file photo by Boyd Loving
April 5,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Wednesday nights Village Council Work Session offered 10 takeaways :
1. Pomander walk is going to have parking on one side of the street once again. Ordinance today, new ordinance tomorrow.
2. Cambridge-Bogert is going to have limited times with no parking, based on school drop-offs and pick-ups. That ordinance lasted maybe a month, and now is being changed again.
3. The Schedler home is going to be saved.
4. Cynthia Halaby’s “Conservancy” is going to be celebrating daffodils while advocating for the clear-cutting of all trees on the Schedler property and while clinging emotionally to a couple of crappy trees at the train station parking lot. Isabella Altano did an amazing job of completely discrediting the so-called conservancy.
5. The water department talked about their efforts to reduce lead in the drinking water and the fact that the E. coli was found in water that had not been treated and thus had not made it out to anyone’s homes. They made it clear this is NOT AN OUTBREAK of E. coli, the boiling alert is just a precaution.
6. The bus station may be moved to the train station to create a single transit hub. This would free up many parking spots in the core of the village by Van Neste. It would also get buses off of Ridgewood Avenue and onto Franklin Avenue. Of course with high density housing slated for the Ken Smith property, there is going to be a lot more traffic on Franklin anyway. And the bus station on the other side of the tracks would take away some spots there. But overall there would be a net gain of 38 (?) spots.
7. The garage was discussed with next steps being tossed around. There is still talk of having some stores on the ground floor which would necessarily reduce the number of parking spots in the structure. Some pointed out that there is an abundance of empty stores in town, so why build more?
8. Herr Halaby felt he needed to state that Mayor Knudsen has sons on the police force so anything she says or does is tainted.
9. Central Valet might not happen because potential bidders were unwilling to bid if there is not a place for them to valet the cars TO.
10. Village Manager Mailander is doing an amazing job, so clear and organized and professional. She is the breath of fresh air that this office needed after the former stink bomb.
Why are we still planning on building a garage?
These people got voted ion on the strength of NOT building a garage … not just building a smaller/different garage.
RE:
“6. The bus station may be moved to the train station to create a single transit hub. This would free up many parking spots in the core of the village by Van Neste. It would also get buses off of Ridgewood Avenue and onto Franklin Avenue. Of course with high density housing slated for the Ken Smith property, there is going to be a lot more traffic on Franklin anyway. And the bus station on the other side of the tracks would take away some spots there. But overall there would be a net gain of 38 (?) spots.”
This seem like a bad idea.
If this is done, that idiotic “Green” bike lane needs to be removed.
Traffic is a nightmare already.
I can’t imagine how bad it will be when you add bus traffic AND vehicle traffic for people dropping offs/picking up bus passengers.
It was my understanding that moving the Bus station does not net 38 or so spaces on it’s own. The altering of the train station parking lot adds spaces and can be done without moving any buses. While Engineering presented this as a combo move bus and alter parking plan, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Moving the bus station only gains about 10 or 11 spaces at the former location.
People just don’t like any change, do they.
449… YES WE ARE STILL PLANNING ON BUILDING A GARAGE… The no vote was on the 4 story structure proposed… you and all of the other luddites can rest assured that a garage will be built…. Air BnB is next…. hahaha…
put the bus station in the garage.
just use airbnb for driveway space… no garage needed… win-win
pesmith: WE? Who the hell is WE? Are you on the Council? Do you even go to Council meetings?
LETS MAKE THE RIDGEWOOD A WALKING VILLAGE – NO CARS.
I’m sure you are for this… or are you a luddite?
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All change is not good change.
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NO GARAGE.
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What is status of Village Manager search?
” luddite” Is that your word for the week 12:36?
Yes, let’s make Ridgewood a walking village.
4:49 I voted no on the garage that was proposed.
I am for a reasonable garage.
6:57 Heather Mainlander IS the village manager.
7:22 garage will slum anyway put the bus station there add add more noise fumes centralized homeless and drug dealing shedded alcove
Bid out the rental car franchise that will come soon anyway Major FUBAR folks and we are all on the
Hook when it fails. Time to Sell
657. Nice job paying attention
Glad this council is being called out in their inability to get anything done.
Make a chnage then go back track. Stick to something will you????
Hate moving the bus station idea. It will create too much congestion at the train station, and on Franklin Ave., which is busier and has more traffic than Ridgewood Ave already.
Once again you people don’t get it.
A garage is GOING to be built. The CBD needs it. You know it and I know it. The only ones who don’t know it are the ones who continue to call this place a “Village” . Those days are long gone. Get over yourself. And hey, 313… Learn to speak English or stop posting here. Your embarrassing yourself.
8:56… had to work this weekend… WE? We as in citizens that want a garage built… question 2… no I’m not on the council… question 3, yes I do go to council meeting?!YES! Do you?! the deputy mayor dusted off plan B in December… you may want to attend and state your name too!
12:36 aka Mr. W… a walkable village would be great… but it won’t happen in our lifetime… I’m not a luddite, I’m a realist… I would love a pedestrian plaza but hey, ya never know…
814… Luddite= anyone against any progress in Ridgewood… of which you’re a charter member…
why is destroying the town progress?
Some people think it is destroying the town, some people think it’s a necessary step forward. Differing opinions.