A resounding no

By: centraljersey.com
Having attended both ELSA presentations at the high school and the following Township Committee meeting workshop, I – along with the majority of residents – voiced a resounding no to this resurrected issue.
If one were to believe what they read in articles, our southeast quadrant is depicted awash in effluent from failing septic systems and desperately seeking relief and looking forward to that spring-like Trenton water!
Nothing could be farther from reality. Septics do fail, but can be replaced cheaper than what sewers and water would require financially.
In fact, current technology produces better discharge of water to the aquifer from septics. Furthermore, I have yet to hear of a well pipe bursting flooding a neighbor versus a water main vulnerability.
I do not disagree that existing commercial properties around the Route 31 Pennington circle warrant sewers as voiced by owners. As a residential taxpayer, I cannot recoup my initial sewer/water hookup and annual fees as operating expenses as a business does.
One guarantee is that development will occur with sewers along with more traffic, required municipal services, traditional neighbor design and total buildout to Ewing and Lawrence borders.
In closing, I, along with my neighbors, are not willing or able to finance sewers and water to settle lawsuits, COAH numbers and future development of "Lower Hopewell Township,"
Michael T. Serbin Hopewell Township
No fix is needed
To the editor:
This is in response to the following excerpts from the guest opinion in the HVN, Feb. 10:
1. "The crossroads of Main Street and Delaware Avenue have witnessed the growth of Pennington from a Revolutionary-War-era village to a modern town with a beautifully intact historic core.
If Pennington’s historic core has survived beautifully intact for 235 years, what is the basis for this alarmist sentiment that followed in the opinion?
"A variety of forces threatens the unique streetscape and structures within the borough. Teardowns and modern development could easily destroy any one of the historically significant houses or buildings. Once they are gone, they are gone forever."
What is the evidence, even over just the past 60 years, of destruction sufficient to engender such concern? What are these forces? What is the likelihood of such wreckage?
We are to believe that an unspecified variety of forces, never a threat over the past 235 years, is now a hanging sword over Pennington’s "beautifully intact historic core"?
And, accepting this unspecified threat at face value, we should welcome with open arms the establishment of a historic district? And we should so without any consideration of the potential adverse consequences of a change in an unscripted policy, which has worked effectively for 235 years to preserve our historic core?
2. "We believe that a limited and practical historic preservation approach can help preserve and protect the special character of Pennington while encouraging appropriate change, enhancing property values and promoting business in our downtown."
How is the approach limited and practical? The ordinance, for just one example of an "unlimited" approach, provides for future unspecified expansion of the historic district.
What is the definition of "appropriate change?" How does increased regulation and limitation of property owner authority improve property values? How would it promote business in the borough? Is this the only option for minimizing the likelihood of this unspecified potential problem?
3. From the 2003 Streetscape Committee report: "A historic district – would be instrumental in preventing the destruction of (these downtown) historic buildings."
This references the Streetscape Committee’s hypothesis that "developers (may) wish to build drugstores with drive-through windows or chain banks with one size fits all designs."
Where is all this downtown devastation likely to occur? Why would a second bank elect to come into town? Why would another drugstore elect to buy and destroy several downtown buildings in order to build a new facility with a drive-through window?
While that sort of construction has occurred in the relatively open spaces along nearby Route 31, and there is an infrequently used drive-through window for the bank at Main and Delaware, it’s not even remotely likely that Pennington Borough will be the site of any further such construction.
It’s human nature to imagine threats where there are none. Most such threats are without reasonable bases upon close scrutiny, and we refrain from unnecessary action or find a reasonable and nonintrusive low-cost option to give us added comfort.
Almost anything is possible, and we could waste much money and energy in preventive action. The key is to take preventive action when the likelihood of the threat is assessed rationally and accurately as high.
The case for a historic district ordinance has not been made.
It is my hope that the Pennington Borough Council will examine the historic district ordinance proposal with a complete rational, objective process and respond to questions such as mine.
If so, the proposal, I predict, will not bear up to the scrutiny and queries, and, once again, as in the 90s, it will be rejected.
If our historic district has survived 235 years "beautifully intact," it does not need to be fixed.
Murray S. Peyton Pennington
Do the right thing
To the editor:
In honor of our freedom, and the man who led the way to win it for all those who live in America, I would like to quote Gen. George Washington – "Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder."
Mr. Washington knew this back in 1776. It is a shame more people don’t realize it today. Perhaps if that were the case, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes would not have the power he does over our local government.
Mr. Hughes should honor our first president and all of those who fought along with him. Those men fought for freedom, a fresh perspective and a government based on honor and integrity.
