its about the revenue.

I hope is not plastic! I go down to bel at every summer and love the board walk. please do jersey a favor and build the right away. we lost so much with hurricane sandy and a lot we won't be getting back. Belmar boardwalk brings memories to so many people, it will be a shame to have some hot plastic instead of a beautiful wood boardwalk to remember and create new memories.

Well what is funny to me is that they want to replace boardwalks with this plastic junk, as it may be environmentally friendlier and safer. BUT my parents who frequent the shore VERY VERY often said when they went down to Point Pleasant or Seaside, THE ONLY part of the Boardwalk that remained was the OLD WOODEN PLANKS, not the new stuff they used when they repaired part of the boardwalks years ago. No the stuff that didn't get damaged much was the REAL wood.

How does the Sierra Club even have standing to challenge the borough's choice of boardwalk material? I suppose they could find a misguided Belmar resident to front for them, but even then, choice of materials is within the governing body's discretion. I say choose the best material regardless of lawsuit threats, and if they do so, call their bluff. Condition any temporary restraining order on the plaintiffs posting a bond sufficient to cover both the cost differential between wood and plastic and the loss of revenue should the boardwalk not be rebuilt this year.

Jersey...you are entitled to your opinion but think about adding more plastic to our environment. Read the comments. MAINTENANCE is the key.

I do know you all have valid and strong feelings about our Belmar Boardwalk and you should put them into writing it is your duty to do. In the last several years since media like Belmar Manasquan Patch has allowed us to hear and understand how our government has been working and is sinful. This is no different then to be told if we make under $250K, taxes will stay the same. The waste in our revenue stream is inconceivable to most business people.
1. Install the most beautiful, Durable wood boardwalk that exists
2. Beach badges for Belmar home owners should be free
3. Raise the prices for all nonresidents Daily + $00.50 , Monthly + $20.00 , Full Season + $50.00
4.Eliminate all Ocean Ave Parking except for residents of Ocean Ave no boardwalk parking at all
5.Use existing downtown parking with daily and hourly fees
6.Have at least 3 buses each all to leave from NJ Transit station and Muni parking- one would stop at 5th , one would stop at 10th and one should stop at 15th image the commerce it would safely bring to downtown would be great
7. Establish E Verify as required for "all Humans" including the boardwalk rebuilders

J,
I am unaware of the litigation you speak of . I also appreciate the feedback .We just feel the beaches should be free or almost, while the parking should be as brutal as the Port of Authority fees. Ocean Ave should be our diamond where it currently is not . We bought our property in 2000 and have lived full time since then while rebuilding and investing in what we thought would be our final move. Since 2000 the public Facilities have only deteriorated or have been mismanaged at higher and higher costs

Even Seaside is using wood and not plastic. Imagine that. Seaside has more class than to use plastic.

It's always been wood, and so it should be now.

Part of the problem is that we(NJ) always want to be PC. I don't think I even know any one who is a member of the Sierra Club...but we are afraid of them. Jersey Strong is more like Jersey Meek.

J,
We pretty much agree on most. If what you say about Beach fees is correct and I assume it is, we should eliminate the Beach fees .For increased revenue Belmar should build more storage sheds for residents . I have one now and would be willing to pay more. If parking fees were raised(not at Ocean Ave. we stopped parking remember) but back at Main and transit could be included? or Bikes could be rented and maybe the town would really rebuild our downtown with all the tourist money and not Living units with no real extra parking. Keep in mind downtown has at least eight sit down restaurants and lots of small shops how do think they would feel.It's funny I had to do all this thinking because of plastic board walk

Matt is reading this. His heart is in the right place. He's thinking about it. He knows who I am and, frankly I expected him to call , text, or knock on our door. Maybe he has the flu? or am I wrong and the visits only come at election time. (that's mean and I don't think it's true.

I do know Claire is wrong. Mat will stop by and he is concerned about this Town as much as we are, we all want a better Belmar the big questions are what is a better Belmar, how big should it be and how much more should it cost the residents of Belmar.When he does stop by thats what we will ask .

Why not just leave it the way it is. It will not burn your feet or give you splinters,and it will not cost millions to replace.Good old mother nature.

Let me get this straight.
The Sierra Club trashing our environment by forcing us to use PLASTICS in a seaside construction exposed to extremes of ocean weathering??? It makes me wonder what grades Jeff Tittel received in environmental science at school!
Ignoring the fact that ONLY sustainable wood products were going to be used. Actively discouraging the use of sustainable, properly harvested materials. How terribly short sighted!
I feel sorry for Belmar's Mayor. He will take a lot of heat, but he's correct, the delay will cost more than this town can afford to lose economically. Our small business community is bravely holding on, but even short delays could cause some local stores, restaurants, & lodgings to lose everything.
The one who SHOULD take this heat is Mr Tittel, he lost The Sierra Club credibility. Everyone who loves the ocean, the beach, & the boardwalk should write & call to ask this organization to withdraw this ridiculous suit.
Plastics create incredible pollution. They break down in strong sunlight. The pieces end up in the ocean, where scientists have reported they decompose rapidly into toxic compounds.
The Sierra Club is not seeing the forest for the trees!
Blocking the use of sustainable ethically obtained wood,& forcing Belmar to use plastics instead! Really?

