ASSEMBLYMAN SEAN KEAN MEETS WITH DEP COMMISSIONER ON TAKANASSEE BEACH CLUB

DISCUSSION CENTERS ON EFFORTS TO PRESERVE HISTORIC OCEANFRONT PROPERTY

Assemblyman Sean Kean met with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa Jackson today to discuss the Takanassee Beach Club in Long Branch.

The owners of the property and developers are currently seeking a CAFRA permit to develop homes, townhouses and condominiums on the site which is home to a beach club and is the site of the historic United States Lifesaving Station which would later became the United States Coast Guard.

Kean said he requested the meeting to ensure Commissioner Jackson was aware of the environmental significance of the property.

“I expressed to the Commissioner that allowing this proposed development of Takanassee to move forward would seriously impact on the delicate environment of our shore,” he said. “Commissioner Jackson is cognizant of the sensitive nature of this property and how this proposal could potentially affect our coastal environment.”

Kean said the Commissioner listened intently to his concerns about approving the current CAFRA application which would allow 21 housing units to be constructed on the site.

“Commissioner Jackson takes very seriously the need to evaluate this proposal to ensure it will not have an adverse effect on the environment,” he said. “In fact, the Commissioner expressed that the current CAFRA permit application could face challenges from DEP staff.”

Kean also said the Commissioner told him that, as an urban center, Long Branch will qualify for increased Green Acres funding. He said he plans to work with the DEP and county and local officials to identify funding to purchase the site. Kean will be meeting with Long Branch and Monmouth County officials in the near future.

“The success of this effort is dependent upon cooperation between the state, Monmouth County and Long Branch,” he said. “Working together gives us the ability to maximize our resources to ensure the Takanassee Bach Club is preserved for future generations.”

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