Opinion: Overdevelopment in Middletown

Joe January 15, 2013 at 11:58 am

Hey Dave, as I said, I'm against this big time. I just want to know, by what legal means are you proposing to stop it? I may not like my neighbor putting an addition on his house, but if he's within the law, how do I stop it? Same thing here. I didn't see your concrete idea to stop it.

Tom January 15, 2013 at 12:08 pm

Joe, why would you not support the right of people less fortunate than yourself the affordability to reside in Middletown?. Why do Republicans always want to keep the poor down, out of the way, under the rug? And whether Mr. Yahn is concerned about his business or the town, should not be your concern. Your concern is to ensure that nobody else gets to share your dream.

Joe Cool January 15, 2013 at 12:22 pm

Low income housing is for low income communities. The people who live in Middletown chose this town because it has a good school sysyem, low crime rate and a positive quality of life. Allowing the schools to become over crowded and adding more traffic to an already congested area is just not a good idea. You democrats just want more bottom feeders in the community so you can get more votes come election time, this is why America is on the fast track to becoming a 3rd world country..thanks alot

shar nav January 15, 2013 at 12:41 pm

Joe Cool I hope your there wed nite, Middletown needs people like you there. People that live in Middletown pay to live here and its not cheap. We live here for a quality of life this would be terrible for traffic, extra 600+ cars , over crowded schools and the list goes on. Isnt there other towns that need housing b/c of Sandy ?--- MT PLANNING BOARD. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF MIDDLETOWN? KEEP MIDDLETOWN A TOWN NOT A CITY..............

Christine Heller January 15, 2013 at 12:54 pm

It is not up to the planning board. People own land. People have the right to sell and debelop it for a profit. You would all change your tune if you were going to benefit financially. I dont want any more whiskey tangoes living here either but you can all thank your obama dems for these low income housing laws.

Donna January 15, 2013 at 01:02 pm

Just what our town needs more cars on the Highway, more kids in the school and more traffic through the neighborhood. WAKE UP MIDDLETOWN! You're ruining our town!

shar nav January 15, 2013 at 01:04 pm

Here's a thought this land was noted as a farm for many many years probably to save the family that owns it a ton of money--now with some sneaky rezoning and loop holes its commerical land--give me a break. Middletown has nothing to gain from this horrible development of conjested housing, except traffic jams, tons of cars, over crowded schools and crime. Middletown people work for what they have and we want to keep it that way.

David C. Long January 15, 2013 at 01:13 pm

Traffic is already horrible in that area. Last thing we need is more houses and people in Middletown.

David C. Long January 15, 2013 at 01:14 pm

Totally agree.

debbie michaels January 15, 2013 at 01:16 pm

You have Middletown won't let the taxpayers rebuild their homes who lost their homes from hurricane Sandy.But Middletown will allow a developer on the other side of highway35 build over 200 town houses. What is wrong with this picture? This town is getting really bad anymore.

jackie January 15, 2013 at 01:36 pm

Listen people. I agree we do not need anymore housing developments in Middletown. The schools are very crowded already and the traffic is horrific. However, let me ask you a question? If Middletown was planning on locating these townhouses once again on the other side of Middletown would you be so concerned?

debbie January 15, 2013 at 02:13 pm

What you all are coming to realize is that the government (be it local, state or federal) can and will do anything it pleases whenever it wants. Did you know the state can buy homes in your area and use it as halfway houses and homes for the mental disabled? There is no zoning that can stop this. But you can be sure none of these things happen anywhere near the wealthier sections of the township. The rich know how to keep out the riff-raff. There must be tax dollars involved here big time. As for city planners they had an empty Steak and Ale with ample parking off of 35 and Sonic gets a permit to build in the Staples parking lot where traffic is already congested? What do you need an 8th grade education to get a job for them?

Tom January 15, 2013 at 02:54 pm

The compassion on this page is overwhelming me. There is obviously no room in Middletown for the unemployed, the disabled, the elderly, the children. You know them, they're the "bottom feeders", the "riff-raff". And not one mention how to use the extra tax dollars to improve Middletown, To accomodate those in need and to welcome those from other areas. The most selfish voices are always the loudest. You make me so proud......

debbie January 15, 2013 at 04:52 pm

Yeah Tom after busting my butt for over 30 years I want someplace nice to come home to. So sue me. I really get ticked at you holier than thou people out there. You shove your ideas of what YOU think is the correct way to be down my throat. If I'm not comfortable with YOUR view of life then I must be a jerk right? And you think you're open minded right? How about being open to people who don't feel comfortable living in a neighborhood where grown men walk out on their front lawns in their underwear because their caretaker could care less if they are in the house or not? Or when they stand there touching themselves because the lady next door is in her bathing suit with her two little kids next to her??? How about that Tom? You okay with that? Oh I should just accept that right because that's why I pay taxes. Quite frankly I don't give a damn if I make you proud or not.