The Sierra Club Office
85 2nd street #2
San Francisco, CA. 94105
Phone (405) 977-5500

1.The threat of not being ready by Memorial days is about as real as the Myan calendar
2.The threat of litigation from the sierra club is about as valid as taxation without representation
3.The threat of business loss is Horrible "BUT" do those business owners live here all year (maybe some do ) Can those that live here stay open after labor day "YES"
and do some of the business owners take their money and go South for the Winter and spend their money there "YES THEY DO" so the grand negative of us getting what we want is nothing.
4.The process for making this (NON RENEWABLE, NON REPAIRABLE,)product is
as bad as any the Sierra Club has ever seen. The Sierra Club should applaud and support the use of WOOD providing it can be proven replacement growth is more than equal the use.
5.If the Sierra club sues. The delays and all costs including legal fees should be part of a counter suit. What they are saying can easily proven wrong and hypocritical
6. The Mayor has an agenda that does not fit with Belmar residents needs. I'm sorry to oppose his agenda but Belmar needs to be better for all including: the residents, tourist and vendors. GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT

TO Dame Bridgid
Please take a breath and stand up resist something you have heard spread by the Government. I have spent over 50 years in construction and the delays for wood are non existent. I do grant the inconvenience for all involved right now and possibly cost changes. The decision should be made now or very soon. Your comparisons are real but not quite the same. I already have said Sierra should applaud us for elimination the synthetic Garbage they are wanting to use.
I actually grew up coming to these wood boardwalks and for generations they were untouched just used . If they were sanded and treated whenever it was needed
they would still be in use

Dame Bridgid,
Sorry if I offended you but I will continue to disagree and will do publicly and privately.
Just a couple of quick things
1. Up until the last 5/6 years our boardwalk had been wood since it's creation
2. How many of Belmar's residents depend on income from summer tourism
3. How can you think plastic boardwalk is eco friendly v wood
4.Why would I fight a neo terrorist group like Sierra when it's un necessary
5. I never said I would not use either type of board walk
6. I have not only used heavily, but have walked or run thousands of miles
7. What I would fight for is meaningful TORTE reform
Lets say we agree to disagree it makes for good health "GO WOOD"

ipe Wood approximately $15.00 per sq ft
Trex or equal approximately $35.00 per sq ft

if any cannot be convinced please go to any of the follow ing sites

http://www.deckingnotice.com
http://www.advantagelumber.com
http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05247.html
http://newtown.patch.com/blog_posts/some-issues-with-composite-decking

After considering all then checkout Sierra's real agenda. And that is free beaches
no fees .

David, we are on the same side. Believe me, if I did not feel the press of time was against us; I would love to watch Sierra held up in court as utter hypocrites for actually preferring plastics to ethically harvested wood for this usage. I detest bullies of their ilk who kick you when you are down. Personally, I would be overjoyed if Belmar could simply ignore them & use the wood which is truly the better product both economically & ecologically.
It is already going to be a tight squeak getting done before the end of May. The Sierra Club resembles the Westboro Baptist Church in the way they use lawyer tactics to harass their targets. Court injunctions are one of their specialties.
Of course we could have residents use their rights as American's to picket The Sierra Cub Offices or Chairman Tittel's place of business/residence. Sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander(snicker) otherwise known as turnabout is fair play!

Forgive me. I have always fought for what I believe is right. In this political atmosphere I believe it is more important than ever. This site is evidence that people care. The Mayor, the residents, the bennies, and the immigrants. We are all in this together. We are still cleaning, fighting the flu, trying to get insurance and Fema money, trying to sleep with the storm nightmares.. Some trying to locate what few possessions are left. There have been many suggestions... some excellent. I AM GRATIFIED. No word from the politicians or the movie and music stars. The Sierra Club is exposed to more people. Perhaps the solution is to rebuild with sections as Pringle did ....using plastic and wood. Both will decay. We can test. Put the sections with wood near the high foot traffic areas. We can pray that we don't have another storm like this, that our marine life can handle the toxins if it happens. We know the volunteers continue to come. That people will sacrifice to live here and make their way through the traffic to come for the day. The Governor will be here no matter what we choose. Maybe the President and Bruce Springstein and the others. It will be a great picture. We all have work to do; some more than others. I will fight for what I believe until the boards are in place. Everyone on this site is thinking. That is the basis of our country. I may lose; Belmar may lose. BUT WE ARE JERSEY STRONG. People are learning something here.

I did not suggest we should ignore the delay of reconstruction because someone threatens a lawsuit. Isn't the threat from the Sierra Club because of use of ipe wood from So. America? There must be some other kind of wood grown here in the U.S. or Canada Belmar can use. ANY kind of wood would be better than plastic.

The Sierra Club needs to get their butts down to the rain forest instead & focus on education. The local people slash & burn the Rainforest to plant crops. That type of deforestation is a huge problem they DO need to work on.
A tree farm producing wood of the same type uses sustainable harvest techniques that do not result in deforestation. Trust a 60's era protest group to get it wrong & harass the people who are doing it right.

I sat in a biology classroom a long time ago where the environmentally biased teacher applauded a highway cutting through the rainforest. I thought that was misguided then. I forgave them. I will forgive them again. BUT they must think about us. Will they donate so that we can do what they want. CA has great ideas but there is not enough MONEY in our gov't to carry them out.