Affordable Housing - Page 5 of 6 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on April 12, 2017 April 12, 2017

Enact a moratorium on affordable litigation through December 31, 2017

Support A-4666/S-3080 and A-4667/S-3081, Affordable Housing
11 Tuesday Apr 2017

Update: Click here to ask your State Legislators to support these bills.

The League supports both A-4666/S-3080 and A-4667/S-3081. Both bills are a response to the current affordable housing impasses in the State and lack of a statewide housing policy and guidance for municipalities.

Because the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) has been unable to adopt valid regulations since 1999, the New Jersey Supreme Court transferred jurisdiction over municipal compliance to the Courts. As a result, in July 2015 over 300 municipalities sought to voluntarily comply by seeking declaratory judgement from the Court. To date approximately 100 municipalities have reached settlements and some other municipalities are no longer under the Court’s jurisdiction. We estimate that approximately 150 municipalities are either in or awaiting trial to determine their respective affordable housing obligation. Each Court vicinage is proceeding independently, with different judges and different appointed experts making independent determinations. The result has been a costly and disjointed process, which does not serve the interests of taxpayers or low income families.

Specifically A-4666 and S-3080 enact a moratorium on affordable litigation through December 31, 2017. The bill would not impact any judgement or settlement issued or agreed to before the effective date of the Act. Current litigation would be stayed until the moratorium expires.

A-4667 and S-3081 establishes the Affordable housing Obligation Study Commission. This Commission would consist of 7 members, including:

the Executive Director of the Housing Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA), ex officio;
an appointee of the Senate President;
an appointee of the Senate Minority Leader;
an appointee of the Speaker of the Assembly;
an appointee of the Assembly Minority Leader;
an appointee of the Governor, from a list submitted by the League of Municipalities; and,
an appointee of the Governor, from a list submitted by the Fair Share Housing Center.

The Commission will do the following:

(1) Examine and study the history of affordable housing in New Jersey and how past practices at the State and local level have resulted in the State’s current legal framework.

(2) Analyze past guidance from State agencies and advocacy groups to municipalities with respect to methods of satisfying existing and future affordable housing obligations to determine whether such guidance has been effective.

(3) Analyze the actual and projected population increases in the State, the number of affordable housing units actually needed to serve the needs of residents.

(4) Hold such public hearings and other activities as may be desirable, at the discretion of the commission, to ensure adequate public input into the preparation of a report.

(5) Gather and disseminate such information on housing needs and strategies as may be useful for the work of the commission and informative to the public.

(6) Prepare, adopt, and publish a report, not later than the 365th day next following the organization of the commission, that provides recommendations to municipalities regarding strategies which could be utilized to meet affordable housing obligations, and to State agencies on how best to assist municipalities in meeting affordable housing obligations.

Considering the extensive and ongoing expenditures of public financial resources in the Courts, passage of these common sense bills is critical. The Legislature needs to step in and establish a reasonable and rational path forward for local governments, for taxpayers and for families in need of affordable housing. These bills create the opportunity to do so in a timely fashion.

A-4666 and A-4667 are referenced to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee. S-3080 and S-3081 are referenced to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

Click here to ask your State Legislators to support these bills.

Contact:

Michael F. Cerra, Assistant Executive Director, mcerra@njslom.org, 609-695-3481 x120.

Posted on March 3, 2017 January 21, 2019

Ridgewood Council Appoints Brigette Bogart as Part-time Village planner

March 3,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Village council has hired Brigette Bogart of Brigette Bogart Planning and Design Professionals to serve as the village’s part-time planner, replacing the departed Blais Brancheau.

Bogart will attend planning and zoning board meetings, as well as review development applications filed by third parties, among other duties. Compensation will be an amount not to exceed $60,000.

According to the firm’s website, Brigette Bogart Planning & Design Professionals LLC was established in May of 2012 as a full service planning and design firm that recognizes the need to incorporate sustainable planning and appropriate urban design concepts into the future development projects.

Bogart has a Master of City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania, 2000 and a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture, North Carolina State University, 1997.

She has been awarded the 2008 NJPO Achievement in Planning for Borough of Park Ridge Rehabilitation Project,
2011 NJPO Achievement in Planning for the Township of Fredon Master Plan ,and the 2012 Recognized by Sustainable New Jersey as a member of a Certified Green Team.

Bogart previously worked for 12 years for the well-known Westwood-based planning firm Burgis Associates. In 2003, Bogart was named a Partner with Burgis Associates where she had been involved in all aspects of physical planning. Over a 12-year span, she has represented several municipalities in the review of subdivision and site plan development applications and the preparation of land use regulations as well as master plan elements. In 2010 She received her certification in Grant Writing.

