Dear Editor: Weehawken, NJ: population density 14,500 per square mile. Ridgefield, CT: population density 630 per square mile. What could these two towns possibly have in common? They are both targets of mega-development by Roseland Properties. On Tuesday, January 25, Dr. Robert Kleinberg, a founding member of the Ridgefield Open Space Association (ROSA) traveled through heavy weather to swap war stories with Weehawken residents. As the keynote speaker at the Friends of the Weehawken Waterfront’s (FWW) monthly public meeting, he talked about the success ROSA has had so far in stopping Roseland from building a corporate conference center with a private golf course, condominiums and office buildings on an area of land larger than the entire township of Weehawken. The square mile of land, known as Bennett’s Pond, adjoins and controls access to a state park and several town parks, which together encompass an area large enough to support significant biological diversity. If that weren?t enough, it also contains a high quality aquifer that supplies drinking water to 350,000 people. Unbelievably, this land is not protected by law. It is up to the citizens of Ridgefield to protect it. Some of Dr. Kleinberg’s stories sounded familiar; like important town meetings on the hottest days of July, predictable traffic problems, the challenge of rallying public support, the tenacity of the developer, etc. But he also shares some refreshing and interesting tactics that worked for ROSA. For instance, at election time, they submitted questionnaires with very pointed questions to each candidate in order to clarify their positions, and then sponsored a well-attended debate. Dr. Kleinberg also relayed the results of their study that exploded the myth of “development as tax positive.” According to their research, more commercial development results in lower residential property values and higher taxes. This was true for nine out of 10 Connecticut cities with more than 25 percent commercial development. What FWW and ROSA have in common is a struggle that is at least regional, if not national. Intelligent development (or no development) is crucial on any bit of land regardless of the population that resides there. Dr. Kleinberg’s opening comment was that Weehawken’s view of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline is a “national treasure” and that he thanked us for fighting for it. Bennett’s Pond is a historic, lush, environmental storehouse that supplies a precious natural resource. In spite of significant difference, both groups are in the midst of a momentous undertaking and have now joined together in order to share information, experience and tactics. Mary Ciuffitelli, member Weehawken Environment Committee and member, Friends of the Weehawken Waterfront