Resident doesn't want a warehouse legacy

In December 2005, members of the Upper Freehold Township Committee signed a "letter of agreement" between our township and the Rockefeller Group. This document fills out the fine details of who will build the 1.8 million square-foot warehouses on Breza Road, who posts bonds, signs off on the plans, plows the streets, services the water treatment plant, pays for insurance, etc. A formidable "letter of agreement," yet fatally flawed. Flawed in its lack of details - its legacy of details, which it utterly fails to address.

What the letter does not address is that Upper Freehold residents will see their taxes go up because the Rockefeller Group was permitted to build and operate this huge industrial warehouse complex on the edge of historic Allentown. This tax increase legacy, which the Rockefeller Group is giving to Upper Freehold, is not mentioned once in the signed "letter of agreement". It does not describe the legacy of increased crime associated with warehouses and that taxes will increase to fund a new police force needed to deal with that crime. The letter does not list the increases to our taxes to buy and house a larger fire truck to service 48-foot high warehouses.

The letter does not mention the legacy of heavy truck traffic, gridlock clogging our rural roads, flooding due to huge paved regions and creek-fouling pollution from oily runoff. The letter does not detail light pollution from the warehouse site. It does not address the 24/7 noise pollution from 18-wheel trucks as they back up "beep - beep - beeping" to load and unload 365 days a year. An amazing lack of details.

The "letter of agreement" does not mention the bad relations created between Upper Freehold and Allentown neighbors because of this warehouse proposal. It does not detail the insult to Allentown even though it implies, "Congratulations Allentown on your 300th anniversary - here, enjoy these warehouses in celebration..." This is an insult!

Some legacy, huh?

Should residents of Allentown and Upper Freehold sit back and hope this goes away? NO! Call and write our local elected officials. Tell them you want leadership to stop this massive industrial warehouse proposal poised on the doorstep of Allentown and to prevent similar future proposals. The township office phone number is 609-758-7738; the e-mail addresses for the township committee and planning board are Committee@uftnj.com and landuseuftNJ@optonline.net

If you are an Upper Freehold resident sickened by the prospect of your taxes going up to subsidize multi-national corporations, disgusted by problems the warehouses will cause and concerned about the impact on our Allentown neighbors, consider who you vote for in upcoming elections. Attend public meetings, find out what's going on in your township and voice your concerns. Remember, our elected officials are there to consider the citizens' legacy, not the legacy of huge firms like the Rockefeller Group. We the people did not agree to their "letter of agreement!" Let your voice be heard. Let that be our legacy.

John Aniano

Upper Freehold