Appreciation
for snow help
To the editor:
We park our cars at the street end of the driveway when snow threatens so as to minimize the work needed to get them out. Nevertheless, the wall thrown up by the snow plows often needs to be shoveled out before we have access to the road.
This morning, not long after we began what would have been an hour-long job for us, a township pickup truck with plow attached came by. The driver asked if we would like help of course we did. He had most of the barrier removed in short order and went on to look for others in need. I’m sure not every town provides such a service. This is a great place to live.
Jerry Avins
Kendall Park
‘Y’ offers thanks
for Santa event
To the editor:
On Sunday, Dec. 18, the South Brunswick Family YMCA hosted "A Day with Santa." More than 200 people participated in family swim, a picture with Santa, breakfast, bingo, face painting and crafts. We also had a surprise visit from Mickey Mouse.
"A Day with Santa" has become an annual event at the South Brunswick Family YMCA and is made possible through the generous donations of many local businesses including Dunkin’ Donuts, Theo’s, Wawa of Dayton, McDonald’s, Super Stop & Shop, Wegman’s, Whole Foods Market and Pierre’s. Guests were able to choose from a variety of breakfast sandwiches, eggs, sausages, pancakes, fresh fruit, bagels, donuts, juices and coffee.
A special thanks to all those involved that made the event a success, especially YMCA staff members Mary Powers, Eddie Heyburn and Ana Paranjpe. The pancakes and sausage were courtesy of the early morning cooking of Dennis Powers.
Tom Libassi
Executive Director
South Brunswick
Family YMCA
Monmouth Junction
Systematic
destruction
To the editor:
The Planning Board’s approval of a Wawa and gas station at the intersection of Deans-Rhode Hall Road and Cranbury South River Road is one more underscore to the township’s systematic destruction of a way of life for longtime residents in the immediate area.
Despite the protests of residents and even some members of the board itself who expressed serious concerns about the traffic impact of the development, five members of the board almost gleefully supported the project, even though they admitted they didn’t drink Wawa’s acclaimed coffee. The pleasant camaraderie between board members and the developers struck another sour note to local residents who have grown weary of trying to inject reason and temperance into development plans in the area.
Warehouses abound adjacent to residential homes, and that was the very situation which led to the Wawa. Nearly ten years ago, I was involved in a desperate effort by homeowners who needed to find a way to get out of their houses without financial loss as the warehouse juggernaut came down upon them. The result was a special commercial zone in the industrial/residential area encouraging low impact commercial development that could comfortably and unobtrusively fit into the residential lots. There were strict rules on buffers, setbacks, parking and signage, all designed to keep the commercial developers from overbearing projects.
Original intent, however, soon fell victim to interpretations of the zone added by the Master Plan. Trying to find a justification for a brand new zone invented for specific lots in a larger zone a zoning blunder akin to spot zoning the Master Planners decided the commercial projects’ intent was to serve the workers and drivers who frequented the area rather than to benefit the residents of the township. All this was a far cry from trying to protect residents whose houses lay in the shadows of warehouse walls.
Wawa’s application now fit the criteria of the zone.
No matter that the intersection is one of the worst in the township. No matter that the developer never quite managed to satisfy either the board or residents that tractor-trailers would not overwhelm local streets as drivers stopped in for coffee and sandwiches. No matter that the developer had to ask for numerous variances because his project just didn’t quite suit the zone restrictions. No matter that some 3,000 or so feet south, another gas station was already under construction, defying the spirit of a township ordinance limiting the distance between gas stations to 5,000 feet. No matter at all.
WaWa’s coffee and the tax money the store would generate were far more important than safety, traffic, zoning laws, and even a township ordinance.
But the board’s cavalier attitude of approval was only echo of the general sense of respect for the developers’ desires over citizen concerns. It seems, in South Brunswick, that no matter how hard they try, residents voices are never the last word. Sometimes, they even find it hard to get in the first word.
