Ridgewood NJ , Village Council members plan to authorize foreclosing on the below listed properties for non payment of taxes. All properties are undeveloped.
Block 1202, lot 5 (near 915 Glenview Road)
Block 1603, lot 22 (near 535 North Monroe Street)
Block 3612, lot 29 (former PSE&G right of way near Stevens Field)
Block 4708, lot 10 (near 489 East Saddle River Road)
Block 4912, lot 9 (near 368 William Street)
Block 5005, lot 5 (near 914 Hammond Road)
No discussion among VIllage Council members has yet taken place regarding the planned disposition of properties if and when they are acquired. Parcels continuous to existing Village owned parklands may be incorporated within same; those not contiguous to same may be made available for purchase by adjacent property owners.
For years there has been much discussion about converting the former PSE&G right of way near Stevens Field into a parking lot. However, due to the heavy presence of electric, gas, water, and waste water utility services, parking on the surface there is no longer possible. In all likelihood, the property will be converted into a passive park.
Ridgewood NJ, The high density housing issue is upon us again. The Village Council will be meeting tonight at the Campus Center of the Ridgewood High School. They will discuss the results of the impact studies for high density housing. Hopefully the most important study, the impact on our already overcrowded schools, was done. Residents need to once again come out in force to express their strong desire to keep this the Village of Ridgewood and not the City of Ridgewood. The council should either change, lower, the amount of apartments allowed at these locations or vote “no” completely.
The Village Council Meetings of March 9th and March 23rd will be held at the Campus Center of the Ridgewood High School, located at 627 East Ridgewood Avenue. The March 9th Regular Public Meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m., and will be immediately followed by a Work Session, where the results of the impact studies for multi-family housing will be discussed. The March 23rd Work Session meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. During the Work Session there will be a Special Public Meeting for the Public Hearings and vote on the multi-family housing ordinances as well as a public hearing and vote on the bond ordinance to appropriate money for the Hudson Street parking deck.
This location is not equiped to broadcast the meetings. The meetings will be filmed and available both on UTube and the Village Public Access Channel (Cablevision 77; Fios 37) the following day.
RIDGEWOOD, N.J.– Ramon M. Hache, 41, is certified to run for one of the three open seats on the Ridgewood Village Council in this May 10th municipal election. Hache, a father of three, sees a need for responsible, balanced leadership to propel Ridgewood forward while respecting its residents.
“I see Ridgewood standing at the crossroads of progress and tradition, and I know that a lot of big decisions will have to be made in the next few years,” Hache said. “I want to make sure that the town is guided through those decisions in a responsible way. To me this next election will provide an important reset for the town.”
Some of the big issues Ridgewood is facing in the future will be a continued push for multi-familyhousing, Valley Hospital, safety surrounding schools and the cost of maintaining and enhancing our athletic fields and parks.
Although the Master Plan was recently updated, Hache feels that it is important to revisit thisdocument, which should provide a detailed roadmap to the future and offer guidelines for smart development.
A 1991 graduate of Ridgewood High School, Hache was raised in the Village, and he is currently SeniorVice President at Permal Group, one of the largest hedge fund investors in the world.
Hache’s volunteerism includes being the treasurer for the Ridgewood High School Football Scholarship Committee, a Ridgewood Soccer Association coach, a member of the Knights of Columbus and an active member, lector and Eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
To contact Ramon Hache: 201-960-4977, [email protected], or visit www.ramonhache.com
Ridgewood NJ, Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh, 19 Year Ridgewood Resident, wife and mother of three has entered the race to reclaim a Council seat.
Coghlan-Walsh was first elected to the Ridgewood Village Council in 2010 and won in a landslide earning the top vote getter accolade. She served with Distinction for four years and has remained involved in Village activities ever since. “I’ve received overwhelming support on my new Council bid and want nothing more than to do what’s right for the Village. Ridgewood needs honest, reliable citizens to serve on the Village Council and I believe I have proven my mettle over the years.”
Coghlan-Walsh is the Head of Global Workforce Mobility for Region Americas at Linde Gas and also manages their Non-commercial Fleet of over 250 vehicles. Mrs. Coghlan-Walsh holds designations through Worldwide ERC signifying her mastery of Workforce Mobility both Domestic and International including Talent Management and Labor Relations. She is poly-lingual and works daily on Immigration issues affecting employees throughout North, Central and South America. Mrs. Coghlan-Walsh is also a State Licensed Residential Real Estate Appraiser inNew Jersey.
