BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
HealthBarn USA provides educational programs for children that will allow them to connect nature with nutrition as they learn to grow and harvest food and prepare recipes. Students get a unique “farm-to-fork” experience and are taught where food comes from and why eating fresh food benefits both their bodies and the environment.
The opportunity to bring a new use to the Gate House came when the previous tenants decided to move, giving the village an opportunity to reevaluate its situation, said Janet Fricke, assistant to the village manager.
The village then consulted with a real estate professional to get a recommended baseline bid, posted multiple real estate listings and held open houses to find a new tenant. Before moving forward with a new lease, the village received approval from Green Acres since the land was purchased using grant money.
A further hearing to explain the changing use to the public will be held on Nov. 4, said Fricke.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/healthbarn-usa-moving-into-house-1.1432054
Once again, our Village Council opts for the “cart before the horse” approach. The public hearing, with input from nearby residents, should have been conducted BEFORE reaching a decision to change the property’s use. When will these Bozos ever learn.
The house is rented at fair market price so what is the harm?
Oh boy. Clueless in Ridgewood.
4;15 The answer is NEVER. We will be lucky if we are left with anything by the time their term is up. The bond/debt they will leave us with…will weigh us down for years. Brace yourselves for tax increases. Worst governing body of all time!
I am happy that we are collecting rent. This is what the council is supposed to do.
Developing the property would have been better. How many units would we be allowed to build on that lot? Make it restricted over 55 housing.
Who is paying for the ADA ramps, now required because a business is operating from the location? Will the bathrooms there need to be made ADA compliant as well?
Big Al the Developer Friend said at the last Council meeting . ” Its about the process’ Well I guess process doesn’t apply in this case. They should name a street after the 3 amigos. ONE WAY
AS always Roberta is just shoving her agenda through without open discussion. Same old same old from Ms. Queen
Coincidentally, I’ve known the owner of the new business since high school and she is an upstanding person, i.e. an honest business person. It’s also a business that fits into the context of that property while commanding the same rent it got before – at least for the next five years.
I wish the business well but if they are like any of the others in Ridgewood subject to the crazy whims of Village Hall, they’ll be vacating in no time.
I am sure the owner is upstanding and I wish her nothing but the best. But the space should not have been provided to her until and unless the neighbor’s had a chance to voice any concerns or opinions about having a commercial enterprise in their neighborhood. This is Roberta as usual, doing an end run around the rules.
Didn’t we elect the council to make simple decisions such as this?
Just rent the damn building. Or knock it down and build age restricted Housing.
We can’t have meetings and petitions for every simple task.
“We can’t have meetings and petitions for every simple task.” How much did Roberta pay you to write that?
I don’t see anything in the article indicating that this was in anyway a change in what it was zoned for. I am glad we (taxpayers) can get revenue out of this.
1:36
Hi Gwenn. Glad to see you caught up on your sleep and are posting once again.
How can this not be a change in zoning when it was a residential property before and now it’s a business with associated traffic? Does any family have dozens of cars coming and going every day and buses for day trips?
to 6:20 pm – It was part of a property including a horse farm(business) and residence.
3:26 No way 1:36 is Gwenn. The writer raised a point relevant to the topic. If it were Hauck…she’d flex her big “we are the Council” muscles and say taxpayers/we are being petty. 8:57 is a better Gwenn “impersonator.”
There have been changes to zoning, the Village Manger. She’s has a big “APPROVED” stamp on her desk. Afterwards, the 3 amigos get an FYI. The rest of us have to keep our eyes peeled for the public notification, at least a month after it’s a done deal. Don’t fret…we all get to speak…now being heard is another story…that will cost you. I hear the going rate to be heard is around 150K in legal fees.
7:30 – it is a park now, and a residence. Adding a commercial property to the mix is new at this point, even if years ago there was a farm business. Clearly the powers that be know that a neighborhood hearing is called for. So why the hell did they call for it after the ink was already dry on the lease? It may turn out to be a non-event, maybe no one will care. But the bottom line remains that the hearing should have preceded the lease. Same old same old.
1057 Hillcrest Road is in the R125 zone.
A. Principal uses and structures. The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted:
[Amended 2-10-1998 by Ord. No. 2620]
(1)
Single-family residential uses in detached single-family residential structures.
(2)
Municipal buildings owned or leased by the Village of Ridgewood and used for public purposes.
(3)
Community residences and shelters.
[Amended 10-13-1998 by Ord. No. 2643]
(4)
Community shelters for victims of domestic violence and community residences for persons with head injuries, either of which house up to six persons, excluding resident staff.