After sitting for over two hours taking notes and listening to the developers’ witnesses make claims I disputed, the hearing finally opened to the public. Well, sort of. Unlike the developer, whose comments go unchallenged throughout most of his testimony, residents find themselves challenged, answered and contradicted nearly every step of the way by both the developer’s witnesses and board members themselves. I was told to move my comments along and not repeat any information already discussed during the hearing because, after all, "It is getting late." Mr. Southwick, the board’s chairman, seems to feel that developers can take all evening to make a point while residents wait to be heard, but when the shoe is on the other foot, time is of the essence. Debra Johnson, a board member, argued with him on this point, but he said it was his duty to run the meeting as he saw fit. It’s pretty clear his vision does not include the concerns, input, or opinions of the public.
Somehow, a lifetime of living in the area impacted by the development does not qualify any resident to know what he or she is talking about, so why bother listening?
By the time the public portion was over, I did manage to have most of my say, mostly because I have grown so weary of being bullied by such tactics, that I argued my way right back. Learning not to be intimidated in public is another skill residents need to hone if they want to have their say in South Brunswick. Otherwise, someone sitting up front at the dais will certainly find a way to shut them out.
But, even at the voting, residents had to endure a lecture on zoning from the mayor, who also sits as a board member. I would guess the lecture on just what that darn zoning ordinance was all about was for my benefit. However, I have read the Master Plan myself, and since I was very involved in the original crafting of the zone, there really was no need. I know the rules of the game.
How sad to see our township representatives cater to developers while making our residents feel second class. Our mayor opposed a recent ordinance requiring developers to post information about their projects on onsite signs because, "There are always people all over town who are against any type of development, and I see it as an opportunity to slow the whole process down, where you’re there answering questions from residents who don’t have any particular concerns because the application isn’t even close to their house."
Well, Mr. Mayor, you are right. The Wawa isn’t close to my house it’s nearly a mile away. So are all the warehouses. But the trucks that rumble past my front door twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, seem awfully close, and they weren’t there before the warehouses came. And I suppose all the cars heading for Wawa won’t pass my house either. If I can manage to continue to avoid that intersection for the rest of my life, as I’ve been doing nearly every morning for the last two years, perhaps the Wawa is far enough away. I’ll need to find some new routes to get to the east, of course, but in a township that really doesn’t care what its residents think, that matters little.
As I watch acres of farmland fall to warehouses and Wawa’s, I keep wondering what it would be like if residents were cherished as much as developers. It’s just a dream, I know, but in it, I can actually see the stars at night instead of parking lot lights.
Jean Dvorak
South Brunswick
Trust fund
needs help
To the editor:
The township Department of Parks and Recreation is raising funds for their Human Intervention Trust Fund. The funds they receive are used to supply their pantry during the year for families in need, as well as for emergencies such as rent/PSEG bills. They help an average of 30 families per month in the Food Pantry and an average of 10 families per month with emergencies. During the holidays they help an average of 200 families.
Given the increase in energy costs, they anticipate that many more people in the township will need assistance. They normally collect around $25,000 which they use throughout the year to help families in need. So far this year they have received less and they are concerned that they will have to turn people away due to a lack of funds. The deficiency in donations is likely due to the many natural disasters that have occurred this year, and understandably people have given donations to these relief efforts.
However, there are many people right here in our own community that are greatly in need.
My wife Debbie and I, members of the Social Services Advisory Council, have always given to the Food Pantry. I mention that only so that you will understand we are not asking you to do something that we have not done ourselves. Any donation you can make will be greatly appreciated. Check contributions should be made payable to the Human Intervention Trust Fund (South Brunswick Township). Please mail to South Brunswick Township, PO Box 190, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852. Attention: LouAnne Wolf.
Arthur A. Roedel, Jr
President
Monmouth Mobile
Home Park
Monmouth Junction
Remember
to recycle
To the editor:
During this busy time of year many people are not thinking about recycling, but maybe they should. Parties and celebrations, complete with wrapped gifts, are a perfect opportunity to increase recycling efforts.
It is very easy in South Brunswick to recycle shipping boxes, packing paper, non-metallic wrapping paper, gift boxes, tissue paper and even holiday cards. It is just a matter of keeping ribbons and bows separate from paper items.
The unwanted wrapping items can be recycled by placing it in a box or brown paper bag (just no plastic bags) and placed out for normal recycling as would be done at any other time of year.
