Ridgewood NJ, The Village Council repealed an ordinance that has in many residents eyes opened the door to unpopular village master plan amendments that included clearing the way for The Valley Hospital’s expansion and construction of high-density housing downtown.
The ordinance, No. 3066, was adopted in 2007 and states that “any interested party” can formally request amendments to either the master plan or its development regulations. The requests must be reviewed by the village, and the ordinance also outlines how a party must file such requests, as well as the fee structure for doing so.
Village Planner Blais Brancheau authored the ordinance nine years ago and has steadfastly claimed it was to “establish a clear procedure” for handling amendment requests and let the village charge the requesting party the cost of the professionals involved. Brancheau claims that without the ordinance, those costs would be carried by Ridgewood taxpayers.Critics of 3066 have long felt the Village had lost control of the planning process.
It was introduced by the Village Council under Mayor Pfund in 2007 (https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/minutes/07RPMJUN13.pdf ). Chapter § 190-143 of the amended Village Code is the kicker; it established procedures for interested persions (i.e. developers) to request amendments to the Village Master Plan or development regulations.
Council members Mancuso, Ringler Shagin, Wiest, and Pfund all voted in favor of the ordinance. Chapter § 190-143 is here https://ecode360.com/6694062 .
Over the years many residents argue that this should be repealed to ensure that we don’t see overdevelopment at Valley and in the CBD in terms of densities and building scale. It’s felt this will better protect our property values.
But last night the council agreed to repeal Ordinance 3066 once and for all in all its glory which will allow the Village to once again gain control of its own destiny and close the door on incongruous non conforming development. The final repeal will come in the August public meeting.
Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen administers the formal oath of office to Ridgewood Police Chief Jacqueline B. Luthcke before a standing room only audience in the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Courtroom at Village Hall on Wednesday, 07/20/2016.
Ridgewood NJ, Is there some reason that Paul Aronsohn and Gwenn Hauck both continue to maintain their respective ego driven, pretentious, outdated web sites?
In his recent article in the always Democratic machine friendly Bergen Record former Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn engages in what can only be categorized as an attempt to set the stage for a political comeback though historical revisionism ,blatant dishonesty and a subtle attempt to undermine the current council.
The former mayor clearly still does not understand Ridgewood ,where it has always been considered very bad form for previous council members to criticize current new council members before they get a chance to get their seats warm.
Aronsohn’s term as mayor can be best described as contentious ,dishonest, controversial and to many the worst and most ineffective mayor in recent history. Rivaling the darkest days of Jane Reilly and the abject stupidity of the Village Hall reconstruction.
Aronsohn needs to face facts that Hudson County Machine Politics do not belong or according to the last election will be tolerated the Village of Ridgewood .
As we read through Aronsohn’s opinion piece it felt like we had heard all this before. Phases like “Ridgewood at a crossroads “, “Progress and Tradition “, “Kick the can down the road “and “Need to move forward ” all sounded eerily familiar. And yes they are these very words are the words of Councilmen Ramon Hache in the Ridgewood blog on March 9th (https://theridgewoodblog.net/ramon-m-hache-announces-candidacy-for-ridgewood-village-council/)
So it seems the the former Mayor found in necessary to praise himself while plagiarizing from Councilmen Hache’s campaign.
Perhaps former mayor Aronsohn’s time would be better spent gracefully retiring to a life of gardening and back yard barbecues.
THE VILLAGE of Ridgewood is at a crossroads. For the first time in recent memory, our community has been discussing, debating and even deciding some of the big issues that have long simmered just beneath the surface — issues such as taxes and government services, multifamily housing, parking and, of course, the Valley Hospital. Rather than play it safe and continue to “kick the can down the road,” we have sought to resolve issues that have long eluded us.
YOU ARE INVITED TO RIDGEWOOD WATER CONSUMER FORUMS TO BE HELD JULY 27 & AUGUST 2
You are invited… Ridgewood Water consumers are invited to attend two public forums for information and explanation of the recently mailed Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The first event will take place on Wednesday, July 27 at 9:00 am in the Courtroom of Ridgewood Village Hall. The second event will take place on Tuesday, August 2 at 7:00 pm in the Youth Center of Ridgewood Village Hall. Village Hall is located at 131 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood. Space is limited, so please register by contacting Donna Omelianuk, Ridgewood Water, at 201-670-5500 ext. 271 or by email at [email protected]. The CCR that was mailed contains minor errors that have been corrected in the online version available at water.ridgewoodnj.net. Any questions on this issue or Ridgewood Water will be answered at the forums.