Bernadette currently serves on the Planning Committee of the New Jersey Relocation Council, a Girl Scout Leader for Troop 1326 in Ridgewood, Member of the Women’s Club of Ridgewood where she served as President of Juniors from 2009-2010 and an Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parishioner where she’s volunteered as CCD teacher and served on the MOMs Circle of Care. An avid horseback rider she has the distinguished honor of being the Children’s Ambassador of the Garden State Horse Show for the past 4 years.
Her past experience within Ridgewood includes serving on the Ridgewood Planning Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, Field Committee, Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee and the Bergen County League of Municipalities.
“Ridgewood is a vibrant, upbeat and friendly community. I fully believe residents have become engaged in such large numbers recently because they don’t believe their voices are being heard nor understood by the current Council. I believe any vote in May will be for a fresh perspective and return to civility for everyone on both sides of the aisle. I’ll work tirelessly for Ridgewood, I only ask that residents support me and cast one of their votes for Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh”.
Bernadette will be listed on the upcoming Ballot in Row 4.
I want to say thank you so much to everyone who supported my choice to run for Village Council.
I really wanted to do it and to be a part of helping the town I love, preserve its character. I wanted to be a part of the process and I still will be.
The election is a numbers game, and we had too many chefs in the soup. If someone had to take one for the team and step aside, I am happy to have been that person. If it enables stability, common sense, and independent thinking to return to our council, then it is for the best. I apologize for the years of laughs I won’t be there to provide you, but hey, you can’t win them all! Council meetings would surely have been more interesting with me involved- in a good way!
And I’m not done. I plan to run in 2 years, and do my part at that time.
There ARE other excellent candidates, and I throw my whole hearted support behind Bernadette Walsh and Jeff Voight. They are excellent, proven, trusted leaders. I ask anyone that had been in support of me, to please throw your support behind these 2.
Thanks again to all of you.
Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G will be commencing Energy Strong electric improvements in Ridgewood .
PSE&G will begin overhead construction activities along existing pole routes as part of our Energy Strong electric improvements. We are installing two new circuits to improve reliability and convert some existing 4kv service in Ridgewood to 13KV.
Some overhead construction activities have begun and are expected to continue over the coming months. We anticipate the majority of the project to be complete in the next two to three months however, ancillary work is expected intermittently. PSE&G crews will be working from approximately 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. This work is expected to be complete in September, 2016, weather permitting.
Work locations are expected in the following locations:
Maple Ave from Cameron to Mastin Pl
Mastin Pl from Maple to Walnut St
Walnut St from Mastin to Franklin Ave
Broad St – Hudson St to Dean St
Doremus Ave – Orchard to Ackerman
Safety is our primary concern. PSE&G will work with the Village of Ridgewood Police Department to minimize any traffic concerns or inconvenience to the public. As part of our collaboration with the Village Police Department, traffic control officers will be at our active work sites to assist with directing traffic and pedestrians.
Ridgewood NJ , In Mayor’s corner (newsletter) from this week, our mayor writes “This time, the ordinance is for $11.5 million, and our plan is to build a 325-car parking deck that would basically fit within the footprint of the current lot.”
A letter to Editorial published in Friday’s Ridgewood News writes – “The Village Council continues to modify the plans to address certain concerns raised by some, and to create a larger consensus. The latest rendition seems to accomplish that on many levels- even one level less of a deck.”
However both of these statements prove to be incorrect. Plan D does not fit within the lot, it still encroaches out 4-5 feet and is higher than the allowed zoning in that zone. The latest rendition (plan D), doe not reduce one level, it’s still 5 levels, it’s just about 3 feet short of plan A, and that’s achieved by reducing the height of each level by few inches.
To be more specific Plan D does not fit on the footprint of the existing lot. Plan D still goes over the existing lot by 5ft onto the existing sidewalk. The sidewalk will then be moved 4ft into Hudson Street (therefore narrowing the sidewalk by 1ft, and narrowing Hudson street for the length of the garage by 4ft). On January 6th, when the council could not receive the super majority vote it needed to bond in house for Option C (3 stories (approx 38ft high-not including towers), 4 levels of parking, 12 ft beyond the sidewalk and into the street), The mayor agreed to go back to the architect for a plan that fit on the lot. At the January 13th council meeting, the village manager repeated that they were “focusing on the parking garage that fits within the footprint”.
At the January 14th Historic Preservation Commission meeting, the mayor told the HPC as well as the members of the public at that meeting 3 times, “we’ve agreed to make sure it does not encroach upon the street”. At the January 27th council meeting, there were no sketches, drawings, etc, but it was announced that the new plan would go over the existing lot, “not more than 5ft”, and it would be 4 stories and 5 levels of parking (1 story more than Option C from January 6th). When the village manager and Mayor were asked where is the garage that “fits on the footprint”, the reply was, “this is close”. Yes, Option D is less than 12ft into the street, but it’s still not “on the lot”, and now it’s a story higher than Option C.
