Letters to the Editor
Kingston village defends itselfThe well-researched and balanced article of Sept. 18, "University Land Development and a Village's Battle," captures the struggle in which we Kingston village residents are now engaged.Seeking to preserve our heritage and our quality of life in the face of massive development that threatens to overwhelm us, we find ourselves confronting a most powerful neighbor, Princeton University ? a moneyed and mighty Goliath to our modest David of organized citizen, civic association and local government opposition.The hostile attitudes we face are evident in the comment from David Knights, marketing director of Princeton Forrestal Associates, the University's land development entity: "[Kingston] doesn't do a thing to help itself and it doesn't realize how valuable Princeton University is as a neighbor to it."In truth, the citizen advocacy "Kingston Initiative" launched by the people of the village five years ago has: 1) Produced a planning blueprint for the future of Kingston that's been lauded by experts for its comprehensive analysis and model recommendations; 2) Won praise from the New Jersey Planning Officials, who recognized these efforts with their Achievement in Planning Award for significant contributions to planning; 3) Secured the first multijurisdictional village center designation ? and the first to define protective surrounding greenspace ? under the State Development and Redevelopment Plan; 4) Established organizations dedicated to historic preservation, open space conservation and community beautification; 5) Worked with five municipalities ? including Princeton Township and Princeton Borough ? on the award-winning nomination of the Kings Highway to the National and State Historic Registers; 6) Collaborated with a wide range of municipalities, environmental groups and historical societies to protect the historic and recreational jewel of Central New Jersey ? the Delaware & Raritan Canal corridor ? for the enjoyment of future generations.Nor are the people of Kingston ? a number of whom work for the University ? unappreciative of the role the University plays, economically and culturally, in the region and that which it can play when it chooses to be a good neighbor.In stark contrast to the University's steamroller mindset, the Kingston Initiative has never opposed development of the Princeton Nurseries properties by Princeton Forrestal Associates.