I n response to a recent letter to the editor (“It Is Time to Pave Harmony Hill Road,” Examiner, Sept. 25, 2014), which responded to a letter I had written, I am writing to “clear up” inaccuracies in the letter.
In reference to the petition to pave Harmony Hill Road in Upper Freehold Township, I quote, “every other property owner supports it.” This is not true. Four property owners on Harmony Hill Road did not sign the petition.
The letter states that “the road, as it exists, is not wide enough for firetrucks or school buses.” I drove a school bus for many years, keeping the school bus on my property when not in use. I never had a problem negotiating the road. As with many roads in Upper Freehold, children are picked up by the bus at the entrance to their road. The bus does not necessarily go down the road.
“Not wide enough for fire trucks.” There have been numerous times over the years when firetrucks and ambulances have had to access Harmony Hill Road. This has never been an issue. The snowstorm the week after superstorm Sandy caused a need for a firetruck at my own residence. The firetruck arrived in a speedy and efficient manner, and the width of the road did not impede the truck in any way. My supposed focus on the “bothersome” dirt on cars and in our homes. If you read the petition, it specifically states “the dust in and on our homes” as a reason to pave the road.
As far as me implying the neighbors are attempting to destroy the rural nature of Upper Freehold, read the Country Code adopted by Upper Freehold Township and available on their website. It states that one should not “expect perfectly paved roads,” among other things, to keep an area rural. It does mention that due to the increase in traffic, some roads require extra maintenance, but Harmony Hill Road is, I quote, “a deadend street” with “zero increase in traffic.”
Finally, in reference to my mention of the lyrics, “they paved paradise/put up a parking lot,” I stated in my letter that this was a reference to the demise of nature due to human intervention. The lyrics are only a metaphor, and to think otherwise is ludicrous.
In conclusion, I would just like to thank the Upper Freehold Township Maintenance Department for maintaining Harmony Hill Road. Our road is in better shape now than it has ever been.
Arlene Johnson
Upper Freehold Township