Otken farm should be used as senior complex

I have read in newspapers that North Brunswick Township will seize the 105-acre Otken farm off Old Georges Road for open-space needs.

I believe this intended use is wrong. A better use would be to create a senior citizens community. To not even consider such a project is a slap in the face to the many senior citizens who have given North Brunswick their labor and sweat for many years. It is these people who are most threatened by relocation forced by higher taxes.

A senior citizen community made up of single-family homes for people 55 and older would offer residents lower rates, while producing revenue for North Brunswick. This, in turn, would help reduce future tax hikes for homeowners.

This becomes very important when considering the plan to build an 80,000-square-foot addition to the high school. Where is all the money to pay for that addition coming from? State and federal funds will not cover the entire cost. We, the taxpayers, will have to foot much of the bill for this necessary project, as well as others geared to keeping our schools top-notch. The ratables from a retirement village would help offset the addition to the high school that will come.

In addition, there are other options. The township currently owns two very large tracts of land that could be considered for open space. One is near Hidden Lake and the other is near Farrington Lake. Interestingly, the Farrington Lake parcel did have baseball diamonds from around 1940-1970. What happened to make the diamonds vanish? Maybe these should be looked into.

I ask township leaders to go back and give the people who have lived here and want to stay here what they want most: affordable, clean and safe housing. Contrary to political rhetoric, our senior citizens want to stay in North Brunswick. They do not wish to relocate.

On Sept. 10, state Superior Court Judge James Hurley is supposed to rule on the Otken farm proposal. I hope he considers this option as well.

Gail Razzano

North Brunswick