Ridgewood NJ, Village Council Nomination petitions were REPORTEDLY certified by the Village Clerk
Richard S. Brooks, East Ridgewood Avenue (spouse of Planning Board Attorney Gail Price)
Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh, Red Birch Court (former Village Council member)
Ramon Hache, Ackerman Avenue
Gwenn H. Hauck, Fairmount Road (current Village Council member)
Melanie Hooban-McWilliams, Bogert Avenue
Jeffrey D. Voigt, Glenwood Road
Evan Weitz, Oak Street (current member of Village’s Financial Advisory Committee)
Janice M. Willet, Prospect Street (current member of Village’s Financial Advisory Committee)
It is reported that one (1) or more of the above individuals is likely to ask that their name(s) not be placed on the ballot following the scheduled Wednesday, 3/09 lottery for ballot placement.
Jersey Cash 5 Ticket Wins $184,570 Jackpot in Bergen County
By staff
Monday, Mar 07, 2016
One Bergen County ticket matched all five numbers for the Jersey Cash 5 game drawn on Friday, March 4 winning the $184,570 jackpot. The ticket was purchased at Flo’s Market at Ridgewood Train Station, 6 Garber Square, Ridgewood in Bergen County.
Executive Director Carole Hedinger said the top prizewinning ticket was the only one sold for Friday’s drawing that matched all five numbers drawn. The winning numbers were: 25, 27, 30, 40 and 42.
RIDGEWOOD — The results of studies on how zoning to allow high-density, multifamily housing downtown would affect the village will be presented to the public Wednesday night at Ridgewood High School.
The four studies, commissioned by the Village Council in mid-January, will explore the possible impacts of five introduced zoning ordinances on local schools, traffic, community services, infrastructure and finances.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said Saturday three firms were contracted to do the work: Ross Haber & Associates to look at the schools, the RBA Group to review traffic, and BFJ Planning, in partnership with Urbanomics, to study local infrastructure and financial impacts.
Experts from those companies will present their findings to the public Wednesday night at the Ridgewood High School Campus Center. The public will be able to comment on the reports afterwards, and a final public hearing and possible votes of adoption are slated for March 23.
The ordinances, approved by the Planning Board by majority votes last June and introduced by the council a month later, would increase the allowable number of housing units per acre from 12 to 30 or 35 in three zones in the central business district. Proponents of the master plan amendments say the resulting housing complexes would provide homes for young professionals and empty-nesters; opponents claim they would strain local infrastructure and forever change the character of the village’s quaint downtown.
Jeff Voigt Secures Ballot Position For Upcoming May Ridgewood Council Election
March 7,2016
By staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood, NJ – Longtime Village of Ridgewood resident Jeff Voigt todayannounced he is a candidate for the Ridgewood Village Council. Voigt received more than 300 signed petitions to appear on the May 10th ballot.
“This is a pivotal year for Ridgewood. There are many forces at play with the potential to completely change the character of our Village,” said Voigt. “I bring decision-making, critical-thinking, and consensus building to the Council table, along with 23 years of living
in Ridgewood and contributing to its economic, social, and religious fabric. It is time to improve the interaction and trust between residents and the council, in order to enhance our local way of life. This outcome lies at the heart of my candidacy.”
Voigt has been a member of the Ridgewood Board of Adjustment since 2011. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont, a Master of Public Health from Columbia, and a Master of Business Administration from Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania.
A consummate civic leader, Voigt is running for one of the three open Council seats. His platform focuses on three main issues he views as most critical to Ridgewood’s future:
Development that holds a line on appropriate density and reflects the character of the Village and the concerns of its neighborhoods including
parking;
Fiscal responsibility which includes taxes;
Environmental issues including the need for open and recreational space in
the community; and health issues including water quality and the presence of the chemical PFOA
“I am in favor of pragmatic, sensible development that does not threaten our existing quality of life or increase our tax burden,” Voigt said. “I believe we should pursue solutions to our problems within the village, work together, embrace diversity of opinion,
compromise, and not look to other entities for answers, funding, or other supports. I am also extremely concerned about the need to clean up the water quality and toxic waste in the middle of downtown.”
Voigt is married, with three adult children. He is a Commentator and Lector at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Ridgewood, a member of the Ridgewood Knights of Columbus, and an Eagle Scout. He recently served as President of the Wharton Healthcare Management Alumni Association (WHCMAA) and was a member of the WHCMAA Board from 2010-2015. Jeff’s other board memberships include: Leonard Davis Institute Executive Advisory Board, University of Pennsylvania (a leading US health policy think tank) and Columbia University School of Public Health Alumni Board.
