Build Update: CAFRA Submitted

Hey everyone! Quick update on our home build! We've hit a pretty big milestone: our official CAFRA application has been submitted to the NJDEP portal.

Getting past this engineering stage is a huge win for keeping our project on track. It officially locks down where our building will be and its maximum footprint, so now we can really focus on the nitty-gritty of the structure and what's going on inside.

What's Next? Design Tweaks!

Now that the state has the site plan, we're meeting with our architect next week to fine-tune the next round of designs. We'll be looking closely at how to make the home as efficient as possible and sort out the flow and functionality of the various rooms. We're expecting the updated structural plans to be ready in the next couple of weeks.

A Quick Look at NJ's "REAL" Rules

For anyone keeping an eye on coastal development in New Jersey, things are pretty stable with the regulations right now.

As a reminder, the state's new REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) rules – which totally change how coastal construction, stormwater, and flood elevations are handled – were put in place at the start of the year. The original "legacy window" to get projects reviewed under the older, more straightforward rules was supposed to end next month, on July 20, 2026.

But, thanks to a lot of support from the state legislature (through SCR106) and some lawsuits happening at the county level, the NJDEP has officially proposed to extend that grace period by a whole year, pushing the deadline to July 20, 2027. There will be a virtual public hearing for testimony and comments on July 7, 2026.

The Big Picture: The state is currently in a bit of a pause while they do a full review and hold the public hearings. Because the system is stable right now, our timeline is safe. We can keep designing and building under the current, established guidelines without worrying about the rules changing unexpectedly.

Everything is moving along smoothly, and we're excited to nail down the final design details with the team soon.

Hope you have a great rest of your week and enjoy America's Semiquincentennial!