By the mid-2000s, the project was stagnant. However, hope was reignited when environmental consultant James C. McCulley IV, a professional wetland scientist, was brought on board. McCulley had extensive experience navigating the complexities of environmental regulations, and he quickly recognized that the only path forward was to avoid traditional methods altogether. Instead of proposing a standard road, McCulley suggested a groundbreaking alternative—building the road on pilings.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ regulations had a unique clause: while they heavily regulated fill material in wetlands, the placement of pilings was largely unregulated, as long as it didn’t have the same environmental impact as fill. This opened up a new possibility for the Breakwater Beach project. If the team could prove that the construction method using pilings wouldn’t disrupt the wetlands in the same way as fill, they might finally be able to secure the necessary permits.

This was far from a simple task. Over the next decade, McCulley and his team, including the experts at YBC, gathered extensive data and conducted detailed studies to demonstrate that their proposed solution would have minimal impact on the wetlands. These studies were submitted to various regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Transportation. Each agency had to be convinced that this innovative approach would work.

Finally, after 12 long years of research, negotiations, and revisions, the permits were approved. It was a monumental victory for the developer, who had spent over 30 years trying to make these oceanfront lots accessible. During this time, the property values had skyrocketed, making the successful completion of the project even more significant.