Dear Editor:
We have been following the developments concerning the proposal to build a Walgreens, Starbucks, etc. on River Road in North Bergen. We are astounded by some of the comments we’ve read in recent newspapers and would like to share our perspective (and that of many other residents).
We are shocked to hear that the town feels “it needs a Starbucks”. There are already two Starbucks nearby: in Edgewater Commons and at the Riverwalk shopping center in West New York. Not to mention, there is a Dunkin’ Donuts practically adjacent to the proposed development, a diner across the street, and coffee places in boutique shopping centers (e.g., Whole Foods and City Place).
What is more insulting than the idea that there are not enough venues for purchasing and enjoying coffee, is the suggestion to shave away (and thus destroy) the Palisades cliffs for such a perceived lack of coffee. The cliffs are historic, beautiful and are protected by other towns. For the life of us, we cannot understand why anyone would propose tampering with them for the purpose of additional and duplicative shopping. In our minds, building another Starbucks does not constitute “smart growth”.
Moreover, why is it not enough to use the land that’s already zoned for building, rather than impinge on the cliffs? While we also question the need for another supermarket, it would be an easier pill to swallow if the cliffs would not be touched and if there were adequate parking. Additionally, it’s equally shocking that the town needs to hire an engineer to determine if removing the cliffs will destabilize Boulevard East. With all the people that live and travel on Boulevard East is that a risk we want to take?
We could save the money of hiring an engineer, if we decided as a community to preserve nature. We feel this proposal unfortunately illustrates yet another example of “un-smart growth” in North Bergen. We sincerely hope that our town representatives heed the feelings of many residents. Besides, maybe we would all benefit from one less cup of coffee.
Sincerely,
Marie and Doug Drohan