The Jersey Shore town hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy is moving closer to using eminent domain to seize oceanfront land it needs for a crucial protective dune project.

 

Aerial shot of Mantoloking, NJ (John Moore, Getty Images)
Aerial shot of Mantoloking, NJ (John Moore, Getty Images)
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Mantoloking plans to hire an appraiser Tuesday to determine the fair market value of land the borough is threatening to go to court and seize for the project. The borough must pay fair compensation for the land it acquires for the project.

There are about 128 oceanfront homeowners whose permission is needed for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a beach replenishment and protective dune system in Mantoloking. All but five have signed easements.

In April, Mantoloking hired a lawyer to represent it in eminent domain cases, which could start in a few weeks.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

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