The DEP is passing legislation that will require private marinas to provide public access to the water way...

I dunno about you but I don't want the public roaming thru our private marinas... I wonder if the guys who pay boat loads of cash to be members of the country club would be pissed if the state mandated public access on their putting greens??

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...803240314/1029

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...8/1030/OPINION

No one keeps their boats at a marina in NJ..or cares about this??

Didn't they try this with the beach access. Wider audience and it never went through.

Edgewater beach club is still fighting it...

It appears as if this may have already passed..

Apparently it's the same concept, now it's being forced upon Marina owners...

"In November 2006 NJDEP proposed new beach access rules that would repeal the existing Public access to the waterfront rule and replace it with a new Public trust rights rule. The proposed new rule strengthens the Department's existing public access requirements and sets forth specific requirements for Shore Protection Program and Green Acres funding" http://www.nj.gov/dep/cmp/access/

If you want to support the fight against this legistlation contact the "Marine Trades Association of NJ".

I think there is a little mis interpretation here. This is to secure slips for transient vessels to have short term slips when passing through the state or on vacation and as well to stop eliminating marinas and selling condo with slips and or slips as well. If that became possible you would never be able to get a slip in Jersey unless you bought it. I looked to buy a small marina here local and rehab and someone got to it before me and eliminated 32 slips and turned it to single family never to return to marina status I think that sucks because there are plenty single family bayfronts availible including mine.

I think we're talking about two different things here. It's not about securing transient slips, this is what it's about, taken from the second article;

"Marinas would have to provide permanent access, including a walkway, across the entire waterfront on the property despite the configuration or operation of the marina. This access would need to be provided to anyone 24 hours a day, even after the business is closed. Parking would need to be provided, even if additional land had to be purchased, and marinas would have to provide for the walkway in perpetuity by way of a conservation easement.

Following the posting of this new rule, our association, more than 70 marinas and hundreds of citizens provided written comments that the rule's requirements would have a serious and negative impact on their livelihood, their property rights and the safety of the people visiting marinas.

Despite the hours of meetings, the hundreds of pages of comments and the DEP's knowledge of the consequences of this proposal, in November the agency adopted the proposed rule that mandates "one size fits all" 24/7 public access with other requirements.

The rules require a surrender of property rights and force business owners to make decisions about their operations that they may not be able to afford or cannot reasonably implement. They fail to address the issues of liability and security risks, the unfunded mandates on parking — which alone could financially ruin a business — construction and facilities, and the fact each marina is different in its size, scope and ability to yield to the DEP's demands."

Another link; http://www.localswell.com/files/NJDE..._in_NJ__1_.htm

thats really fuked up.....

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING YOU THINK IT PASSED! LAVALETTE OR BAYHEAD POINT THERE ALL PAY BEACHES THE ONLY FREE BEACH IS SLEASIDE BECAUSE COKE OR PEPSI PAYS FOR 1 FREE DAY EACH WEEK I THINK WED. BUT SOMEONE IS PAYING THE TAB. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO MUCH REVINUE TO LOSE