Union Beach resident proud to be a NIMBY

Wikipedia defines NIMBY or Nimby as “an acronym for the phrase ‘not in my back yard.’ The term (or the derivative Nimbyism) is used pejoratively to describe opposition by residents to a proposal for a new development close to them.” The trouble with that definition is that we entrust our town planning boards, councils and our county governments with the task of being NIMBY on our behalf in many of the decisions they make. Hopefully, strip clubs are kept away from schools, shopping centers are sited only in commercial zones with roads that can handle the traffic, new construction must conform to height limits and predetermined structural codes and aesthetics, and more. Homeowners associations are even stricter in the limits they set. This is essential to preserving property values, quality of life and the environment for all our communities. Nobody wants something that will negatively impact his hometown, and therefore NIMBYis the rule, not the exception .

Sea Girt and its neighbors recently won their battle to stop two 406-foot industrial wind turbines planned for their town. The original plan called for two, was scaled back to one, and then abandoned. These gigantic industrial machines with a blade span the size of a Boeing 747 would not only scar the scenic beauty of their oceanfront, they would have presented a noise pollution hazard and fast-moving lengthy shadows several feet wide (shadow flicker) sweeping across the landscape and at times into people’s homes. IWT noise is loudest in the low frequency and subsonic ranges. The world over, many folks living close to these machines complain of lost sleep, elevated blood pressure, vertigo and other symptoms resulting from constant exposure to the sound. This is even the case here in New Jersey in Ocean Gate outside of Toms River with their 145-foot wind turbine located just 300 feet from the first house. Also, although wind developers try to deny this, industrial wind turbines rob homeowners living nearby of tens of thousands of dollars in equity. Denmark, with thousands of wind turbines, has learned the lesson. They made it the law that power companies compensate homeowners for loss of value. At least that’s somewhat fair. If a homeowner wants to move, he or she can walk away angry, but not any poorer.

Most folks around Monmouth know by now that Union Beach is fighting the same battle as did Sea Girt. Our opponent is the local sewerage authority (BRSA) and it’s a nasty fight that will most likely be determined in the courts. Union Beach area folks like myself who oppose the BRSA have all been called NIMBYs at one time or another. In fact, Hazlet, Holmdel, Keyport and the county freeholders have all weighed in as NIMBYs on the issue by passing resolutions opposing the turbine.

And so, to all of you who have called us that word, we say “Thank you!” We’re proud of the label and we are NIMBYs because we love our homes and our towns and will fight the good fight to protect them. Most importantly, before you point a finger at us, you need to know what NIMBY really means. It means, “Next It Might Be You.” If that happens, I hope you defend your homes, too, and wish you success.

Bill Heller Union Beach