Ridgewood NJ, at last nights Planning Board meeting the Ridgewood Planning board cleared the way Village Council designate the Hudson Street Parking lot an “area in need of redevelopment.” .The vote is a major step toward stream lining the garage development process , lowering costs and giving the council members the ability to negotiate directly with a developer of their choosing, rather than putting a design out to bid.
This vote did not mean that the Ridgewood Planning Board approves a garage at Hudson Street , it merely designated the area a “blighted area” , giving the council the ability to more more effectively for tax payers.
The council has been eyeing a modular design, using precast parts, from Pike, a Rochester, New York, firm. The Pike proposal came in far cheaper , saving tax payer money and with a much shorter disruptive construction period. Pike’s more modest and cost effective proposal is far different than the “Garagezilla ” that the former mayor Paul Aronsohn and his collogues attempted to push through .
While many resident supported a garage , they rejected “Garagezilla” on both the choice of financing schemes , making no financial sense for the Village and because the gigantic garage did not fit the footprint of the current lot .
Ridgewood NJ, at this point you can only laugh . Once again another ” independent traffic consultant” told the planning board on Tuesday night that a two-building mixed-use redevelopment project in the old Sealfon’s space would have minimal impact on downtown traffic , this time wait for it , “due to a massive reduction in the properties’ existing commercial space”. Where do they find these people? The “retail” is a teller less bank and one retail store ?
The planning board showed great restraint not busting into laughter. By the way where is the water going to come from?
The Enclave as it is called would encompass several properties, including that of the Hallmark Floor Company and Sealfon’s on Maple Avenue, and would contain 39 luxury-rate apartments on four floors above one story of underground parking lot that will serve the building’s commercial units with 84 spaces. A second story of parking at street level would be reserved for tenants of The Enclave but would only contain 47 spaces 10 spaces short of what zoning codes require.
The Enclave would be the fourth “Aronsohn” or “3 amigo” inspired project that followed a master plan amendment to rezone downtown Ridgewood for multifamily high density housing.
As a kicker 257 Ridgewood Avenue LLC would even be willing to add a $50,000 contribution to a fair share trust fund, which would partially fund a replacement traffic light for Maple and Franklin avenues. The would mean Village tax payers would be stuck with anywhere from $200-400,000 of the cost . Maybe the previous council majority should be asked to fund the upgrades or the developer should share ownership with the Ridgewood taxpayer ?
Nicholas Katzban, Staff Writer, @NicholasKatzban Published 7:38 p.m. ET Aug. 29, 2017 | Updated 8:41 p.m. ET Aug. 29, 2017
A Superior Court judge in Bergen County ruled Tuesday that a former Ridgewood councilman was not in conflict when he voted to rezone areas of downtown for multifamily homes, a council move that caught the ire of some residents who decried the push toward higher densities in their sleepy bedroom community.
Following four major amendments to the village’s master plan in 2015 that nearly tripled the allowable density in certain municipal zones, a group calling itself Ridgewood Citizens for Reasonable Development sued the Village Council, looking to block the ordinances that codified those amendments.
The group alleged that then-Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Councilman Albert Pucciarelli had discussed and approved the ordinances despite two separate conflicts of interest.
The “demand for parking” in Ridgewood is a myth put forward by the previous Council majority. I drove past the site where they wanted to build a 5 story parking garage at 8:00 pm on a Saturday night and the lot was about 75% full. Plenty of parking available. For those of us that work in the CBD, we know that there are certain hours of the WEEK that are difficult to find parking but overall there are plenty of spots available.
The passing of the infamous bike path should be a cautionary and oft-repeated tale.
The bike path is a prime example of why Aronson dragged us down into the place where we are now. He wanted to “improve” the Village to suit his own myopic view of what a modern day town should look like. He neither sought nor obtained consensus, merely a chorus of well meaning but unbalanced followers who likened what Aronson was doing to the Seventeen Century rebuilding of France.
