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Trust the Judgment of Local Homeowners And Table Proposed McMansions Code

To the Editor:

I believe that the sustained real estate boom that our country and our town have seen in the past several years – coupled with the huge amount of media coverage given to outrageous real estate mania throughout – has fueled much debate on the state of development by both speculative buyers and builders as well as by property owners who previously could never afford to invest the kind of money into their properties until now.

I believe, as does Alan Greenspan, that this huge expenditure on real estate investment will end sooner than many wish. With that change in environment, much of the building the Borough wishes to halt will take care of itself, just by the change in economics.

I also believe that the building of the kinds of homes the Council is trying to regulate against is merely a fad that will also pass in time. I am sure that many of the homes we all now admire so much in Princeton were at one time ridiculed and mocked by neighbors and visitors alike. I am sure that the Council then was aghast at the tastes and sizes of the newer houses of the early 1990s, many of which have been split up, moved or torn down by newer inhabitants. But many of those houses still exist today and are lauded as the proper way a home should look.

The market will sort itself out naturally, and the uptick of these kinds of homes will diminish and/or halt altogether without the intervention of regulations by way of ordinances, etc.

I am concerned about the tax fallout of disallowing increases in home size according to current zoning. These laws have been in effect for some time now, and I truly believe they are reasonable and just. To place caps and parameters on homes of extreme size is a formidable way of trying to sustain good taste on the pockets of our already strapped boro tax base.

I implore you to set aside this ordinance for a few years, and watch the residents of Princeton treat their homes and neighbors with respect and care for each other, not allowing a "few bad apples to spoil the whole bunch." Trusting our great town to our great residents, not just the council voted in to implement it's needs, will always win out over "over regulation."

Please reconsider, or at the least, grossly amend these restrictions. They will benefit all of us from their prudency.

I hope my voice will be heard. Goodness knows my tax bill speaks loudly enough. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

ELISA ROSEN
Springdale Road

Additional Plantings on Library Plaza Livens Downtown with "Joyous Color"

To the Editor:

Downtown Princeton Borough has always done itself proud at Christmastime with decorations in classic style. A few years ago, the creation of the Herban Garden added joyous color and scents to the downtown during the non-winter months, and continues to do so.

The recent addition of the giant planters on the plaza by the Princeton Public Library is another welcome expression of warmth and joy. With these, and the very-recently added floral border along the front, the plaza seems as welcoming as the library itself.

Creating, and especially maintaining, such floral adornments takes a lot of work. Count me among those grateful to the people who brighten our community and our lives with such endeavors.

RITA SALTZ
Humbert Street

Patriot Media Has Raised the Bar For Cable Quality in the Community

To the Editor:

When Princeton's cable TV needs were served by RCN, there were endless complaints (mine included), and when Patriot Media was taking over the franchise, there were a lot of questions.

But I don't recall anyone pointing out how good a job Patriot has done, at least in my opinion.

My writing this letter was provoked by a postcard that I received today from Patriot that informed me that my cable modem's data rate was being upped to 10 megabits/second. I tested it, and lo and behold: it's true. This is probably one of the faster systems in the U.S.

I also enjoy the HDTV channels and the Personal Video recorder. So I felt that someone ought to say publicly that they're doing a good job. We have residential Internet access at speeds that are better than almost anywhere else in the country, a wide line-up of local and cable-only channels, along with a good roster of HDTV channels. What a difference from RCN!

JEFF SASMOR
Wendover Drive

Shakespeare Tradition at Pettoranello Could Continue with Mayors' Assistance

To the Editor:

We are two of the many hundreds of Princeton residents who have enthusiastically attended Princeton Rep's Shakespeare Festivals in past years. Princeton Rep has given us top-quality, professional, innovative, free Shakespeare in the beautiful outdoors – an extremely special experience.

And Princeton Rep's Shakespeare is not just entertaining – it is educational, with many Princeton children attending because its approach to Shakespeare is so accessible.

That is why we are deeply disappointed that Jack Roberts, the Recreation Department Director, has failed to arrange a suitable schedule for this year, resulting in no plays at all in 2005 – the second year in which he has allowed this to occur.

We are very concerned that Princeton Rep may decide to go elsewhere. Other towns would certainly give Princeton Rep whatever schedule it wants in order to get it to move to their town.

Mr. Roberts is clearly a well-meaning and hard-working person, but his priorities need rethinking. Based on the number and quality of the plays that Princeton Rep presents, the very large amount of money it has invested in creating the performance venue, the strong community support it has, and the large number of attendees it gets, Princeton Rep Shakespeare should properly be given priority over other events. It should be the main summer event in Pettoranello Gardens, with other events fitted around its schedule.

We therefore urge the mayors of Princeton Township and Borough to intervene before we lose Princeton Rep forever. We ask them to begin now to discuss the 2006 season, working with Mr. Roberts to make certain that Princeton Rep will get the schedule it needs. Any obstacles need to be identified and overcome, long before next summer. Only in this way can we be sure that this special, precious Princeton cultural event won't disappear from our summers. Very sadly, we have now lost two seasons. We must not lose anymore.

PHYLLIS TEITELBAUM
ANTHONY LUNN
Hawthorne Avenue

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