O.B. mayor's words, actions make for confusing message

I don't know about the average resident of Old Bridge, but when I read the article titled "Old Bridge Officials Talk Goals for 2007" in the Jan. 5 issue of the Suburban, I found myself very confused with Mayor Jim Phillips' position on the overdevelopment issue.

I support the mayor when he states, "We're going to use every tool at our disposal to control development." However, if that is the message he is trying to give the residents of Old Bridge, then why does he support and encourage the sale of 500 acres of township property to developers?

Mayor Phillips points out in the article that the township is considering an offer from the Lennar Corp. of Freehold to build 68 housing units on township-owned property. This offer is just the beginning of a plan to develop 500 acres of township land in the area of routes 9 and 18. In fact, township officials have prepared a plan that allows for the construction of 850-1,000 housing units on this property.

Mayor Phillips is also quoted as saying, "The whole purpose is to bring ratables to the town." This is where I get confused. How can the mayor say that he wants to control development and then tell the residents that allowing housing to be constructed on township property will lower taxes?

The mayor defends his position on the sale of township land by indicating that the average taxpayer would have saved $150 in taxes the past year. The savings would have resulted from Lennar's offer of $3.5 million for a portion of the 500 acres that the township owns.

That may be true, but the example that the mayor uses fails to mention that the sale of the property is a one-shot revenue that is used only once in the township's budget. Unless the mayor can find another $3.5 million in revenue the following year, taxes would have to be increased. He also fails to mention the infrastructure improvements such as roads, and the resources such as fire and police that would be necessary because of the development of the 500 acres of township land.

I'm not confused on the overdevelopment issue. I don't believe that the township should sell township-owned land to developers to build houses, and I don't believe that adding new homes in town provides tax relief. I will also gladly give up my one-shot $150 tax reduction to preserve the 500 acres of rural area that exists in south Old Bridge.

Richard Greene

member

Old Bridge Township Council