State forcing Middletown to urbanize
In a recent letter about the development at Harmony Road and Route 35, the writer suggested that a moratorium be put on all development in the township. Unfortunately, this would be illegal and unconstitutional. What is more disheartening is that 20 percent of the units being built are lowincome housing which is the driving force behind these types of developments.

This state program is forcing towns like Middletown to create dense developments to comply with the enormous number of low-income units that the state orders the township to build. So while local officials try to buy up open space with the limited amount of funds available, the state is forcing Middletown to urbanize and create housing in response to a court order. While Mayor Scharfenberger has been an outspoken critic of the program - citing the tremendous cost to taxpayers and negative effect on our open space - there is little we residents can do until Gov. Corzine ends the destructive policy and leaves decisions on future development in the hands of those who actually live in Middletown.

I think we all agree that what Middletown needs to maintain its high quality of life is more open space, not more state-mandated, urban-like housing developments.

Tristan Nelsen Leonardo section

of Middletown