{"id":6926,"date":"2015-11-13T13:47:55","date_gmt":"2015-11-13T18:47:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/?p=6926"},"modified":"2015-11-13T21:30:47","modified_gmt":"2015-11-14T02:30:47","slug":"n-j-assemblyman-among-brick-homeowners-in-oceanfront-condemnation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/2015\/11\/n-j-assemblyman-among-brick-homeowners-in-oceanfront-condemnation\/","title":{"rendered":"N.J. Assemblyman Among Brick Homeowners In Oceanfront Condemnation"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Assemblyman<\/a>

Assemblyman Jack McKeon (left) and an ongoing dune building project in Long Beach Island. (Dune Photo: Daniel Nee)<\/p><\/div>\n

A New Jersey state legislator is among seven Brick Township oceanfront homeowners who refused to sign easements allowing a protective dune to be constructed along the township\u2019s beachfront, leading to a condemnation of a portion of their properties<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Assemblyman Jack McKeon, a Democrat who represents the 27th legislative district in Essex County, owns a secondary home in the private Ocean Heights development in the township\u2019s South Mantoloking section. There is no public beach access from any of the streets which comprise Ocean Heights.<\/p>\n

Shorebeat sought comment from McKeon through his legislative chief of staff, but has\u00a0not received a return phone call.<\/p>\n

In 2013, when McKeon\u2019s name first appeared on an initial list of properties whose owners had not signed easements, the assemblyman said he supported the project but wanted more information before signing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll we are seeking is a basic \u2018meets and bounds\u2019 description, which tells us where the dune will be located on the property, before we sign off on an easement in perpetuity,\u201d McKeon said in a statement issued at the time.<\/p>\n

Property records held at the Ocean County Clerk\u2019s office show McKeon\u2019s easement for a steel sea wall also had to be taken by force. A copy of a Brick Township council resolution authorizing the taking for that project is on file there.<\/p>\n

The easements are required in order for federal officials to fund the construction of a 22 foot-high protective dune along Brick\u2019s oceanfront, as well as at least 200 feet of beach berm to be built in front of the dune.<\/p>\n

McKeon owns the home with three other family members, records show. In 2014, the homeowners paid $28,862 in taxes on the property, which is assessed at $1,374,100.<\/p>\n

In addition to the McKeon property, the remaining six\u00a0Brick homeowners whose easements were condemned Friday include:<\/p>\n