HadEnough January 15, 2013 at 06:38 pm

Tom if you are so concerned with the "poor" people why weren't you at the Planning Board meeting last week when the developer of the 190 home Bamm Hallow project bought out the COAH rights so no low income housing would be built there?
The Taylor Lane project adds 245 new multi-bedroom units doubling the number of homes to the Village neighborhood from Kings Highway to Taylor Lane. Adding 600 new cars will make Cherry Tree Lane a dangerous superhighway.

Tom January 15, 2013 at 11:56 pm

Welcome to Staten Island South, the same mentality of building wherever there is a wooded lot or weedy field, has come to middletown.

Joe January 16, 2013 at 02:07 am

Ever vote for a Democrat? Well this is the world they want to create. You have to work to live in a nice place AND subsidize homes for others. And of course, those who are subsidized will show their appreciation by voting for the Democrats.

Joe January 16, 2013 at 02:08 am

You willing to buy the property? If not, how do you legally stop it?

shar nav January 16, 2013 at 02:38 am

Here's an idea how about keeping in character with Middletown and the neighborhood and building beautiful single family homes .

Carolyn January 16, 2013 at 01:42 pm

The low-income housing is not the point. Over crowding is. Even if there was a luxury condo project the local schools and roads are already way too congested. Village Elementary already has 22-25 kids per class, no library and they dismiss the kids to car riders on a one-at-a-time valet basis because there is no where to park to pick them up. The traffic on Kings Hwy at dismissal time is backed up to 35 on some days and the traffic on Cherry Tree Lane is already too dangerous to let your kids walk home alone. These are the problems that will be escalated by this development.

NJarhead January 16, 2013 at 02:09 pm

Carolyn wrote: "The low-income housing is not the point. Over crowding is." Precisely Carolyn. Some bleeding heart libs want to be appalled by anything they can and will jump at the chance to throw the "less fortunate" in your face, but it's really all about over crowding.
I remember when I was in high school (not all that long ago) and you might be 1 of 4 cars at any light on 35. Now you may very well catch that same light twice!

commonman January 16, 2013 at 03:47 pm

I am all for a special one time tax so the town can buy this property at market rate and leave it as is, build a park, school whatever. This has to be stopped I am willing to put my $$$ where my mouth is , I am guessing 90% of the rational/inteligent/working/tax paying memebers of this town will agree. Whats the price?

commonman January 16, 2013 at 03:56 pm

fyi i do not live anywhere near the area in question. Im just a person who has seen this movie before trust me everyone loses.The property owner is entitled to make a profit BUT the town also has the obligation and the right to protect the town for being overrun or over burdened with congestion. This movie ends with a town full of low income net tax takers with a broke city govt. and a few weathly landowners/developers who DO NOT live in town. Case study Staten Island and many other NJ towns. People please show up it will make a difference and YES i will subsidize the lawsuits and zoning changes just raise my property taxes ur going to anyway at least i will see it spent wisely.

Villagelaneres January 16, 2013 at 05:53 pm

I live in this neighborhood and have my entire life. Nothing good can come of this new development. I dont understand where the kids are going to go to school? Middletown Village is tiny and you want to add in a significant number of children to the classes? And the traffic coming from the south is going to go through Cherry Tree Lane. Ugh I will be there tonight.

commonman January 16, 2013 at 08:58 pm

people of middletown make a stand now U are losing the war it is almost over Staten Island here we come nothing worse than townhomes white ghettos better off with small single family homes if u have to build anything dont say u were not warned

MiddletownResident January 17, 2013 at 02:45 am

we don't need anymore development here...the new sonic is located around a u turn...next thing ya know they are gonna build at street corners anything they can fit there...anything to make a buck...We should pay attention to why Middletown refuses to help the towns hit very hard by Sandy..other towns found ways to help their residents....Middletown needs to wake up big time...shopping loyalty cards seems to be the important subject on the agenda..again cause it will make money

shar nav January 17, 2013 at 12:55 pm

Are'nt we supposed to make our town a better place to live not worse, multi-family dev are terrible (aka..Staten Island/Brooklyn). How and why would you bulid something like this , that the twnhms only cost 200K next to and around a 600K-900K neighborhoods. If anything how about single family homes that pay the same taxes. NJ pays one of the highest taxes in the nation, this should not be aloud. Now that this property isnt a farm (aka loophole) is Middletown collecting its back taxes. LETS KEEP OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. Isn't there other towns that need housing and might welcome something like this? See you at the meeting Feb 20th 630................

Irishgirl January 18, 2013 at 02:53 pm

AMEN!

debbie January 18, 2013 at 03:34 pm

Sha no developer is going to pay for that land without building as many units as he can. It's just business sense. Why should I build ,say, 100 affordable (250-300k) homes on standard lot sizes if I can fit 200 or 300 homes in the same area. There is more profit for me as a builder. All the permits and labor costs that go into building makes it almost impossible to build regular housing these days. That's why you see all the Mcmansions around OR condos. More bang for the buck. Not saying it's right but that's how it's done these days especially in congested areas without a lot of land for sale.

Katnypp January 19, 2013 at 05:21 pm

why can't Middletown just keep it zoned for farming or did I misunderstand how it is zoned? There is a farm there now, can't we keep it one?