Your Turn

I was surprised and disgusted to receive a copy of Leigh Realty’s application for stream encroachment and transition area waiver permits. Approval of this application will help them move forward with a plan to construct the Jackson Common, "a commercial/retail business campus, on a 330.39-acre tract in north-central Jackson. The proposed project contains 39 buildings, which would provide 1,746,244 square feet of office and retail space."

I am also deeply concerned and frustrated over the recent actions taken and not taken in attempt to have this Jackson Common built. There has been virtually no consideration or action given to the negative environmental impact, not to mention quality of life concerns and severe flood conditions prevalent in the area they wish to build upon.

Why would the Township Committee even consider putting such a colossal amount of brick and mortar onto these sensitive and pristine wetlands? This area houses the headwaters of the Metedeconk River and is slated for C-1 designation. Leigh Realty has held these local permits for over 20 years. Now, it appears they are trying to beat the clock and rush this through before the C-1 takes affect, and thus impacts what can and can’t be done to this property. The majority of the committee is proudly helping them.

The C-1 has raised so much hope for the residents of Jackson to take care of our water ... yet the current governing officials are making the fight for reduced 300-foot buffers a priority. What do we have to fall back on if they get this buffer reduced and simultaneously al-low our environ-mentally sensitive land to be built on?

Our current officials continue to blame today’s problems on past legislation. And this means what to us? They have carte blanche to go ahead with any sort of proposed development just because the other towns did it? This "me too" attitude is simply unacceptable and this sleight of hand isn’t fooling anyone.

You can’t ignore the environ-mental impact of development. It is a significant concern when you are talking about our present and future drinking water supply and quality of life. By supporting this waiver, our officials would be setting a negative precedent for Jackson and the future, and opening the floodgates of irresponsible development.

Lori Neuman is a resident of Jackson.