A guard against suburban sprawl

To the editor: As a former real estate broker, I can understand some realtors concern regarding the proposed Real Estate Transfer Tax which would add to the cost of buying a house which, as we all know, is quite high already. However, I believe a few more dollars will not deter a sale to anyone who recognizes the fact that retaining the rural beauty of our area is of primary benefit to everyone. It should ensure that our property taxes stay reasonable, that our properties retain their value and that we can continue to enjoy those characteristics of our area which caused us to buy in Orange County originally. All of this is in danger of being lost if we allow our lovely area to become a suburban sprawl. Kathleen Finn Warwick