Sea Isle City Proposes $10.5 Million for Flood Pumping Stations in $38.6 Million Capital Improvement Plan

New stormwater pumping station near the Community Center could begin construction in 2027 as city targets chronic flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods.

SEA ISLE CITY, N.J. — Sea Isle City is proposing a major investment in flood protection, including $10.5 million for stormwater pumping stations over the next five years, as the Cape May County resort community continues its efforts to address chronic flooding caused by coastal storms, heavy rainfall and high tides.

The proposed spending is part of a $38.6 million capital improvement plan covering 2027 through 2031, presented to City Council during a public workshop Tuesday, November 10.

The plan places particular emphasis on roads, drainage improvements and pumping stations designed to remove floodwater from vulnerable neighborhoods more quickly.

City Business Administrator George Savastano and Chief Financial Officer Jennifer McIver presented the proposal, which was developed by Mayor Leonard Desiderio's administration.

City Council is expected to consider adopting the five-year plan in December. The proposal remains subject to changes before final approval.

"We keep chipping away," Savastano said of the city's ongoing flood-control efforts, according to reporting by Sea Isle News.

New Pumping Station Planned Near Community Center

One of the most significant projects is a new stormwater pumping station planned near Sea Isle City's Community Center on 46th Street.

Construction of the station itself is expected to begin in 2027.

The project is designed to protect a flood-prone section of the city extending from Park Road to Landis Avenue, generally between 43rd and 47th streets, and toward the bay.

That area has experienced recurring flooding that can leave streets inundated and create problems for motorists, residents and nearby properties.

The proposed pumping station would collect stormwater through an underground drainage system and move it into the bay more rapidly than the existing gravity-based drainage system can accomplish on its own.

Savastano estimates that the complete pumping station project will cost approximately $5 million.

Most of the funding was previously authorized through a 2025 bond ordinance.

The new capital plan includes $1.5 million for pumping stations in 2027 and a total of $10.5 million over the five-year planning period.

The proposed spending reflects the city's intention to expand its flood-control infrastructure beyond a single neighborhood.

Drainage Work Already Underway

The planned 46th Street pumping station builds upon drainage improvements undertaken earlier this year.

In January, crews began installing large underground drainage pipes along Central Avenue between 43rd and 46th streets.

That work was designed as the first phase of the broader flood-control project.

The drainage system is intended to channel stormwater toward the future pumping station, which would then discharge the water into the bay.

The earlier drainage contract was valued at approximately $881,000.

The project has also generated concerns among some nearby homeowners.

During a City Council meeting in 2025, residents objected to an earlier proposal that would have discharged stormwater into a lagoon at 46th Place.

Mayor Desiderio subsequently assured homeowners that the outfall design would be reconsidered to avoid that lagoon.

City officials said they would explore alternative discharge locations and provide an opportunity for public discussion.

The final location and design of the outfall will be an important consideration as the pumping station project advances.

More Flood Protection Projects Under Consideration

Sea Isle City has already demonstrated the potential benefits of pumping stations through an earlier project.

In 2019, the city constructed its first stormwater pumping station near Sounds Avenue and 38th Street, an area historically vulnerable to bayfront flooding.

That project cost approximately $800,000.

City officials have since identified additional neighborhoods where pumping stations could improve drainage and reduce the duration of street flooding.

One area under consideration for a future station is the Landis Avenue corridor between 38th and 43rd streets.

Savastano said the city is also working with Cape May County on plans for additional pumping stations.

Earlier this year, officials indicated that approximately 10 areas throughout Sea Isle City were being considered for potential pumping stations over the next five to 10 years.

The long-term approach reflects the difficulty of managing stormwater in a low-lying barrier island community where high tides can prevent water from draining naturally into surrounding waterways.

Pumping stations cannot eliminate flooding during every storm, but they can help remove accumulated water more quickly and reduce the length of time streets remain flooded.

$3.5 Million Proposed for Roads and Drainage

In addition to the pumping station program, the capital plan proposes $3.5 million for road reconstruction and drainage improvements over five years.

Approximately $1.5 million of that amount is proposed for 2027.

According to Savastano, paving and drainage projects are planned in sections of the city between 33rd and 53rd streets.

The work is intended to improve aging infrastructure while addressing drainage problems in neighborhoods that frequently experience standing water.

The city's broader capital program also includes investments in municipal facilities, water and sewer infrastructure, public equipment and recreational amenities.

Beaches, Promenade and Recreation Also Included

Although flood mitigation is a major priority, the proposed capital plan includes spending on several other important city assets.

Nearly $7.2 million is designated for improvements involving beaches, the bayfront and the Promenade.

That includes approximately $3 million for a future beach replenishment project expected in 2029.

Beach replenishment is an important part of Sea Isle City's coastal protection strategy, helping maintain the beaches and dunes that provide a buffer against ocean waves and storm damage.

The proposal also includes $50,000 in 2027 for additional beach-access mats, which make it easier for visitors to travel across deep sand.

City officials said the mats have been among the amenities most frequently requested by residents and beachgoers.

Another $250,000 is proposed in 2028 for shade improvements at the Dealy Field playground.

Officials are considering shade sails or similar structures to provide relief from direct sunlight during hot weather.

Councilman Ian Ciseck encouraged further consideration of the playground improvements.

"If there's an opportunity, a path, I think we at least need to explore it," Ciseck said, according to Sea Isle News.

City Council Expected to Vote in December

The proposed five-year capital plan was presented during a workshop attended by Council members Mary Tighe, William Kehner and Ian Ciseck.

Council members asked questions about several projects and their anticipated costs.

Tighe indicated that she did not expect substantial changes to the administration's proposal.

"They covered everything pretty much," she said, according to Sea Isle News.

The city uses its five-year capital plan to establish infrastructure priorities, coordinate project financing and anticipate future debt-service obligations.

Adoption of the plan would establish the city's intended spending priorities, but individual projects may still require additional financing, contracts and other approvals before construction begins.

For Sea Isle City residents, the most immediate development will be the planned 46th Street pumping station, which could begin construction next year.

The larger $10.5 million pumping station proposal represents a longer-term effort to protect neighborhoods throughout the resort community from increasingly disruptive flooding.

As other Cape May County shore communities continue investing in pumping stations and drainage improvements, Sea Isle City is preparing to expand its own network of flood-control infrastructure.

The challenge is unlikely to disappear, but city officials hope that sustained investment will help keep streets passable, protect properties and reduce the impact of future storms.