Board member's math just doesn't add up

In a letter to the editor ("Boards Hear Residents, Strive to Curb Residential Development") in the Jan. 25 issue of the Suburban, Larry Redmond, chairman of the Old Bridge Planning Board, stated, "In fact, only 24 new homes were approved by both the Zoning and Planning boards combined in 2006."

Welcome to the start of election year 2007, folks. Mr. Redmond's letter was an obvious attempt to distort the truth on his and Mayor Jim Phillips' position on the overdevelopment issue in Old Bridge.

Mr. Redmond, however, fails to mention that as soon as Mayor Phillips and his "Team Old Bridge" were elected, they proposed selling 500 acres of township land to developers. Mayor Phillips' plan calls for the addition of 850 new homes. I guess Mr. Redmond doesn't count the new homes in this project because Mayor Phillips calls the plan tax relief.

Mr. Redmond also forgot to mention that, as chairman of the Old Bridge Planning Board, he voted to approve 1,500 new homes near Route 9. The project that is called Oaks at Glenwood also calls for 600,000 square feet of commercial development. Mr. Redmond's approval of the development occurred just one year after Jim Phillips was elected mayor.

I must also remind Mr. Redmond that while Mayor Phillips promotes keeping the Cottrell farm from being developed, he has formally supported a Zoning Board settlement to permit 66 homes on the property that is located on Route 516 and Cottrell Road.

Mr. Redmond concludes his letter with, "We take our responsibility as members of the Zoning and Planning boards seriously and work toward achieving the people's vision for a better Old Bridge." Really? Is that the people's vision, Mr. Redmond, or is it really the developers' vision to line their pockets with Old Bridge tax dollars?

So by my count, Mr. Redmond, you, Mayor Phillips and the Democratic majority on the Township Council are responsible for the 24 homes you admit to, plus the 850 from Crossroads, the 1,500 from Oaks at Glenwood and the 66 from Cottrell farms. The correct math equals 2,440 new homes.

The people of Old Bridge are smarter than that. Quite frankly, it is insulting to try and deflect the pure fact that this current administration has done a lousy job on preserving open space.

Brian Cahill

Old Bridge