Letters

I am not looking for sympathy, but I am insulted by the comments of an individual as uninformed as Ms. Gina Gerard in her July 16 letter to the Atlanticville.

Let’s get the facts straight — you say we "chose to be ‘too busy’ to get involved in local issues and attend town meetings." To make my point, let’s consider the land on the corner of Deal Road and Route 35. From the beginning, the town made little or no effort to inform its residents of meetings being held before the parcel was rezoned from residential to commercial. Those of us who attended the January 2000 rezoning meeting and opposed the rezoning were informed we would have ample time to comment on any projects that would be forthcoming.

Years later, now that the property has been rezoned, sold, and there is a project pending approval from the township Planning Board, we are now getting the opportunity to comment. But since January 2003 — when we were informed that the proposed project would be a massive strip mall known as Ocean Gate Commons — many residents have been actively involved. Our first opportunity to be heard on the project that was the best kept secret of Ocean Township was nearly two years after the rezoning and sale of the property.

You say we should "[...] listen to the advantages to having a new su­per­market and upscale retail stores brought to Ocean Township." I see many detriments to the residents of Ocean Township from the proposed Ocean Gate Commons such as in­creased traffic congestion; safety con­cerns; environmental issues such as noise, light, and air pollution, lit­ter, and water runoff/drainage; dis­placed wildlife; and unnecessary and poten­tially vacant retail space. Furthermore — tell me, Ms. Gerard — when have you seen an upscale re­tail establish­ment occupy a mall with a supermar­ket as its anchor?

You say, "Rezoning the tract of land back to residential will only bring in a giant apartment complex." Of the possible options, a giant apartment complex was never con­sidered as a vi­able alternative. As an extension of the beautiful Joe Palaia Park, open space is considered by many to be the most desirable option. The informed resi­dents of Ocean Township think that ob­taining Green Acres funding is a re­source that should be explored to its fullest po­tential and want to preserve the quality of life that is the attraction to living in this wonderful commu­nity.

In short, this is not an experiment. We cannot build a megamall in a res­idential area and then decide it was a bad idea. This time, let us use discre­tion and preserve this open space to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Alan Smedes

Ocean Township