A reader told us that ,”On my walk this morning at 6am the Ridgewood Fire Dept was taking pictures of houses that had their sprinklers running that shouldn’t have been…. Reminder follow the stage 2 restrictions.”
But seem to think its going a bit over board , “What is going on in this town? There are employees going around issuing summonses for watering, sidewalks and “suspected” unlicensed pets.”
Another reader said they , “actual had a court date because I didn’t register my imaginary dog. When I called and asked why they thought I had a dog, they said a neighbor informed them!!”
One reader said they heard a neighbor got a warning because they ,” had a child’s wooden play house in the yard. It was very large. They said it was a dog house. “.
“The pet one is insane. I feel like I live in North Korea.”
The median HOUSEHOLD incomes in Ridgewood are $138,000… teachers work for 10 months a year with tenure in many cases, so if you annualize teacher pay for 12 months work, they get paid paid the same as an entire household at the median in Ridgewood, i.e. $118,000 for 10 months = $136,000 for 12 months, with the added safety of tenured job security. Add in:
1) taxpayer subsidized $28,000 annual family “platinum” health benefit plan, which is much better than the average private sector employer plan (equivalent to “bronze”), and has much lower premiums, $5-10 co-pays, and covers up to 96% of all billable costs; as well as,
2) defined benefit pension plans for life which TPAF members contribute less than 7.5% of their annual wages towards (still!) and start drawing at an average age of 62 in NJ which can be worth over $2 million if the retiree lives to average US lifespan; and,
3) sick leave which gets carried over year after year instead of the “use it or lose it” sick leave offered by private sector employers
It becomes very clear that teachers have a MUCH better deal than the median Ridgewood household, which pays much higher health plan co-pays and deductibles for less health benefit coverage (on average, private sector plans only cover 84% of medical expenses), loses unused sick leave that cannot be carried over, runs the risk of job loss, and contributes up to 16% of their annual wages towards defined contribution pension plans, i.e. 401(k) plans. Combined teacher benefits are already too high even for well qualified, experienced, certified, professionals… which, by the way, is not what we got from the REA in the 2015/16 academic year. We got petulant, greedy, bad faith, so-called professionals who let our kids and schools down in a multitude of ways, from recommendation letters, to after school programs and activities, to community outreach. Notice the lack of signs supporting teachers in Ridgewood; we’ve had enough.
Ridgewood NJ, A 68-year old female Alzheimer’s patient was found safe more than two (2) hours after she went missing from her Ridgewood home on Tuesday afternoon, 07/19. Ridgewood PD conducted an intense search of areas surrounding the woman’s home off of Prospect Street after her husband reported her missing at approximately 2:45 PM. A tracking canine from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search, along with volunteers from Ridgewood’s Emergency Services Division. The uninjured patient was located after an employee from a nearby nursery school reported to police that she saw someone lying down in a wooded area behind the school.
It doesn’t make sense that a village manager is announcing what a tenant has spent for their own personal gain at a public meeting? And then when the village manager is asked to provide facts about the information she put out there she is unable. How can a town like Ridgewood let this manager get away with this. If the information is said at a meeting then it should be available to the public at that moment. What is this healthbarn and what does it have to do with Ridgewood and the village manager? Seems a lot of time is spent on the subject. And a lot of the tax payers dollars are being used to help a business. I heard on one hand it is a partnership but then I heard that all Ridgewood is collecting is the same rent the tenant before paid. Any info is welcome
Ridgewood NJ, according to the Glen Rock Patch self proclaimed Tom Petty superfan Jake Thistle raised more than $1,800 Saturday at Kilwins Ridgewood 121 E Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450 , for the Rock The Dogs, a non-profit run by Mike Campbell, the lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
In a Facebook message Thistle wrote :
“This charity event is tonight! Please come out if you can make it. I’m donating my pay and everything I earn to Rock the Dogs/Tazzy Fund. I’m also going to live stream as much as I can on Facebook
Even if you can’t come, it would be great if you want to donate something on PayPal– my dad said he would match all online donations, so anything you donate will be double! If you want, you can PayPal something to [email protected].
