North Brunswick mayor, council should rethink Pulda farm rezoning issue

Last week’s Planning Board decision virtually paved the way for our mayor and council to rezone the Pulda farm to a planned adult community development. Currently, as we all know, the land under the master plan is zoned for single-family homes or farmland.

The impending move to rezone this property to another high-density housing unit is both a mistake and ill-conceived.

First of all, North Brunswick, during the years, has welcomed too many high-density communities within its borders. The apartment complexes, townhouse developments and the ultimate 10,000-pound gorilla called Renaissance have mushroomed our town’s population to close to the 40,000 mark. Regardless of the reasons, this town cannot handle another development that will bring in 500-plus people in one swoop.

There is a reason there is a master plan. This is supposed to be a well-thought-out direction in which one’s town should travel when development is an issue. The plan should leave very little room for variances and alterations once put in place. Developer’s pressures and contract negotiations do not create the right environment for the adjustment and alteration of a plan that will affect our community for years to come. The plan offers a guide and a path for development — it should be followed. Making a change to create another high-density development will only serve the interests of the few while the rest of us suffer through more traffic and visual sprawl.

Our basic civics lessons have taught us a government derives its power from the people in which it governs. Seven hundred and fifty signatures on a petition are saying that right now.

Before this issue goes to a vote next month, I strongly urge the mayor and council to consider how this will affect our town. I believe the people have the answer.

Michael Lavroff

North Brunswick