Uneven adherence to the recently paused Resilient Environment and Landscapes rule by state agencies is rendering the moratorium ineffective, while costing taxpayers additional money for a permit, a Surf City councilman warned.

“Without including other agencies, such as the DCA (Department of Community Affairs), in the pausing of the REAL rule for review and rewriting, the pause is hollow, and the requirements of the rule are being implemented through the backdoor,” Councilman Peter Hartney wrote…