It’s for a great cause! Thank you!”
Campbell saw a video of Thistle performing one of the Heartbreakers’ songs. After he contacted Thistle with an encouraging message ,Thistle decided to thank him in a very meaningful way so he came up with the idea of doing a fundraiser for Rock The Dogs.
Mike Campbell, guitar player of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers started Rock The Dogs with wife Marcie.
In 2008 Mike and Marcie Campbell founded ROCK THE DOGS! A program run through Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund of Burbank CA. The mission is to raise funds in support of the rescue efforts of Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund.
Here’s more about the charity: https://www.tazzyfund.com/rockthedogs.html
Thistle is currently still accepting donations for the group. To make a donation online, email Greg Thistle, Jake’s father, [email protected].
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Schools had 3 teachers listed on the Department of Educations list of teachers in the $100,000 per year club.
The three Ridgewood teachers all make $116,173 annually. They are:
DEBELLA, MARGARET SCHAEFER
SCHAEFER, RICHARD MCNAMEE
MCNAMEE, HAROLD NELSON
The Department of Education releases this annual list of teachers and their salaries. The list of educators making joining the $100,000 club has grown . Over a decade ago the list barely had any teachers on it now has grown to more than 5,000.That’s only a tiny fraction of the more than 90,000 people who teach in public and charter schools in this state. The highest earners come from all different schools and not just the so-called “wealthy” districts that routinely rank highly on national and state lists for best schools.
Ridgewood NJ, One (1) summons was issued by Ridgewood PD in connection with a Monday morning, 07/18 rollover crash at the intersection of Kenilworth Road and Spring Avenue in Ridgewood. The driver of a Toyota Camry allegedly ran a stop sign and hit a Hyundai Santa Fe, which then rolled over on its side. A retired Ridgewood firefighter assisted the Hyundai’s driver from the vehicle by kicking out the windshield; he suffered a minor cut to his leg in the process, but refused to be transported to a hospital. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Ridgewood FD personnel attended to a minor crash related fluid spill. Spring Avenue was closed in both directions between Circle and South Pleasant Avenues while the crash scene was being cleared.
The committee members who signed those advertisements and letters to the editor should also resign. As citizens they have a right to free speech. They signed those letters as advisory committee members going.
They were never an independent voice. Their mission should be defined, their minutes should be public. Otherwise they are political hacks.
All boards should have by laws and minutes.
The FAC seems like a tool of the council and not an independent body. They did not help to dispel this image when two members ran for council supported by the current council majority. Their letters to the editor in support of the council majority causes showed that they did not exercise good judgment.
“The third section details capital investments that Health Barn has made at Habernickel. Health Barn has already exceeded its $60,000 capital commitment.”
ZERO FACTS to support this statement, and despite numerous e-mail requests made to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld for backup details, NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO DATE.
In fact, in response to several e-mails from residents, Sonefeld replied in writing that “Stacey Antine is currently out of the country . . . ” (i.e., currently unable to provide the requested details) – however, within hours of Sonefeld’s e-mail being sent, Ms. Antine was observed walking to her car at 1057 Hillcrest Road, Ridgewood, NJ USA. Huh?
Leading many residents to wonder if the ” . . . already exceeded its $60,000 capital commitment” is a BOGUS statement (i.e., a lie).
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Blog received a tip that one of the boats pictured here was moved to another piece of Village owned property. Our tipster also reported that employees of the Village’s Street Department assisted in moving the watercraft. It is not know whether the boat was towed there by a Village owned vehicle.
We will not reveal where the boat supposedly is, but will tell you that will the cooperation of a resident who lives near the main entrance to the facility, we have installed well disguised web accessible night vision video camera and are now videotaping all movements in and out of that facility. Additionally, we now have access to a camera equipped drone and will obtain aerial photographs of the property shortly.
