Belmar Council To Decide Facets of Boardwalk Redevelopment

Belmar Council will meet tonight to discuss several parts of a widespread rebuilding plan for the borough's boardwalk, sewer, library and more.

The borough does not expect to rebuild its Hurricane-Sandy destroyed concessions and pavilions on its boardwalk in time for Memorial Day, officials said previously. Tonight's meeting will decide whether to advertise for sealed bids for temporary beachfront structures.

The structures, which could resemble concession trailers, would be in place for summer 2013 as the borough decides how to rebuild permanent facilities.

The mayor and council will also discuss base flood elevation heights for Belmar, and whether to reject all bids for boardwalk lumber. An original plan to use rainforest timber (ipe wood) may be scrapped after pressure from environmental groups.

Whether Belmar qualifies as an "area in need of rehabilitation," a designation overseen by the state Department of Community Affairs, is up for discussion. A resoultion, if approved, would "investigate further assist in the recovery from the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy by determining whether certain property as defined herein constitute an area in need of redevelopment."

The resolution allows the Belmar Planning Board to conduct an investigation and determine whether the area within the Borough bordered to the north by the northern edge of the roadbed of Second Avenue; to the south by Lake Como; to the east by the Atlantic Ocean; and to the west by the westerly edge of the roadbed of Ocean Avenue.

Also on the agenda is progress on repairing the borough library, with resolutions going to bid for elavator work and stairs, and also a new roof at the Third Avenue garage, the 13th Avenue garage and Union Fire House.

The borough council meeting will begin 6 p.m. with council workshop discussion in Borough Hall.

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