Lawrence is at a critical moment.

Lawrence Township is considering an ordinance to turn 75 acres of the ETS campus into a densely-populated subdivision. The development would consist of more than 800 housing units (20% affordable housing) plus a commercial town center, to be built on the 364-acre ETS campus, one of the largest remaining open spaces in Lawrence. From what we understand, ETS is looking to sell not only the 75 acres, but the entire campus. Accordingly, this mega-development may only be the first step leading to other incursions into the rest of the open space on the campus.

Cherish Lawrence believes the town's ordinance is contrary to applicable law and process, and that this mega-development would place our community at unnecessary risk.¹ Our position is clear: the ETS development should not proceed. Instead, Lawrence should pursue affordable housing in locations that better balance housing needs with environmental stewardship, public safety, infrastructure capacity, and meaningful community engagement.

If approved, this proposal would create significant issues, including:

• Permanent loss of open space and environmentally sensitive lands
• Damage to wetlands, wildlife habitat, flood hazard areas, and the Stony Brook watershed
• Increased traffic congestion and safety concerns on Rosedale, Carter, and Province Line Roads
• A 2,000% increase in residential density compared with existing zoning
• Greater demands on schools, utilities, and municipal services, potentially resulting in higher property taxes across the township
• Increased pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns
• Potential impacts on nearby well-water quality
• Loss of recreational and natural areas enjoyed by residents across the township
• Lasting changes to the ecology and density of the neighborhood that has been zoned as EP-1, environmentally protected.²

Protecting Lawrence requires informed residents, thoughtful planning, and community support.

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¹The community risks will likely occur with only the 800+ units of development, but would be especially acute when considered in light of the contemporaneous ordinance permitting mega-development of 110 housing units and 205 parking spaces on the Gulick property, at the corner of 206 and Province Line Road. Taken together, the town is planning to approve 910 new housing units (20% affordable) in this single section of the town.

²EP-1 (Environmental Protection) District. "The purpose of the District is to accommodate low intensity uses primarily in the northwest area of the municipality where poor water yields and strata for septic systems dictate large lot development in an area of little or no public infrastructure and severe environmental constraints. Permitted uses in the district are as follows: Agriculture, farmsteads, single family detached dwelling units, residential clusters, public parks and recreation, conservation uses, municipal uses and cemeteries." Report by Kyle-McManus, on Planning and Zoning Context p.8, prepared for the Gulick Redevelopment, but relevant here as well.