READER’S VOICE: Land swap makes sense

READER’S VOICE By Joe Montanti Swap a sound solution.

   I may not be familiar with all the nuances of the state Green Acres laws, but I do understand that Monroe Township has been at the forefront of preserving open space within Middlesex County for many years.
   It was not the Sierra Club nor the NJ Conservation Foundation nor the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic that fought for the acquisition of 850 acres to be added to Thompson Park. That was a result of the efforts of the Mayor Richard Pucci, the Monroe Township Council and the Middlesex County Freeholders. Nor were they involved with the 1,000 acres of farmland Monroe has preserved nor any of the other numerous tracts of land that have been saved within the township.
   I have championed for the environment for over 30 years and for the past 10 years as a member of the Planning Board, I know I have helped to make a difference for the good of Monroe. I take great exception to Susan Kraham’s comment in the Nov. 12 Cranbury Press, "They’ve allowed land to be overdeveloped and they’ve priced themselves out of the market."
   Perhaps she is not aware of all that Monroe has accomplished in land preservation or of the state Municipal Land Use Laws that tie a township’s hands in limiting development. The lawsuits brought against Monroe by developers when we have attempted to curtail growth may be something she has not heard of either. I’m sure she is not aware of the thousands of acres that were once zoned for ¾-acre lots in Monroe that are now zoned at 6 acres per home. Had she known these things and the overall efforts by Monroe Township to preserve land, maybe she would not be so critical.
   The land swap of 77 acres of habitat-rich stream corridor for 35 acres of Thompson Park land is an environmentally sound choice. Through Monroe Township’s efforts, Thompson Park now contains more than 850 acres than it did just a few years ago. The 35 acres in question are unremarkable grass soccer fields. If the land swap is approved, 77 acres of stream corridor will be added to the county inventory and Monroe Township will create game quality soccer fields on a small part of the 850 acres the township fought so hard to have added to Thompson Park
   The last and maybe the most important item to consider is that if the land swap is not approved then approximately 70 acres of farmland or forest will need to be disturbed for a new high school and athletic fields. If it is approved, then only 35 acres of grass soccer fields will be disturbed. The land swap does not set precedent; it has been done 22 times before. Every case needs to be judged on its own merits. When all the facts are considered, the choice is simple. The true "conservation" plan is for the state to approve the swap.
Joe Montanti is a member of the Monroe Township Environmental Commission.