To the Editor:
Concerns are mounting regarding the development of Cape May County, specifically Middle Township. With over a thousand approved residential units already, questions should arise about site developments. The more recent developments have seen clear-cutting and building practices parting ways with older developments, which preserved the roadways and homesites within the forests, leaving mature trees that benefit rainwater retention, wind blockage, habitat and more.
There needs to be deeper studies into our aquifers. What strain will all these units put on our drinking water, especially with recent droughts? Even areas as far inland as Philadelphia were at risk of saltwater intrusion. The development of Del Haven recently had to switch to city water due to failing wells.
We need to remind ourselves that we are a peninsula with limited space on high ground, and we must realize what we are building and its impact. The rise of second homeowners and rental owners has pushed our local communities into a decline, without an influx of youth being able to establish themselves in the community.
The death of community and locals will sterilize this area, which is the reason people visit. The roadways are insufficient to handle much more traffic. We have three main north-to-south roadways, which are jam-packed in the summer, experiencing a level of business I have never seen in my lifetime.
More housing equals more cars, with most homeowners having at least two vehicles on the roadway. With Route 47 and Route 9 not in a position to expand or widen, it will become a burden on daily life. Just take a trip across the ferry to Delaware and see the strain on the road systems, where they had much more open space to widen their roads to four lanes.
The school system seems to be at capacity already, with a special vote this year for expansion.
The last point I’ll make is about the state’s aggressive flood proposals. There is an obvious need to look toward the future, and they are taking an extremely aggressive stance that will hinder development, but there is merit to the point. However, decisions should be more localized or regionalized rather than based on a broad state mandate, which goes hand-in-hand with the low-income housing.
We should be looking at the few sites that are left for development, with easy access to water and sewer systems, to have the highest manageable density possible. Most of these sites are already disturbed areas that need redevelopment. The more raw tracts of land shouldn’t be switched to redevelopment areas that don’t have immediate water and sewer access. They should be kept with guidance from the master plan, maintaining open spaces with 1-acre to 3.5-acre lots with well and septic systems.
Instead of focusing on second homeowners, we should prioritize workforce housing. Develop a standard of living that has never been seen in the area – enable people to afford the American Dream – and you will see the community grow rapidly by giving the working class somewhere to live, save and then upgrade.
