Todd Christie said he supports his brother's quest to have engineered beaches along the coast. Watch video
The summer home of Gov Chris Christie's brother, Todd Christie, in Point Pleasant Beach. POINT PLEASANT BEACH -- When Gov. Chris Christie vowed to get property easements one way or another from oceanfront homeowners in New Jersey for a massive beach protection project, that also included from his brother's Shore house.
In the ongoing battle that has pit the rights of private property owners against the public good, Todd Christie's response to the state's demand for the easements, does not match that of most of his Point Pleasant Beach neighbors, who are suing the state Department of Environmental Protection over the taking.
A member of a beach association that has refused to voluntarily sign over the easements, Todd Christie said he supports his brother's plan for engineered beaches along the coast and believes residents and the town face serious property damage without them.
N.J. files more eminent domain actions against beachfront residents
"I believe 100 percent that the protective dunes should be built and any person or entity, including my homeowners association, causing delay is putting our community at risk," Todd Christie said in a statement released through the governor's office on Tuesday first reported by the Associated Press.
"If this was an individual decision and not one of the association, I would have signed an easement years ago," the statement continued. "That is why each and every time the matter has come up for a vote before the association membership, I have voted for the dunes and against the push to further litigate and delay this matter."
Gov. Christie has called homeowners who have refused to sign over the easements "selfish" and insist they are only interested in preserving their ocean views.
Although Todd Christie's homeowners association has not sued the state, 11 of his fellow Point Pleasant neighbors have. Calling themselves the Point Pleasant Beach Property Owners and Taxpayers Against NJDEP Overreach, the group contends the state is overstepping its authority by demanding these easements that allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' contractors to build high dunes and wide beaches.
Without signing over those easements voluntarily, the state would have to condemn each of the thousands of strips of land along the coast needed for the work and then negotiate individually on financial recompense.
Most of the 4,279 needed easements had been voluntarily signed by property owners, but the state needs more than 350 yet.
The cases of the Point Pleasant Beach taxpayers group is expected to go to court on Feb. 12.
Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach is also suing the state, but in federal court. Attorneys are still negotiating in that case.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.