Don’t get me wrong, bike paths and accessibility are great ideas, but when you build a bike path, you should base it on the needs of the bike rider, not simply the whimsical fancy of a transient politician. When you do the former and not the latter, you end up exactly as we have ended up with a path to nowhere.
As someone observed, the bike path fiasco will be repaired.. The cost of this boon google is the hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax money spent on the project, the hundreds of hours of school and work commuters’ time spent on the Ridgewood avenue back ups, and the constant risk to public health and safety.
On the other hand, Aronson’s other pet projects inflict injury that might never be repaired.
Now, we face the same ills presented by the mutti-family apartment projects pushed through by Aronson. The addition of hundreds of new families downtown concentrated on two streets running along the train tracks and the train station, will increase our tax burden, strain our administrative resources and risk the health and safety of our school children and elderly pedestrians. All to satisfy the whims of a wanna-be politician and the motives of profit-driven developers. As with the bike path, we have the toxic blend of poor planning and mis-guided intentions. Sadly, the monstrosities about to be built will not be fixed as easily as a bike path.
The garage under consideration by the present council is similarly ill-advised , No one has really articulated why we need it, other than to whine about the need to drive around looking for a weekend space or to spout the fantasy that a parking garage will “save” our downtown. Yet, the current council seems inclined to go build for building sake – – exactly the same approach taken by the prior Council..
There are too many boards, committees, advisory councils etc. They all think they have so much power. The CRAB is a good idea, who would argue with their basic reason for being? But it has been politicized Jan Philips is a nasty woman who has grabbed “power.” It was laughable when her husband came to defend her. Was she even at the meeting? Perhaps sitting tearfully in the audience while Mr. Hans spoke about how civil and lovely she is. The CRAB should still exist, for sure, but with a defined membership that does not include anyone who is out-and-out nasty.
Of course the district can re-assign students at any moment, and of course they are going to have to once the reality of all these new students hits home. Do you seriously think the developers are not going to market these apartments to young families with children? And, if you were a family of any age, wouldn’t you go for the cheapest way to obtain the best education for your family.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And when he was mayor, he went out of his way to give away the Village to others.
The apartment projects are going to attract good solid people, just like those who built the Village and those who work so hard to maintain the quality of life. But, people beget more people, and that’s the fact of life. Its not that we don’t want these people, in our Village – – we absolutely do. Its just that we can’t afford that many new people. We don’t want this number of new people.
The Aronsohn projects will bring in 300 to 400 families when all is said and done. You can expect your taxes to go up to take care of their schooling, lights for their roads, water & sewage infrastructure improvements, etc.
And now that this round of housing is done – – look for the developers to buy up more properties and say they should be able to build the same number of units. And ask this council what the hell it is doing to stop this nonsense, now that the word is out it is easy pickings for developers to zero in on Ridgewood.
you are wrong and you bought into the fake arguments raised by Arohson, Pucciarli and the developers. Yes, we have requirements, but no, we did not need to line Saraceno’s and the other developer’s pockets in order to address these issues.
We were sold up the river, pure and simple, by a mean spirited and self-serving duo of public officials – – remember, they voted to make these projects the law as they were leaving office. They are carpetbaggers who have no place in our Village life.
We have now entered a new phase for life in Ridgewood thanks to the duplicitous duo. And we need to be ready for it. We are now going to much more like New Brunswick than a Ho-Ho-Kus or Glen Rock. We need to work hard to maintain the value of our properties, our schools and other public services as we deal with an influx of people that will totally drain our infrastructure.
Regrettably, it is not clear what the “new” council is doing to address and deal with the issues that lay ahead. Attention must now be focused on bringing them into focus, but as others on this thread have said, that ain’t going to happen if we all stay home and silent..
