In response to John Wainright’s letter Thursday: It’s not residential development; the bureaucracy involved with that is a mess and appalling. But it’s development that will keep our youth here.

There are so many things that keep our youth from living here. Are teens going to work on building those new cottages that you are thinking about approving for the elderly, or are they really going to want to work and live in an environment that doesn’t fit their needs as well?

College Township is creating a new neighborhood for college students, taking most of that area off limits to our youth, and not to mention that there is hardly anything to do for the youth in the area — a couple sports, a mall and potholes.

Not supporting the youth is a true downfall for State College. If we don’t try to keep our youth here at home, we will get negative growth down the road. We have an anti-growth policy by not allowing more commercial development and industrial development that could help our youth suddenly see the area as a great place to get a job, raise a family and live a safe and secure life.

Michael Straw State College