News Archive

Thursday, April 22
1 – 3 p.m.
South Reeds Beach
Middle Township, Cape May County, NJ

opens in a new windowRegistration Information

Join the American Littoral Society on the beach in Delaware Bay to plant dune grass!

In early April work will be completed on sand berms that will prevent horseshoe crabs from being washed into the marsh during extreme high tides. To create a more resilient beach berm and keep the sand in place, we will then plant dune grass.

The easiest way to plant dune grasses is to create a hole in the sand with a broom handle. If you have a broom or something with similar handle, please bring it to the event.

Parking will be along Reeds Beach Road. Please dress for the weather.

COVID-19 Precautions: Littoral Society staff and volunteers will follow all state-mandated COVID-19 safety protocols and ask that all volunteers wear a mask, keep six feet distance from other volunteers, and to please stay home if you or someone you have been in contact with are sick. Society staff reserves the right to ask volunteers who are not following these guidelines to leave immediately.

Middle approaches final vote on zoning changes

Proposals based on Master Plan evaluating ‘the changing character and needs of the Township’ 

 Cape May Court House, N.J. – Middle Township’s proposed zoning changes passed a first reading on April 5. A second reading, public hearing and final vote are set for May 3.

The proposals are based on recommendations that came out of the 2020 Master Plan Reexamination Report.

Township officials reexamine the Master Plan at least once every 10 years to evaluate the municipality’s evolving needs. After consulting with municipal engineers and planners, officials proposed that select areas be rezoned “in the best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the community to support and encourage appropriate development within the Township,” according to the ordinance.

The Master Plan report considers factors such as density and distribution of population and land uses, housing conditions, conservation of natural resources, and changes in state, county, and municipal policies and objectives. Some the rezoning recommendations support broader redevelopment goals, such as the revitalization of Rio Grande Town Center.

“Township Committee would like to recognize the hard work of our Planning Board and land use professionals in this thoughtful review of our Master Plan,” Mayor Tim Donohue said. “Our residents had several opportunities to comment on these forward-thinking zoning changes throughout the yearlong review process. We look forward to final public comments and voting on these recommendations at our May 3 Township Committee meeting.”

Here are the changes proposed for Middle Township South:

• Block 1414.01, Lot 14 located along Route 47 is a 16-acre, vacant parcel recommended to be changed from Town Residential to Town Business based on the uses adjacent to the property, and to encourage uses that fit with the surrounding commercial development.
• Block 1436.01, Lots 6, 7, 11 and 13 between Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway. This zone would be changed from Suburban Residential to Town Center to facilitate the continued growth of the Rio Grande Town Center. Including this area in the Town Center zone will support the expansion of commercial and residential development.
• Various blocks and lots at the intersection of the Garden State Parkway and the north and south sides of Route 147. It is recommended that the zone be changed from Business and Suburban Residential to Town Business to accommodate current development patterns, and to provide an opportunity for more commercial uses in the area.

Here are the changes proposed for Middle Township North:

• Block 355.01, Lot 6 located along Johnston Lane. It is recommended that the zone be changed from Residential to Town Business. Lots 6 and 7 are currently split-zoned, and the owner has requested the change.
• Block 132.01 and Block 135.02 comprise various lots along the north side of Stone Harbor Boulevard. This district would change from Rural Conservation to Coastal Development, which would be more in line with the existing residential development.
• Block 132.01, Lot 31 along the Garden State Parkway. It is recommended that the zone be changed from Rural Conservation to Town Center because of physical changes to the access road from the Parkway. The site has been approved for the development of a gas station, convenience store, and office building consistent with the type of development permitted in the Town Center zone.
• Block 127, Lots 12 through 22 located within the Easy Street subdivision. This zone is designated for a change from Town Center to Residential because it is entirely residential with no commercial uses.
• Block 99.02, Lots 115.01, 115.02, 115.03 and 115.04 (Stone Harbor Golf Club). It is recommended that the zone be changed from Suburban Residential to Residential to accommodate previously approved plans for high-intensity residential development with public sewer.
• Block 55.01, Lot 8 along Route 47. This zone is set to be changed from Business to Rural Conservation because of the residential nature of the site and surrounding areas.

Shred Day Information

Gandy announces start of Whitesboro School painting project

Middle Township awarded contract in 2020 for work on historic community building

Cape May Court House, N.J.— After meeting with the contractor on site, Middle Township Committeeman Ike Gandy today announced that the historic Whitesboro School House will get a fresh look for spring, as work commences on the exterior painting project awarded by the Township in late 2020.

“Now that the weather is improving, we’re excited to get this painting project underway,” Gandy said. “This work follows on the heels of our investment in major upgrades to the School House’s HVAC system in the past few months.”

Gandy, a Supervising Construction Foreman, has oversight of Buildings and Grounds in the Township. He said the exterior upgrades will be meant to last.

“We are making a significant investment in this property. It was important to me that we did this right,” Gandy said. “This historic School House holds a special place in the history of Whitesboro and our community at large. We want the appearance of the building to reflect our commitment to honoring that history.”

The Township Committee passed a resolution to award a contract to Cape May Painting. The painting project will refresh the historic school building that operated from 1911 to 1967. The nonprofit Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro uses the building for its headquarters through a partnership established with the Township in 2018.

Cheryl Spaulding, program administrator for the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, expressed appreciation for the exterior work on the school building at an October 2020 Township Committee meeting.

“On behalf of the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro and (group President) Bernie Blanks, I just want to thank you guys for moving it along to paint the building,” she said.

The Historic Whitesboro School stands at the end of Main Street near Route 9 – just down the block from the new Whitesboro Post Office that opened last summer.

“Our next project here will be to upgrade the pedestrian crosswalks at the intersection of Route 9 and Main Street,” Gandy said. “We look forward to new, more visible crosswalks, signage and other safety features. As foot traffic increases, due to the new Post Office and growth in programs at the School House, we want to ensure the safety of residents.”

The crosswalk work will be a partnership between Middle Township and the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The Township hopes to complete the work before the busy summer season.

Middle Township Committeeman Ike Gandy (above)  takes a look at the exterior of the historic Whitesboro School House with Cape May Painting contractor Jerry Gallagher. The building’s exterior will be painted this spring. The Township also has invested in HVAC upgrades at the School House building.

Notice of Construction Update and Anticipated Reopening of Bayshore Road (C.R. 603) at Lower Township/Middle Township border
Work on the Fishing Creek Culvert emergency contract will continue thru the week of March 29th
.
After further inspection by the County Engineer, it was determined that the original triple 36” cast iron culvert pipes were in need of replacement in their entirely, and work began on March 10th. The emergency project includes the removal and replacement of the existing storm culvert pipes, the installation of new headwalls and foundation slabs, the installation of wingwalls, the installation of scour countermeasures, backfilling the culvert excavation with stone and resurfacing the roadway.

As of March 25th, the contractor has replaced the pipes, installed the foundation slabs and headwalls, and backfilled the excavation. The contractor will be working extended hours as well as Saturdays to expedite the remaining work. Prior to Sunday March 28th, the contractor expects to have installed the westerly wingwalls and scour protection with the expectation of restoring temporary flow across the culvert by Saturday night. The balance of the remining work, including resurfacing the roadway, is expected to be completed by April 7, 2021. Until that time, Bayshore Road will remain closed to traffic and the detour of Bayshore Road will remain in place. All local business will remain open and accessible.

The County will post a final update if the scheduled of opening Bayshore Road changes.

2021 Drum Fish Tournament Application