Lawyer: Seizing beach by Christie brother’s home cuts access

A lawyer for homeowners fighting a proposed dune project at the New Jersey shore says the protective sand piles could cut off access to the beach for 22 property owners – including the brother of Gov. Chris Christie.

Todd Christie is among the Point Pleasant Beach, NJ., homeowners whose oceanfront property is being targeted by his brother’s administration for the project.

The governor’s brother says he supports the plan, but is part of a larger homeowner’s association that has refused to grant permission for it.

Attorney Anthony DellaPelle says in a court filing Thursday that the dunes could cut off access to the beach for oceanfront homeowners, forcing them to walk around the corner to access the shoreline.

But the state says they can still build walkways across the dunes.

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Related: Ocean County homeowners resist NJ eminent domain for dune project

A group of homeowners in coastal Ocean County is fighting back against the use of eminent domain by the state of New Jersey to build a series of protective sand dunes. Seventeen homeowners in Point Pleasant, Brick, and Mantoloking argue that the state is abusing its power by taking parts of their land in an unnecessary bid to build the dunes. (Read more)