Nicholas Katzban , Staff Writer, @NicholasKatzban7:03 p.m. ET June 27, 2017
RIDGEWOOD — The Planning Board approved an application Monday night to build a five-story mixed-use development on the former site of Ken Smith Motors. Though board members and residents alike shared concerns regarding the project’s effects on the village’s downtown, a more than 30-year-old legal battle out of North Brunswick sealed the 6-1 approval.
The project would include 66 residential units, 5,500 square feet of retail and 150 parking spaces, all of which fall well within permitted ratios under the village’s master plan, which forced the hands of several board members, otherwise wary of the plan as submitted.
Ridgewood NJ,Cornered by the deal former Mayor Paul Aronsohn cut with developers including resident John Saraceno, Monday night the village planning board had no legal choice but to approve Saraceno’s site application at the former Ken Smith Ford lot on Franklin. Now Saraceno will build a 66 unit, 5 story apartment complex at one of the village’s busiest, and most dangerous intersections. Taxpayers will be on the hook for the massive upgrades to traffic signals that result through the CBD, those costs could total more than $1,000,000.
Saraceno’s apartments at Maple and E. Ridgewood Ave. are up for discussion next.
The massive over-development of Ridgewood is supported by former village manager Roberta Sonnenfeld and 2015 failed council candidate Evan Weitz. Both are thought to be considering runs for village office in 2018.
Ridgewood NJ, After reading the letter former Ridgewood Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld sent to the Ridgewood news ,readers near Habernickel Park were furious. Many thought she had some nerve complaining about new tax & added fees when she was one of the main people who put a FOR profit business in Habernickel Park.
If you look back at neighbors complaints & concerns which were never considered when they went ahead with the plan to change the gatehouse to recreational & educational space you will better understand what they are talking about.
First off the owner of the business Stacey Antine & Roberta graduated Bergen Leads together even though Roberta denied helping Stacey get her business into Ridgewood everyone found it odd since the class was about 10 students.
Healthbarn only pays $3,700 a month for rent never increasing over her 5 year lease, way below the price of an average rental in Ridgewood. Plus in addition they got 12 parking spots & a garden the size 50 feet X 100 feet. The property tax alone on the size of her garden would be around $10,000.00 a year. The previous renter paid about the same for no extra land & no parking spots.
This business was given 12 parking spots for her employees & patrons yet every other business in town have to pay for meters. Basically she is given about $1,200.00 a month worth of parking for free & displacing parents from parking in the lot for sports practice & games….forcing them to park in the street.
This business is now at the tax payers expense having to under go $20,000.00 worth of construction to the entrance of the gate house to make it handicap accessible for the business. If this was still rented to a family this wouldn’t have had to cost the tax payers $20,000.00 it could of been a simpler fix to the all ready front steps.
This business was also given by the town through tax payers dollars
1. Stadium lights for the parking lot only since her classes go past 9pm on some nights
2. Security camera with direct feed to the police & village hall
3. Fire hydrant was needed because it is a business & a added hose for watering her garden
This business also get full garbage pick up & recycling from the village. No other business in town gets this service they have to use an outside provider.
Parks & rec maintain her property which they didn’t do when it was a rental property. Parks & rec advertises on the website for this business making it seem like this is a partnership & residents benefit from this business. That is NOT true we as tax payers get 0% from her business. The village doesn’t advertise for any other business in town so why must they do for her? When you see the ad on parks & rec it will directly you bring you to Healthbarn so then you can sign up for classes or buy her cookbook which none of it brings in revenue to the village…crazy how much we help her make money all the while residents keep having to pay higher taxes & getting charged fees.
Healthbarn USA offer classes that directly compete with the village classes offered thru parks & rec yet parks & rec continues to advertise for this business….a tad shady!
The present & past business manager ever took the time to punch the numbers he/she would realize the loss of rent the tax payers are incurring. The amount of tax payers dollars already spent to get this business up & running & the continued expenses (mentioned above). Police have been called more because of the added traffic & illegal parking of her buses so that I am sure is an added burden to the police.