Many residents may remember Bogart as the planner who testified on behalf of Citizens for a Better Ridgewood in 2014 during public hearings on the master plan amendments that would eventually rezone several parcels of land in downtown Ridgewood. Bogart said the rezoning requests “appear to be akin to spot zoning,”

She advised the Ridgewood Planning Board to engage in a cautious process, asking it to think about a “vision” for Ridgewood’s future as it moves forward. At the time their vision seemed more like Union City than Ridgewood .

Bogart herself took a cautious tone did not voice a stance against the developments, but she noted instead that the developments, though possibly at odds with Ridgewood’s best interests, would also help Ridgewood meet some of the current objectives in its master plan, such as enhancing aesthetics of certain areas downtown.

In the end, Bogart testimony reinforced the CBR’s contention that the problem was not development but “jumping from 12 units an acre to 50 units an acre seems reckless at best.”

At that time, the proposed amendments called for a density of 50 units per acre, which members of the grassroots organization CBR as well as most of the Ridgewood community, found unacceptable. Amendments were passed over a year later by the Planning Board reducing the density to 35 units per acre.

The Village Council also added two new members to the Planning Board, Carrie Giordano was appointed as the first alternate member of the board with a term that expires on June 30, 2018. Frances Barto was named as the second alternate, given a term of a little over two years that expires on June 30, 2019.

The village also engaged the Trenton-based Clark, Caton and Hintz planning firm for an amount not to exceed $35,000 to work on issues related to affordable housing.

Posted on February 24, 2017 February 24, 2017

Testimony concludes on Chestnut Street proposal in Ridgewood

Chestnut_street_parking_theridgewoodblog

file photo

Mark Krulish , Staff Writer, @Mark_Krulish6:54 p.m. ET Feb. 23, 2017

Ridgewood — Testimony on behalf of an applicant proposing a multifamily housing development on Chestnut Street concluded in front of the Planning Board on Tuesday, though more steps remain before a final vote is taken.

The board will have the opportunity for its own experts to testify and undergo cross-examination. There will also be time for public comment on any aspect of the proposal before a final attorney summation and board discussion.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ridgewood/2017/02/23/testimony-concludes-chestnut-street-proposal-ridgewood/98259162/

Posted on February 15, 2017 January 20, 2019

Bergen County will be Brooklyn

State Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, who attended the meeting, said she is preparing new legislation that would potentially help towns, especially densely populated communities like Dumont, address their affordable housing obligations.

“Every municipality in Bergen County is struggling, having no idea how to address it,” Schepisi said. “My biggest concern is, if they have their way, if we don’t stop this now, by 2026 Bergen County will be Brooklyn.”

https://www.northjersey.com/…/action-stayed-dumont…/97846622/

Posted on January 21, 2017 January 20, 2019

Readers say NJ Supreme court shows without any doubt that the judiciary in New Jersey has arrogated to itself governmental powers that should have been committed exclusively to the legislative branch

The recent NJ Supreme court case pinning untold thousands of units of affordable housing obligations on “recalcitrant” municipalities who fought against them in court shows without any doubt that the judiciary in New Jersey has arrogated to itself governmental powers that, if they could be legitimately be exercised at all, should have been committed exclusively to the legislative branch. Heaven help us, because whatever real differences that exist between New Jersey and the average banana republic state are becoming very difficult to find. The unfortunate exodus of decent citizens from New Jersey can only increase from here on out.

These judges are like gods. They can take decisions without much worry about people’s lives in the name of “common good”. How is it possible to not take residents’ concerns into consideration but just shove it to them?!?! HoHoKus may be asked to build close to 300 affordable units. How crazy is this? A tiny , nice place right next door to Ridgewood. How can 300 units fit in there. If HHK is asked for 300 how many will Ridgewood be asked for? It has to be over 1000. There are plans to build where Granny’s attic is and also to take away the lower parking lot by the train station. Add to this the looming Valley building by N Maple and you don’t have a village anymore. In a few years if nobody does something about this (residents are all asleep or occupied with Trump’s upcoming “disasters”) we won’t have a village anymore but a city called Ridgehokus.

Posted on January 21, 2017 April 9, 2020

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi calls for legislative fix to Supreme Court rules on affordable housing

January 21,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi released the following statement on the state Supreme Court decision requiring municipalities to provide affordable housing for the “gap period:”

“I am deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to enforce a gap-period. This ruling will devastate all 23 municipalities I represent and suburban municipalities throughout the state. The failure of the legislature to address the social engineering of the court should not result in changing communities forever.”

