Regarding “Open Space efforts benefit New Jersey. We have to keep going,” NorthJersey.com, Nov. 21:
Late last year, state Sen. Bob Smith and former state Sen. Kip Bateman authored an op-ed titled, “Open Space Efforts Benefit New Jersey. We have to keep going.” We write this letter in concurrence with the positions stated in the recent editorial. Preserving open space is extremely important for the well-being and quality of life of our residents. It can help stop overdevelopment, mitigate flooding and protect the environment. We are fully committed to supporting state-level efforts to aid its municipalities and preserve open space.
Smith, a Democrat, and former Bateman, a Republican, demonstrate how both sides of the aisle can unite to preserve New Jersey’s open space. State-funded programs like Green Acres, Blue Acres and the Historic Preservation Trust give municipalities the resources to purchase properties and protect open space. However, the current policies put in place by the Democratic Legislative Majority and Gov. Phil Murphy do the exact opposite of preservation. They encourage municipalities to remove trees and green spaces to meet the unrealistic obligations put in place by A-4/S-50 and the current fair share housing mandates. How can we begin to preserve land when every single parcel of land available has been converted into high-density housing units?
Municipalities have gone through three rounds of state-mandated housing requirements whereas thousands of units have already been built across the state. In 2025, New Jersey will initiate its fourth round of state-mandated housing obligations. Under the fourth round, which accounts for the years 2025-2035, municipalities will have to further comply with requirements dictated by the state.
For example, in the fourth round, the suburban towns of Wayne Township in Passaic County could be expected to build an additional 5,000 units, Franklin Lakes Borough in Bergen County may see the construction of 2,000 new units, and Fairfield Township in Essex County could be on the hook to build 2,200 new units to meet the state’s housing mandates. Every town in the 40th Legislative District will see an increase in housing requirements. Anyone who lives in — and is familiar with — the suburban municipalities of the 40th District knows these towns cannot meet these demands without massive developments coming to their communities, which remove hundreds of trees and destroy green spaces.
We constantly hear how important it is to build housing for our residents — especially for our younger populations. New Jersey consistently ranks as one of the most expensive states to live in and it is important that housing is affordable. However, building massive housing complexes on all available land is not the way to go. It is almost impossible to ask towns to preserve open space and build thousands of housing units at the same time. Proponents of New Jersey’s state-mandated housing law ignore the negative effects the construction of these developments has on the environment, essential infrastructure, school population, law enforcement, traffic and the overdevelopment of our state.
Let’s figure out how to provide more housing while also being mindful of our environment and overdevelopment. Under our current system, New Jersey communities will be decimated by overdevelopment, and we will have very little open space left to preserve.
State Sen. Kristin Corrado represents New Jersey’s 40th Legislative District.