The neighborhood got slapped in the face with this business. Neighbors keep sending photos to VC about all the violations to the lease but yet nothing has changed the Village continues to support her financially by advertising for her & giving her full access to parks & rec’s resources.
One would wonder HOW this happened……answer Roberts & her friends. Roberta should be careful what she is complaining about in the paper because her past isn’t perfect.
Ridgewood NJ, Monday, June 26th may be residents last chance to weigh in on the five story, 66 unit, multi-retail store complex coming to Franklin and Broad from local developer John Saraceno. The village planning board will meet at 7pm Monday night to hear both of Saraceno’s high-density applications. One at the corner of East Ridgewood and Maple the other at the NJT underpass on Franklin and Broad.
This high-density housing project sets off a chain reaction of public safety problems in Ridgewood. Between Saraceno’s 60+ families plus new stores on Franklin and the 40+ families moving in yards away at the new Chestnut street high-density development, the Franklin Ave corridor will likely be overwhelmed with hundreds upon hundreds of more cars and pedestrians creating an even bigger threat to public safety on an already dangerous road. The Franklin ave corridor has a long history of accidents and pedestrians struck by cars and busses. New traffic signals could cost millions that would be paid for by Ridgewood property tax hikes.
High-density development downtown is allowed thanks to controversial laws championed by Ridgewood resident Saraceno and then-mayor Paul Aronsohn in the face of overwhelming public opposition.
Donna M Rolando , Staff Writer, @Dmmrolando6:59 p.m. ET June 22, 2017
RIDGEWOOD — It’s not only newspaper reporters that are the watchful eyes and champions of transparency at municipal meetings these days.
The League of Women Voters of Ridgewood, a nonpartisan group that advocates for good government, has introduced a local Observer Corps program to stay on top of municipal news through a team of volunteer reporters.
“It’s intense work but if you like to write, and you’re interested in good government and love your community, it’s a good way to participate,” said Pamela Perron, coordinator of the local Observer Corps.
“While I know this is Somerset, it is obvious that with the exception of District 39 and District 40 leadership, the crickets from District 36, District 37 and District 38 are becoming more incessant. When will the leadership of NJ Legislature stop playing this “partisan card”? “, Edward Durfee
Affordable housing mandate threatens quality of life, mayor says
Updated on June 20, 2017 at 3:31 PMPosted on June 20, 2017 at 3:30 PM
BY DAVE HUTCHINSON
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
MONTGOMERY TWP. – Mayor Ed Trzaska is concerned that a potential court mandate requiring the township meet an affordable housing unit quota will put an overwhelming burden on the municipality and negatively effect the quality of life.
At issue is a state Supreme Court ruling in March of 2015 that opened the door for municipalities to be sued for not providing a “fair share” of affordable housing units. The ruling also allows a municipality to demonstrate in court that it has met the requirement to provide affordable housing.
The township, which has a population of some 23,000, has been in the forefront of providing affordable housing units, said Trzaska. Currently, he said the township has 300 affordable housing units, of which more than one-fourth are vacant.
Under a possible court ruling by the Fair Share Housing Counsel, the township could be forced to build between 501 and 1,000 additional affordable housing units, as well as 4,000 market-rate units, said Trzaska. The township has yet to be given the exact number of affordable units it must build, he said.
CRAB is nothing more than a political action committee looking to force their agenda down people throats . Recent attempts by the group to target and undermine the current council and their vicious attacks on anyone who disagrees with their approach undermines there very mission.
The fact is CRAB is just another Aronsohn and an Company group looking to impose Hudson County Machine politics on the Village of Ridgewood . The Latest attempt by CRAB pushing the rainbow flag did nothing to advance acceptance but created a more polarizing political situation in Ridgewood .
And finally by using Councilmen Voigts own logic the group used the wrong rainbow flag ,which according the BLM Black Lives Matter disenfranchises people of color by having them purposely excluded from the “gay coalition” .
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