A regular Tuesday host of the national Wharton Business School radio program The Business of Healthcare on SIRIUSXM 111, Voigt also publishes frequently in peer reviewed journals on U.S. healthcare policy and practice. His work has been referenced hundreds of times. Prior to launching Medical Device Consultants of Ridgewood in 2003, he helped build several companies from startups into very profitable entities.
“I want a Council which is resolved to think through issues from the vantage point of the neighborhoods most affected,” said Voigt. “”What needs to change is the character of the current council. Private agendas are getting in the way. I have no hidden agendas; want to give back to a place that has given so much to my family and me, and to preserve the character of our village, in the truest sense of the word.”
“My campaign team and I are launching the ‘Voigt for Our Village’ campaign.” said Voigt. “We have a great team of involved and concerned Village residents who understand the issues. I look forward to talking with individuals from every part of this community in the weeks ahead to learn more about their concerns and the solutions they favor. I am confident that Ridgewood’s best days lie ahead.”For more information about the Jeff Voigt campaign, contact: Campaign Manager: Sergio Alege, [email protected].
I am writing to inform you of a Municipal Information Forum that we will be hosting for Ridgewood residents regarding Ridgewood Water.
The intent of this forum is to educate the public on how water is delivered to your faucet. We will deal with current issues in the news as well as discussing the quality of our water, sustaining water for the future, budget and capital investments and our short-term and long-term strategies.
Our decision to hold this forum emanated from several sources. One clearly is the amount of interest that residents have expressed in learning more about Ridgewood Water; this has definitely been heightened by stories in the news. Secondly, we have held two sessions such as these at both our 2016 budget reviews as well as at a Glen Rock Council meeting. These were two-way dialogues that were well received and I believe went a long way in a better mutual understanding of how the water we consume is delivered to our homes.
We are planning on conducting this forum on two separate dates. The first isThursday April 21st from 9-11 AM. The other is Monday April 25th from 7:30-9:30PM.
Please let us know if you intend on joining us by responding to this e-notice.
Look forward to seeing you.
Best,
Roberta Sonenfeld
Village Manager
201-670-5500, ext. 203
RIDGEWOOD DOWNTOWN ZONING ANALYSIS STUDIES
The Final Downtown Zoning Impacts Analysis that address the four multifamily housing study areas is now available. For the complete document Click Here
They will begin issuing summonses for violations of the new Recycling policy just like they did with the leaves. A new way to make money for the parking garage. Hold onto your wallets!
“The level of fees is under siege and has actually decreased 18% over the last 3 years from $332,552 to $266,232; a further decline is anticipated in 2016.”
The residents are the ones under siege here in Ridgewood; not fees. But I get your logic since you intend to raise my parking fees by 400% this summer to support the county garage.
If you happen to watch the recycle refuse being collected it is not uncommon to watch it be all be loaded into the same exact collection gate on the truck. We spend time separating the papers into different bins only to watch them get dumped into the same place.
I did ask the driver one time about this and he said they had reached the limit and it did not matter too much on paper differences.
At the end of the day seems like a simple jobs program with unmeasured results
It’s another simple edict: do as we say or the fines will continue. Years back when the Village was going to stop hauling the BoE garbage, they offered to do it for a price. (Around $125k/yr, I think) The BoE put out a bid for quotes and it resulted in a hauler taking it for about half the price. I am not attacking our hard-working village employees but for Roberta to say ‘give us only pristine garbage’ is absurd.
Let’s start by removing the Garbage from Village Hall…
Conveniently it meets there every other Wednesday night and sometimes by appointment if you are a special interest or campaign contributor.
Or you can just remember to vote in this coming election so you don’t have to get the stink of these skunks on you.
Our mayor has brought this village to this state of division and havoc. He is a man who only gets along with those that agree with him, look at his track record of former and current council members. This village never needed a civil committee before his arrival! When you don’t agree with him, he attacks and becomes aggressive and vindictive. Pitting clergy against clergy; neighbor against neighbor; lying to voters; calling hours at the podium where residents plead for a voice in the process a discussion; using committees to prop up your projects all the while lying to them; hiding information from other council members; hiring a VM to do your bidding; calling residents liars; and the ongoing scheming and plotting how subjects and issues will be brought up on the dais have brought us to this ugly chapter. These examples are just from the last 6 months….And people like this guy? I guess the ones who will make a buck off his “leadership” do! I don’t understand how anyone can defend or support someone like him. Scary! July 1st can’t come fast enough!