“I implore our Senate President and Assembly Speaker to do everything in their power to move forward with bi-partisan legislation addressing this issue. The court rules on what is constitutional, not aggressively ruling what it thinks is best for the state. We cannot let the court legislate what is best for individual communities.”

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi goes on, “While ideologically I think our communities want to welcome all regardless of income levels the mandates of COAH have implications far beyond that. Many of our communities with populations under 10,000 people are facing the threat of population increases of 10 percent or more without the infrastructure, schools or services to support massive population increases. We currently receive virtually no money from the state to support our schools, our Municipalities, our infrastructure. Mandating massive building in our communities (many of which are done with PILOT agreements) without any financial help to do so will cause a significant financial burden on all. As an example the new 150 unit apartment complex with commercial components will be paying less than $1,750 per average unit per year (in property taxes and payments in lieu of taxes combined) for 30 years with slight increases based upon rental incomes received by the developers. Meanwhile every other home in the Borough is paying an average of about $12,000 per year in property taxes . That $12,000 figure is guaranteed to rise in order to make up for the shortfalls. Further, people have chosen to live in the suburbs for a reason. Prior to moving back to Bergen County I lived many years in cities including Washington, New York and London. I choose where we live today because of the open space, the small class sizes, the fact that there weren’t five or six story buildings around me. Why should the Courts be able to change the entire character of the community I live in?”

Posted on January 19, 2017 January 19, 2017

Reader asks Why all of a sudden this hysteria of pushing for affordable housing. Whose agenda is this?

If you voted for Obama or any Democrat in New Jersey it is your Agenda

This is such bullshit. Why all of a sudden this hysteria of pushing for affordable housing. Whose agenda is this? Why stuff nice towns and villages with buildings that are out of character? Why force villages that people have worked very hard to build and live in to bring low income families who will certainly affect the quality of life? Why urbanize beautiful places that residents are so proud of and care so much about ? This will destroy these places and will provide no value to anyone. If you want affordable housing build in places that are already messed up such Hackensack, Rutheford etc. I am sure I am not the only who is stressed out about this nonsense.

Posted on September 29, 2016 September 29, 2016

Village Council Meeting Produces Big News on Many Fronts

September 29,2016

the staffof the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewooood NJ, Once again, much was accomplished with this new and improved council! Of course somethings never change ,Rurik Halaby came to the mic twice to insinuate that Ms. Knudsen( pronounced once correctly, second time with a hard k!) should be transparent about her raffle win and her sons becoming Ridgewood police officers. Thankfully Susan called for a point of order and Bernie Walsh made reference to Roberts Rules and that personal comments made to a council member from the floor are not allowed. It probably won’t stop future rants.

Richard Calbi from the Water Department gave a good report on the chromium 6 that has been in the news. According to Ridgewood Water Ridgewood is below the level considered dangerous even though the EPA has made no formal recommendations or issued guidelines.Currently Ridgewood Water is below the California guidelines and those issued by The World Health Organization.

Matt Rogers reported on the status of Affordable Housing, the water suit filed by Glen Rock, Midland Park and Wyckoff and the Valley Hospital appeal.

Affordable Housing: a status conference is scheduled for October, otherwise all is quiet on that front.

Ridgewood Water: a possible trial in November if a scheduled mediation in October is not successful.

Valley Hospital: Appeals Court Agrees to hear Ridgewood against Valley Hospital Expansion Case. It sounds too good to be true but after a long battle it another opportunity for the new council to make their mark. What happens next is any bodies guess.

The status of suit filed against the Planning Board was not mentioned.

A discussion about parking at the council level was very productive as they are looking at immediate remedies to improve parking before any construction is initiated.

Ramon Hache gave a Field’s Committee update and possible solutions to remediate Maple Field. One suggestion is to infuse the current field with millions of rubber pellets or replace the current field.Another idea was to build berm to protect the field better from floods . What was not mentioned is that these pellets will go into the drains, the brook and on the kids! As we all know Maple Field is in an active flood plain. Perhaps an analysis as to what would be the cost of replacing it with natural grass vs. new artificial turf and or its remediation? No easy solution for this one .

Discussion on the placement of art in the village. The Library might be making a presentation soon on their plans to build a performing arts center, approx. cost , 5 million dollars! They are seeking help from the Village to bond this amount .Not sure how that will be received. Love the library but other issues may be higher on the agenda.

Posted on June 20, 2016 June 19, 2016

Ridgewood Planning Board Meeting to Focus on the Housing Element of the Village Master Plan

June 19,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Public Hearing on Housing Element of the Village Master Plan, and the World Mission Society, Church of God will be the focus of the June 21st ,Ridgewood Planning Board meeting.

PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE/AGENDA

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Village Hall Court Room– 7:30 P.M.

