John Zbell Wants to Preserve Long Beach West for People and Wildlife

John Zbell said he hopes to use his seat on the newly appointed Long Beach West Blue Ribbon Commission to make sure Long Beach West is preserved for both public access and wildlife.

He thinks the public argument over whether Long Beach West should be designated a people-free wildlife sanctuary is exaggerated. He thinks people and wildlife can co-exist there.

"That’s not difficult, and I think we’re making more of it than it is," he said.

Zbell works for an environmental engineering services company and manages soil and groundwater pollution cleanup projects.

But as a college student studying for a geology degree at Dickinson College in Carlyle, PA, he worked on a study of barrier beach erosion in Delaware.

He has lived in Stratford for eight years.

Zbell thinks the commission got off to a good start at its . He is interested in what the other members will bring to the table at the next meeting, when they present their ideas for how to use Long Beach West.

"I think it’s a treasure of the town of Stratford, as is the Great Marsh. The two go hand in hand," he said.