Take a step back and re-evaluate what you are about to destroy in the area surrounding the Jacobs Creek bridge. And for whom? Not for the 3,000 local citizens, historians and environmentalists opposed to the project or for the current traffic needs of the area, but for Janssen Pharmaceutica, a Johnson and Johnson company.
Johnson and Johnson wants the certainty of a highway down Bear Tavern Road instead of the possible uncertainty of utilizing the land they have bought accessing Route 29.
On Christmas night 1776, George Washington along with 2,400 of his men and 18 of their cannons braved the uncertainty of the raging Jacobs Creek ravine in order to advance to Trenton and win the battle that changed the course of the Revolution. Had they not, our history may have been very different.
County Executive Hughes – the protection of this bucolic historic landscape is in your hands. Do the right thing. Stop ignoring the residents and the application that is currently being completed for the National Register of Historic Places.
Have some respect for the founders of our country, and don’t sell out to the highest bidder. Janssen can still expand without a new massive highway bridge on a realigned Bear Tavern Road.
A man of virtue would know that a convenience for our corporate neighbor isn’t worth the horrific destruction and safety concerns this project will cause our rural town.
Ashley Kerr Titusville
Bad whining
To the editor:
In recent letters to the editor, Mr. Sandahl, a resident of Hopewell Township and a former member of its council, has whined about Hopewell Borough affairs.
Most recently his whine (bad timing) about the renovation of the former Masonic Hall for future use as the Hopewell Borough Hall reveals that Mr. Sandahl does not know what he is whining about.
Council deliberations to find a suitable location to conduct the business of the borough have gone on for decades. The costs and benefits of building a new structure versus the renovation of an existing space have been thoroughly considered. The decision to renovate proved to be the less costly alternative. And it brings many benefits.
The new location will improve access for Hopewell residents and visitors, especially those who require accommodations due to a disability. The municipal administrator and other borough employees will no longer have to work out of cramped space. Ample parking will be available.
The new town hall will serve as a meeting place for varied community events. Perhaps, most important, the renovated edifice will serve a symbol of a thriving, inclusive community that makes Hopewell Borough one of the most desirable places to live in New Jersey.
The residents of Hopewell Borough deserve a town hall where their concerns are aired, their accomplishments celebrated and where their representatives can conduct the people’s business.
Other comments made by Mr. Sandahl are irrelevant to the Hopewell Borough building issue. His whining no more than provides him an excuse to display his erudition. An erudition best reserved for Hopewell Township affairs.
Stanley J. Vitello Hopewell Borough
Thanks for voting
To the editor:
I would like to just take a moment to thank all of the Hopewell Valley voters who took the time to vote in the fire district elections, which were held Saturday, Feb. 19.
Voters in Pennington Borough, Hopewell Borough and Hopewell Township all approved their respective budgets overwhelmingly.
All of the referendum questions also passed by large margins. This passage will allow for the purchase of much-needed air packs and will provide our firefighters with the very latest in breathing protection.
Again, thank you for supporting our volunteer and professional firefighters and emergency medical technicians and helping to equip them to better serve their communities.
Michael A. Chipowsky chairman Hopewell Township Board of Fire Commissioners
Dinner had support
To the editor:
In regards to our community spaghetti dinner Feb. 12, we thank the entire community for their support.
The donations were much appreciated, and we enjoyed serving each and every person who attended.
The entire $488 profit will go to our mission trips and our community service projects.
We especially thank the 90 people who attended and the generous supermarkets such as ShopRite of Pennington, Pennington Stop and Shop and Pennington Market for their support.
Without everyone’s contributions, this event would not have been possible.
The TGIF Youth Group Pennington United Methodist Church Carla and Rick MacGuigan TGIF advisors Hopewell Township
Kenya changed students
To the editor:
In response to Ms. Courts’ guest opinion in last week’s HVN, we wanted to comment on our experience in Kenya.
We have been changed in ways that are indescribable. We are not the same kids who departed July 16, 2010. Our minds and hearts have been altered.
We acknowledge and are grateful for so many things we took for granted before our trip, most especially our families, education, health and health care, water/electricity and, yes, all of the modern technology and commodities available to us daily.
We came back focused on continuing to make a difference in the lives of the people of Kenya.
We took material gifts to them, but they gave us so much more. They gave us the gift of humility and opened our minds.
We invite everyone in the community to visit our Building Bridges exposition at the Mercer County Public Library on Sunday, Feb. 27, from 3 to 5 p.m. and help us to continue to build bridges.
Olivia Allen junior Ali Valcarcel senior Ellie Yusko senior Central High School Hopewell Township residents