>Bergen County Department of Planning and Economic Development, recommended that Council members partner with County officials to implement improvement

>During Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, Peter Kortright III, of the Bergen County Department of Planning and Economic Development, recommended that Council members partner with County officials to implement improvements at the following Ridgewood traffic intersections:
1) Godwin and Lincoln Avenues 2) Linwood and North Van Dien Avenues 3) Ridgewood and North Pleasant Avenues
Proposed improvements would include the addition of motor vehicle turning lanes, new traffic signals, improved pedestrian cross-walks, and decorative curbing/sidewalks. Property acquisition/condemnation adjacent to all three listed intersections would be necessary to affect the recommended improvements.
The mere mention of possible property condemnations, which would be the Village’s responsibility, resulted in several raised sets of eyebrows on the dais. Councilwoman Kim Ringler-Shagin quickly passed the hot potato by requesting Mr. Kortright to present his conceptual proposal at the next regularly scheduled Village Pedestrian & Traffic Safety Committee meeting. Ms. Ringler-Shagin suggested it would be appropriate for the Council to receive recommendations from this Committee before discussing the County’s proposal again in detail. Deputy Mayor Betty Wiest, the Committee’s Chair, concurred and scheduled Mr. Kortright’s presentation to be heard on Thursday, June 29 @ 7:30 PM in the Village Courtroom.
Do motor vehicle traffic and pedestrian safety conditions the locations noted above warrant the condemnation of private property necessary to facilitate significant intersection improvements?

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