Outdoor storage. The following regulations shall govern outdoor storage within the Village:
(1)
In the R-125, R-110, R-1, R-2 and R-3 Residential Zones, and in other zones where a legal one-family or two-family dwelling exists, outdoor storage shall be permitted only as an accessory use to a one-family detached or two-family dwelling and shall be limited to private camping trailers, boats and boat trailers, garden tractors and implements, automobiles, motorcycles and motorbikes, except as otherwise provided below. Such storage shall comply with the following requirements:
(a)
Outdoor storage shall be permitted in the side and rear yard.
(b)
The item as stored shall not exceed six feet in height.
(c)
The item shall be screened with a fence or screening hedge so that such item is not visible from any abutting residential property or street.
(d)
Any items stored in the side yard shall not be permitted closer to the side lot line than the side yard setback requirements for a principal building on the same lot.
(e)
Any of the permitted items enumerated in § 190-124E(1) that exceed a height of six feet, as well as any pickup or panel truck, mobile home, bus, van used for commercial purposes or recreation vehicle, may be stored on any residential lot only if such item shall be kept in an enclosed garage on such lot; provided, however, that the parking of any recreational vehicle outside a garage for up to five separate or consecutive days during a calendar year shall be permitted.
(2)
Outdoor storage of any kind is prohibited in the R-1A, R-2A, R-4 and R-5 and R-7 Zones, except for a legal one-family detached or two-family dwelling.
[Amended 8-9-2006 by Ord. No. 3015]
(3)
Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting parking of passenger vehicles used by the occupant for day-to-day activities, provided that such vehicles have side windows and are parked on the driveway. Trucks parked overnight shall be garaged.
(4)
In all nonresidential zones, no article, equipment, vehicle, supplies or material shall be kept, stored or displayed outside the confines of any building unless and until the following regulations are complied with, except that outdoor cafes licensed by the Village and permitted by this chapter shall be exempt from the following requirements to the extent such exception is required to carry out the outdoor cafe business:
(a)
Outdoor storage is only permitted in the side and rear yards.
(b)
Any items stored in the side yard shall not be permitted closer to the side lot line than the side yard setback requirements for a principal building on the same lot.
(c)
Outdoor storage shall be screened by special planting or fencing, maintained in good condition, so that items being stored shall not be visible from any adjacent property or public street.
[Amended 4-7-2010 by Ord. No. 3242]
(d)
Any fence required to screen the outdoor storage of flammable material otherwise permitted by this chapter shall not be closer than 20 feet to any property line of the lot upon which it is erected.
(5)
Where otherwise permitted by this chapter, the display of new and used motor vehicles for retail sales as a permitted accessory use in the B-2 and C Zone Districts shall not be required to be screened by a planting or fence, except where the premises for such permitted use abuts or faces any premises situated in any residential zone.
(6)
Motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats and trailers parked or stored within the Village shall not be used for sleeping, bathing, toilet functions or the preparation of food, on either a permanent or temporary basis.
[Added 4-9-2008 by Ord. No. 3114]
(7)
Motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats and trailers parked or stored in the Village shall not be used for the storage of items or materials. Exempted from this prohibition is the storage of items or materials in such vehicles or equipment that are designed for this purpose, when such vehicles or equipment are accessory and incidental to the principal use on the property and are not prohibited by other regulations. By way of example, but not limitation, this subsection shall be interpreted to prohibit the storage of items or materials in a commercial vehicle or commercial trailer on a residential property, unless such commercial vehicle or trailer is permitted to be located on the property by other regulations of the Village.
[Added 4-9-2008 by Ord. No. 3114]
(8)
The storage of flammable, toxic or hazardous materials on property or in vehicles shall comply with all applicable regulations, including but not limited to the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Village’s Department of Health and the Fire Department.
[Added 4-9-2008 by Ord. No. 3114]
In fact, remembering the details of a meeting well enough to approve or question them is only possible within a very short time. Not to mention that just getting it out of the way immediately is the only sane way to proceed.
There are rules (laws?) about this, which the previous council broke constantly. And this has happened before, with previous councils approving months and months of meeting minutes all at once just before some of them stepped down from the dais for the last time. Hearing them approve many months of minutes that they couldn’t possibly have read through was proof positive, if we needed it, that they were hiding everything they could from the public and press and spending time only on issues from which they would benefit personally. Or at the very least, they were comfortable flouting the law and making things much harder for residents as well as others, including attorneys, researchers, developers, etc., seeking meeting minutes.
