Red Bank's west side residents have learned well the lessons of the past few years. They are not about to sit by while developers carve up their neighborhoods and try to shoe-horn in projects that are simply out of scale and character.

The "It's too big!" battle cry over the BLT project is still reverberating in the courts and in the borough's diverse west side neighborhoods where residents, while they recognize that change will come, are determined to preserve their quality of life

Residents are rightly making their feelings known at hearings on proposed developments, and the borough's Planning and Zoning boards appear to be responsive as evidenced by comments of some board members.

Monday night's defeat of a townhouse proposal on Bank Street was a clear signal that developers must scale down the greed factor in their plans and do what good development does - respect and build on the character of the existing neighborhoods.

It remains to be seen whether the courts will agree with the developer's contention that the project is permitted by current zoning.

When residents step up as they did on the Bank Street application and more recently at hearings on a townhome proposal for W. Westside Avenue, they ensure they will have a voice in the future of their side of town.

West side residents have also stepped up recently to address quality-of-life issues publicly, which has led to discussions with borough police and public works officials.

The west side has historically been the more diverse side of the borough, home to young and old, a rich quilt of racial and ethnic diversity. Residential, commercial, antiques, arts and faith communities converge there, and the west side acts as the borough's transit hub.

It has character, a wealth of attributes and an important place in the future of the borough.

Several promising initiatives are under way that will directly impact the west side of Red Bank, including open space visioning and planning for river access.

Residents have much to ponder and they are taking ownership of their neighborhoods by making their voices heard.