ATTENTION: Legislators of district 14, including Mayor Jeff Martin, Town Council, Assembly reps Tennille McCoy and Wayne DeAngelo, Senator Linda Greenstein, County Executive Dan Benson, & County Commissioners...

In Hamilton, "protected" land may not be protected afterall!

If our lawmakers rezone, and beautiful Back Creek Farm becomes a warehouse, who's to say that Kuser Woods isn't next? What does "protected" even mean in Hamilton? Is it temporary? Is it preserved until someone wants to profit? These are important questions.

We are the concerned residents, employed and visitors of Hamilton Township who support the purpose of protecting valuable land. Roughly 5,100 acres on the southeastern side of Route 130 (RRC zone) are sensitive, pristine and rural, with open fields, lush woodlands, clear flowing streams, habitat for rare species and small family farms with historic homes. An important part of this "protected" RRC is in danger of being rezoned to commercial. If this happens, where will it end?

We oppose any variance or rezoning that threatens to permit urbanization that would disrupt the connectivity between open spaces. That would drive wildlife from their natural habitat. Intensive and intrusive development will degrade and ruin this area via the glut of vacant warehouses and increasing commercialization throughout the township. Development of any kind here, makes absolutely no sense - thus the name, RURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION ZONE.

In 2009, this expanse of land officially became a "protected" RRC zone. The purpose was intended, "...to better promote the township's resource conservation objectives and help preserve large continuous undeveloped areas..." It goes on to say "...to prevent suburban sprawl and to retain large contiguous areas of farmland and other open lands." It comports with the state development and redevelopment plan (SDRP). It elaborates, "Whereas: The intent of the MLUL (municipal land use law), Hamilton Township's master plan and the SDRP are substantially advanced by the RRC district and the patterns of development it promotes and, Whereas: The RRC district advances Township goals to retain farmland, woodlands, environmentally sensitive areas, wildlife habitat areas and other open lands as a byproduct of development." (Ad nauseam use of "whereas" edited out for your reading pleasure).

Reference: Resolution RRC 3-26-09 We must protect this land with every resource available to us.

Why is this important?

We need the community to be aware of what's happening around them. Notice how fast developments seem to pop up overnight? That's what happens when residents are not involved in the legislative process. There will be regional impacts by the fragmentation and disruption of wildlife habitats that are connected through open spaces and farmland. Let's make "protected" permanent. Unbreakable by greed.