file photo by Boyd Loving
November 8,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Wednesday November 4, the agenda for the Village Council’s Public Workshop Agenda included a single line item: Public Hearing – Change in Use of 1057 Hillcrest Road (The Gate House) at Irene Habernickel Family Park. No one in the neighborhood of the park had been informed via any official channels. A small, almost unreadable sign posted at the park informed of the meeting, but few saw it and many who might have would not have read such an insignificant posting. Many found out about the meeting through a grapevine of neighbors. One was told, off the record, by a police officer. Another heard about it from a contractor working at her home. Some learned as they were arriving home from work that night.
The basic gist of what is going on is as follows. For many years, the Gate House had been rented to a family, who opted not to renew their lease. An ad placed for a new renter yielded no interested parties. A business, however, had indicated an interest in acquiring the property. Late in the summer, on September 16, an ordinance was introduced to change the use of 1057 Hillcrest Road to “recreational/educational purposes.” Health Barn USA won the bid, and soon thereafter the business website indicated the new address in Ridgewood. The website, should you care to read further, is https://www.healthbarnusa.com/
Some reached out to one of our elected officials, Councilwoman Susan Knudsen in advance of Wednesday’s meeting. Responding appropriately and promptly, Councilwoman Knudsen explained to those who inquired how to speak their concerns at a Council Meeting, and who to speak with at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regarding the regulations involved using a property that was purchased with Green Acres Funding for business purposes.
Many residents of the neighborhood arrived at the November 4 meeting, not sure what to expect, but certain that they wanted to speak their opposition to this plan. For most, this was the first Village Council meeting they had attended. They waited patiently while other business items were discussed and presented.
When the Public Hearing began, the owner of Health Barn USA, Ms. Stacey Antine, explained the mission and purpose of her business. She also denied some allegations that had been swirling prior to this meeting, stating that she was not involved in any litigation with her former landlord (Abmas Farm in Wyckoff) and that no children from inner cities would be bused in for the programs. Following her presentation, several clients of Health Barn USA gave testimonials, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood spoke about safety and other concerns surrounding the changed use of the property.
When the residents finally got their chance to speak, they were amazing. Twenty one individuals spoke, ranging in age from 18 to “retired.” One after the next they voiced valid objections to the change in use, to the way the matter has been handled by The Village Council, and to the legality of defying the NJ-DEP Green Acres guidelines. They were all clear, determined, insistent, polite, even while frustrated. Many expressed a sense of wonder that their elected officials had actually changed the use and drafted (although not finalized) a lease on a business BEFORE the Public Hearing. You can hear their excellent comments on the Village of Ridgewood website U-Stream.
Here are a few highlights, in no particular order:
1. One resident was reprimanded sarcastically and loudly by Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck. Yes, you read that correctly, a member of the public, a taxpayer, was publicly humiliated by one of our elected officials.
2. Results of a traffic study conducted by the Ridgewood Police Department seemed to greatly differ from the neighbors’ observations of traffic at the site.
3. While the original presentation by the Health Barn USA owner indicated that busses would not be coming in and out of the park, later in the evening it was revealed that mini-busses and full-size school busses could be expected on a regular basis.
4. The business has been granted permission by the Village to use a large plot on the park property for gardening; this is separate from the home and its immediate surrounds.
5. Assistant to the Village Manager, Ms. Janet Fricke, expressed frustration that one of our elected officials assisted residents in navigating the process without including her in the discussion. Likewise, Village Manager Ms. Roberta Sonenfeld indicated that no such communications between a councilmember and the public should take place without everyone being cc’ed. SINCE WHEN DO EMPLOYEES TELL ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO? Does anyone actually believe that an elected official should not assist residents who ask for assistance?
6. No resident, not one, criticized the business in any way or maligned Ms. Antine for having sought this location. Their argument was not with Health Barn USA; it is with the proposed presence of any business in their quiet residential neighborhood.
7. In summary, Mayor Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Hauck all indicated that with some minor adjustments to satisfy the NJ-DEP, they will be looking forward to welcoming this wonderful new business, thereby completely ignoring the impassioned pleas of these residents.
So, are the Habernickel Park neighbors getting the shaft just like the Schedler Park residents? Sure looks like it. Once again, the Council Majority is running a steam roller right over the taxpayers.
Well districts 1,2 and 3 voted for the 3 Amigos 3 to 1 so “SUCK IT UP” You get the government you voted for.
Love the title!
Don’t worry Ridgewood’s finance committee will send a letter to the Ridgewood New saying what a good ideal this is and that all the 3 Amigos will need. Maybe a follow up letter from the Historic Preservation Committee for good measure.
Does Councilwoman Hauck ever take her eyes off of her iPad?
Yes she does 7:37 when she scolds taxpayers.
To be fair, if those complaining had attended a single meeting (say about multi-family housing, Schedler, garage etc) or ever went to the Village webpage they would have known it was happening.
That said, as usual the council voted first then discussed. I don’t understand why and how that became standard operating procedure.
where does it say the Manager or other Council members have to be CC? Oh and Roberta it says here you don’t have a vote.
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a council–manager government.
