be T.U.F.

The Council is over stepping its bounds with redeveolpement

The Township has run amuck in Eminent Domain (ED). Not only is the Route 27/Renaissance 2000 project under consideration but now ED may also be used to appropriate property on Bennetts Lane. On top of that the area being considered for ED in the Renaissance 2000 may be expanded.

Bennetts lane - The council is considering "redeveloping" Bennetts lane. For those of you not familiar with the area near Rt. 27, when you turn on Bennetts lane you instantly go from the urban clutter, that Rt 27 can be, to the serenity of countryside. Lush wooded areas mixed with farmland. In our opinion if this area needs redevelopment then so does Yellowstone National Park. Worse than that however is that since people in the area don't, in some cases, want to sell the township is considering taking the land from them (admittedly with compensation) for the benefit and profit of a private cooperation. What is proposed to be built there, where people live and farm, wetlands that feed the Six Mile Run reservoir, and where there are currently doctors' and dentists' offices along the route 27 portion of the property? Among other things, a Home Despot and about 500 more homes. The government wants to use it's enormous power to, by the power of law, take peoples land to build a Home Despot so Jack Morris and Home Depot can profit. Only Councilman Unger voted against it going to the zoning board for consideration. TUF reads this as only Mr. Unger sees ED as a necessary evil that should be unleashed only when it is for a compelling reason.

Renaissance 2000 expansion - Before the council on July 6th is a proposal to change the zoning in one community. Mark my words if this passes people will lose their homes - again so developers can PROFIT. The government will take it away from them to build, this time, a shopping center. And that shopping center may be allowed significant tax relief by not having to pay school taxes. School taxes make up more than 60% of your tax bill but this commercial enterprise will be exempt. We'd like to tell you which company will be building a store there but the redevelopment agency will not confirm that it's a Path Mark.

TUF understands that there are times that a government needs to use ED. To build a damn or a highway for instance. There must however be a compelling reason to do so. We do not consider the profits of developers and private corporations seeking tax exemptions a compelling reason.

TUF is opposed to the council's runaway use of ED. It should be used as an instrument of last resort and not the common tool that the council is making it.

THEREFORE - we request that the council REMOVE the power of ED from the redevelopment agency and put it back to a council decision. It should then consider it only as an absolute last resort when it benefits the PEOPLE - not the Developers.