Ridgewood NJ, We asked Council Candidate Ramon M. Hache on his thoughts on the high density housing and here is what he said ,”I am a proponent of responsible development and protecting our community from the wrong development. We need to carefully decide on projects that will make our town better without sacrificing the corevalues and character that make Ridgewood the special place we are proud to call our home.”
Ramon then gave us more specifics ,”In terms of high density housing, all the zones around our CBD are currently being considered for a density of 35 units per acre. There are currently four areas under consideration and three zoning changes proposed. Although each area is unique and needs to be analyzed individually, I am comfortable with an average density of 20-24 UPA. This is more in line with the total average throughout the CBD. ”
As for the studies ,” Traffic and pedestrian safety are very important when analyzing the various projects. The impact to schools is a different issue and needs to be looked at collectively for all sites. Although the recent studies suggest there would be a minimal impact to the schools, we all know that Ridgewood is known for its schools and exceptional program for special needs children. Therefore, I would be cautious to solely rely on the student enrollment projections which did not take into account the fact that it could cost around $100,000 a year to educate special needs children.”
Ramon went on saying ,”Ideally, I would rather see us approve one of the proposed zoning changes first. It could provide a good ratable and we could get real-world data on the actual amount of new students attending the schools. We need ratables to finance many of the needed improvements and for stabilizing property taxes.”
We also asked about his thoughts on the fact that the issue is being decided by council members who are leaving office ? Ramon
emphasized , “the current council needs to work together for the welfare of the entire community and make decisions as if they were not going to be replaced by a new council.”
Mr. Hache, Please get the facts before you speak about special needs children.
While there may be a few children whose needs are so great that the cost to educate them will APPROACH $100k, that is by FAR the exception.
We are obligated by law, by society and by common sense to educate ALL of our children.
Please do not make those who require more services the scapegoat in any argument about housing development.
Check with the BOE, I think you will find that we have no greater percentage of special ed kids in our schools than other districts in the area.
My special needs students cost the district almost nothing . . . no accommodation other than additional testing time (which he choses not to use). But I do appreciate Ramon at least thinking about special needs kids, so few people do.
Yes, very nice. But why does the newspaper about his thought on high density. He will not be making the decision. The current council will be. But if the newspaper didn’t ask him, the newspaper would be blamed for being biased for high density approval.
9:07….what makes Ridgewood different with respect to educating special need children is that we cover so much more, financially, than other districts. Fairlawn school district, as well as others, do not cover all the costs of ot, physical therapy, speech, etc. in a lot of cases, those costs are passed onto the families. To ignore the financial impact to the taxpayer when contemplating growing our population could potentially diminish these wonderful benefits to special need children currently living here. Cuts will be made in our schools when the school population grows. With a 2% cap, cuts will be necessary. It is a fact that families rent their homes in their towns, and find a rental here to take advantage of our school benefits. Our family is grateful for the wonderful services our children receive, including our special need child.
I’m a little squeamish about his comments on special needs children…
why so???
Me too. Even though I kind of think he didn’t mean them to be so “icky”. They just were.
what was “icky” about what he said???
Actually, I was a little taken aback or “squeamish” too. Hache is not stating reluctance to pay for special needs classes, but since most children do not require special education and the fact that we want special needs to children to get the best education and be integrated into society, and that these sentiments are now taken for granted it seems like he might not really be agreeable to helping, paying extra, for special needs children get the best education. But he didn’t say so. He just seems too concentrated on it.
As a senior citizen I remember when there was no special education for kids who needed it, and these kids really suffered by not being educated up to their potential and not being integrated into society. And unable to make contributions to society.
It is really wonderful and perhaps one of the truly valuable changes of our society that has taken place , since I am not in agreement with early computer usage or screens in general. Now I will get a lot of people saying they feel squeamish because I don’t value early computer education.
It is icky because he is basically saying he thinks that high density housing would attract special needs kids. Put together with the comments the other day about high density housing attracting Asians it starts to look like the opposition is to WHO might move in as opposed to the financial impact on the town. That is not what Ridgewood should be about in the 21st Century. There is plenty of it in our history but that is not a tradition we want to carry forward.
thats not the way I read it at all , seemed to me he was making a point that the impact to schools was very under reported
Please read the key studies here on costs of students, special needs children have a different set of costs to support an excellent education. It is a fact and it is great we excel at it in our schools. As these reports show, one special needs student can tip the funding scales for an entire school. You have to plan for that as a village in all your housing studies. You can’t fail that child and family by not planning for it, and to plan for it you have to talk about it.
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/project-full/441-proposed-master-plan-amendment-to-permit-high-density-multifamily-housing-around-the-cbd
Bravo Mr. Hache, the average density of 20-24 UPA is indeed more in line with the total average throughout the CBD. We need this kind of clear thinking on the Council instead of pet issue Council members who only care about Schedler or stopping any development. Our CBD has been in secular decline and is pock marked with one eyesore after another.
Well put, Bill M., thanks for posting.
Ridgewood is absolutely a magnet for parents with special needs children. We have great services.
I know a family that planned to move to a mega house in Saddle River. Their elementary school daughter was diagnosed, they looked around, and decided to stay.
Mr Hache is a breathe of Fresh air..speak the Truth….rare in today’s politicalspeak local hedging..VOR We need change first..then a more inclusive discussion on housing impacts..study the real costs..quality of community will follow..good luck to all the new candidates..a chance to right the ship..
Mr. Hache is a total breath of fresh air. Give him a call and meet him for a cup of coffee. He is even more likable in person. I am very impressed with his determination to do the right things for Ridgewood and I agree with everything he is saying. Yay, one good candidate, two more to go.
Valley expansion and a new massive Lynwood ave. corner parking structure will set off a wave of residential selling in tnis quiet residential area.Imagine the traffic, noise home value losses and pollution to come.
Homeowners being unjustly impacted..more town mismanagement to blame.Children crossing in that area will be in a lot of danger .