The council consists of five, seven, or nine members elected by the public. One of the councilors – chosen either by at-large election or by a vote among the councilors – serves as the mayor, who is merely the head of council and has no special privileges such as veto power. The council hires a manager, who serves as the chief executive and administrative official. The manager prepares the budget, appoints and removes department heads, and attends council meetings, but does not have a vote.
The three stooges will continue to do as they please because they can.
Those opposed to the change at Habernickle should join with those opposed to developing Schlinder. Two different parts of town, same problem.
If the groups unite they can work better to advance their cause. It should not be “nimby “and it should be “stop developing our town”.
7:44
SOP, yes, just like hiring a friend from NJ Leads to be the full time HR director, with benefits, and then having done that, oops, now let’s create the position and put forth an ordinance making it official. You know, months after she has been on staff already. Yep doing it ass backwards is their SOP, but it is all by design, they know exactly what they are doing.
7:44
Not everyone has time to attend meetings, kids, jobs, etc. it would be nice to think that the government would not be screwing those who are not able to diligently watch. The neighbor’s should have been informed in advance of them ever even considering bringing a business onto the property. We can hope that some of these residents will start attending meetings even after the Habernickel,mess is solved.
And many residents watch from home while doing laundry, dishes, packing lunch boxes, etc.
At 1:58, Yes we are all busy. And I agree that if we need to contact neighbors for basic bump-outs of homes or new fences then town should have to do the same if they essentially re-zone a property from residential to commercial/for profit.
It is just sad that residents all over town (except for those living on Clinton of course) have been getting screwed left and right but still some only care when it is in their backyard. What is happening at Hillcrest is not even a blip on the radar screen compared to the Schedler neighborhood or what would happen to some of our schools with the proposed increased density.
2:14, I agree. Some issues are bigger than others. However, for those on Hillcrest, this is quite important and you cannot blame them for being outraged that this was basically sneaked in on them. This council has proven themselves repeatedly to be non transparent, despite Mr. Aronsohn’s claims to the contrary. They do everything behind closed doors. And by “they,” I mean the three of them. They did the same bullshit when it was Tom and Bernie as they are doing now with Mike and Susan. And that Roberta of theirs, wow, she has to GO.
i think we can all agree that we all have a right to be outraged for various reasons and hopefully can all come together when it is time to vote them out.
In each case seek the Golden Rule.Who Benefits and Who gets Screwed and By WHOM,
Who is this Haliby to call us selfish and then berate Knudsen? It’s not selfish to want to preserve some peace and quiet in our neighborhood. Where does he live? How would he like to be treated so poorly by our elected officials? Something seems wrong with a process designed to stifle the voices of affected citizens and taxpayers.
Who is this Haliby to call us selfish and then berate Knudson? It’s not selfish to want to preserve some peace and quiet in our neighborhood. Where does he live? How would he like to be treated so poorly by our elected officials? Something seems wrong with a process designed to stifle the voices of affected citizens and taxpayers.
Rurik Haliby is a certified kook, do not worry about what he said. Basically whatever he says, you should always embrace the completely opposite viewpoint. He is also incredibly nasty, telling fellow residents to SHUT UP and other such outbursts at public meetings. Ignore him, he speaks for a minority of one, pretty sure even his wife does not agree with him ever. He is also a huge fan of Hauck – whenever they meet, she throws his arms around him in a full-frontal embrace, guess that helps his ego.
While I disagree with him about 95% of the time, Rurik Halaby is not afraid to say what is on his mind whether it’s on blogs like this, in the paper or in Council meetings. And yeah he does get nasty now and then but he doesn’t hide in anonymity either.
Halliby is the fellow who thinks that because warehouses in London, England were converted to apartment buildings, Ridgewood should build apartment buildings. Its not certain that his mind thinks clearly. Its best just to smile and nod.
Paul – None of the people from Habenickel who spoke at the meeting last week were anonymous, obviously, not hiding in anonymity as you put it. And Rurik was really nasty toward them, completely out of nowhere. And he is incessantly nasty to Susan Knudsen, and often lashes out at members of the public at meetings. So you really cannot say that he is up front and everyone else is anonymous.
@921- I agree that yes, Rurik was out of line at that session, but is that any worse than a lot of postings online with personal attacks and cheap shots? When people do show up and vent their opinions in person it does get attention, especially when done in numbers.
3:12 Come together and vote? Like the housing matter? To the residents that sit at home and don’t even vote: Your silence is as bad as the 3amigos and Village Manager, if not worse. We all have laundry, cleaning etc. so spare me. Governing body is doing what they please only because the number of residents it takes to do something never come forward. Hauck just changed her profile picture on Facebook to “Keep Calm and Manage Change.” Get ready we are about to get ambushed, with change, before May.
Paul Smith – when peopel show up and vent their opinions in person, it does not get anything accomplished. They listen, Gwenn attacks, Gwenn complains about how long the public comments go on, and then the Mayor and Albert say that this has been a healthy discussion and now they will do exactly as they planned in the first place. They never change their views, with the single exception of the Clinton Avenue group…..and there is definitely a back story to be determined there.
How about a petition to change the name to Hoffmans farm or hillcrest park?
Where do I sign