Fed Judge OK's Building Protective Sand Dunes In Margate Town Officials Feel Aren't Needed
By David Madden
MARGATE, N.J. (CBS) - The Army Corps of Engineers can proceed with awarding contracts for the construction of storm-protective sand dunes on the beach in Margate, despite the objections of residents and city officials who don't want them.
In fact, the issue of actually building those dunes is still very much an open question.
Margate's argument is that there's no way to contest the administrative orders from the Christie Administration that seize beachfront land for those dunes, is at the crux of this fight.
Federal Judge Renee Bumb in Camden says awarding the contracts won't hurt anyone, since that process takes till at least April. "No bulldozers on the beach" is how one attorney for Margate labeled the ruling.
But if the Army wants those bulldozers, it must give the city a ten-day warning.
It's thought the ruling might prompt the state and the city to work out a deal over how the seizure is being carried out. Because if they don't, the city's free to return to federal court to try and stop those bulldozers.
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