Christmas trees (no ornaments, tinsel, plastic bags, stands) are collected for recycling by the Public Works Department between Jan. 2 and 16. Just place the tree at the curb of single family homes or outside the most convenient trash bin enclosure of multi-family homes.
Remember, you have given, now give back. Recycle!
Nancy Paquette
Recycling Coordinator
South Brunswick
llogical outcome
at Planning Board
To the editor:
It is just another story of another tragedy of poor planning. Another gas station and another convenience store in one of the worst traffic areas in South Brunswick. Another lesson to be learned about zoning changes and how quickly an area can be devastated. Another meeting in which the developers are treated with utmost respect and concerned citizens are not. Real problems are smoothed-over by slick "professionals" that prostitute themselves and tell untruths. Real problems are not solved with common sense but by a scaling ruler, calculator, and some idiots counting cars for a traffic survey. People are paid to say the "right" things while the truth is cast away like yesterday’s trash. Yeah, just another evening at the "Ol’ Municipal Building."
I have much respect for those who voted their conscience and let common sense prevail. These are the true public servants that make sure that citizens don’t suffer the full brunt of planning gone bad. It is unfortunate that they are not in the majority. I might add that people appointed to positions on our boards that don’t respect the average citizen should be removed from their position at once. Who are you to disrespect the public?
The most absurd thing that happened at this Planning Board meeting is that the board attorney interpreted a South Brunswick ordinance against the original intention of that ordinance. The ordinance, brought up by a concerned citizen, states that another gas station cannot be built within 5,000 feet of a gas station. One was already approved at that horror of an intersection of Route 522 and Cranbury-South River Road and this new one is only about 3,000 feet from the first approval.
The intent of the ordinance is to spread stations out and not have them built on top of one another. There are probably safety concerns along with this logical planning.
However, the zoning board attorney interpreted the ordinance a different way. One is being built in a different zone, therefore 5,000 feet shouldn’t be a consideration.
It doesn’t mean anything that both will be located on perhaps the two worst intersections in South Brunswick. Our own law is ignored.
The public was assured that this lawyer is a "good guy" and seems to know what he is doing. The Planning Board chairman said so and so did the Planning Board attorney. No more discussion? Not even a "we will check it out further?" Can this really be how things actually work in South Brunswick? We ignore one of our own laws for just another developer?
As members were giving their final comments, one commented about the taxes to be collected in lieu of the farm taxes. I could only wonder what this person voted on by his own house. It’s easy to vote for this over here, wasn’t it? Stormwater? Not a problem. After all, the Prologis warehouse people had a gigantic pipe put under Cranbury Road. This gas station will just add to it. Just follow the "yellow-brick drainage ditch" to the Jamesburg Park, a publicly owned preserve. So just another planning approval. More traffic chaos. More storm water draining into public parks. Another rich man walks away smiling. The average citizen hoping for justice doesn’t get it once more. Same old, same old. For the rest of you South Brunswick citizens, never allow a zoning change in your neighborhoods. Now we have another gas station and a Wawa to compliment the warehouse wasteland.
William P. Klimowicz
South Brunswick
Assemblywoman
offers gratitude
To the editor:
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who supported me during my recent re-election to the state Assembly.
While there were many campaign staffers, local and county officials, and volunteers throughout the 14th District who played a vital role, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my constituents. It is you who always remind me of why I entered politics in the first place to serve the people.
And as my fourth-term gets underway, I intend to continue the work I started in 2000. The issue of property tax reform remains at the forefront, and I will continue to push for a citizens convention and a special legislative session in order to make the voices of my constituents heard loud and clear. Working with the new Corzine administration, I believe this is a task we’ll finally accomplish.
I will continue to go to bat for seniors. And of course I’ll remain a strong advocate of ethics reform and restoring citizens’ faith in government.
I want to commend my fine running mate Dan Benson and my opponent Mike Paquette. Congratulations to Bill Baroni upon his re-election; I look forward to working with him in the coming years.
There is a lot of work to be done this term, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves. And as I do so, I am grateful to know I have the support of the constituents of the 14th legislative district.
Linda Greenstein
Assemblywoman
District 14
Monroe