(all timeframes and the order of agenda items below are approximate and subject to change)

7:30 p.m. – Call to Order, Statement of Compliance, Flag Salute, Roll Call – In accordance with the provisions of Section 10:4-8d of the Open Public Meetings Act, the date, location, and time of the commencement of this meeting is reflected in a meeting notice, a copy of which schedule has been filed with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk, The Ridgewood News and The Record newspapers, and posted on the bulletin board in the entry lobby of the Village municipal offices at 131 North Maple Avenue, and on the Village website, all in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.

Roll call: Aronsohn, Bigos, Knudsen, Nalbantian, Joel, Reilly, Dockray, Thurston, Altano, Abdalla, Patire

7:35 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board

7:45 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. – Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics, Correspondence Received by the Board

7:55 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – World Mission Society, Church of God

8:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. – Public Hearing on Housing Element of the Village Master Plan

10:30 p.m. – 10:40 p.m. – Adoption of Minutes: July 7, 2015

10:40 p.m. – Executive Session (if needed)

Adjournment

In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work sessions, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings, which are always open to members of the general public.

Members: Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Nancy Bigos, Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, Charles Nalbantian, Richard Joel, Kevin Reilly, Wendy Dockray, David Thurston, Isabella Altano, Khidir Abdalla, Debbie Patire

Professional Staff: Blais L. Brancheau, Planner; Gail L. Price, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary

Posted on June 7, 2016 June 7, 2016

N.J. court hears housing dispute, promises quick decision

A panel of Appellate Division judges heard arguments Monday on whether New Jersey’s municipalities must zone for the many thousands of affordable housing units that were not approved between 1999 and 2015. David O’Reilly, Inquirer Read more

Posted on April 30, 2016 April 30, 2016

Ridgewood Councilwomen Knudsen Takes Time to Expalin the Route 17 housing issue and process

April 30,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Council women Susan Knudsen explains the Route 17 housing issue and process:

“All, Just my brief explanation of the issue being discussed. First, please understand I was absent from the 4/19 PB meeting due to an emergency medical matter; however, I can offer background info, process moving forward and meeting details as confirmed by our PB secretary to ensure the accuracy of my comments specific to the 4/19 meeting.

As required by law the planning board must prepare and submit a Housing Element Plan. Included in the preliminary discussions were several acres along the route 17 corridor and West Saddle River Road. Those details include low density townhouses, or some type of housing, along with the required small % set aside for affordable housing. Tremendous efforts are being made to protect and enhance the surrounding residential neighborhood by including very specific requirements to be applied to any future development.

There has been no public hearing and the approval on 4/19 was simply for our Village planner to continue his work on the Housing Element. Any public Hearing will require proper public notice as required by law. That has not occurred and there has been no formal (legal) adoption of the Housing Element. The Public Hearing will be scheduled for mid-May, or possibly later, mindful of the timing pursuant to a judge’s order requiring PB Housing Element and Fair Share Housing Plan be submitted by the 6/30/16 deadline.. Any zoning change is subject to Village Council approval and adoption via ordinance requiring additional public hearing(s). The Housing Element will include several other locations in different areas throughout the Village – the entire process is ongoing.

The reporter’s reference to “developer” presumably suggests any future development would be required to follow the zoning regulations including height, setback, buffers, density, etc. Presently, to my knowledge, there’s no developer involved in any of the subject properties in the Housing Element.

To be included in future PB/VC updates please email sknudsen@RidgewoodNJ.net. Also, I encourage residents to check the Village website for meeting and agenda info. Again, there has been no public hearing on this and no changes have been adopted for this acreage or the other locations. Because I was absent for the 4/19 meeting my VC report on this was delayed and will be part of my next VC report.”

Posted on March 30, 2016 March 29, 2016

Affordable housing contentious Issue in Bergen County

March 29,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, Ridgewood is not the only town have both concerns and difficulties with the both the placement and quantity of court mandated affordable housing in the Village. The ongoing battle over how much court-ordered housing should be built in each municipality has grown particularly contentious in Bergen County, where the main issue is: Where does it go ?

While housing advocates, developers and even some local officials like our council majority in Ridgewood have what they think is an answer ; sites of all those aged, often vacant storefronts and corporate buildings that didn’t make it. Developers often call these “stranded assets”.

The answer in Ridgewood is derelict sites in the Central Business District that can hold multi purpose development . This site the old “Town Garage” , Brogan and Ken smith as well as 599 South Maple offer developers and opportunity to meet affordable housing requirements along with other development needs .

While hundreds of municipalities are in court fighting proposed housing quotas which officials claim ignore the realities of the housing market and the pressing lack of vacant land as well as the quality of life and character of the town effected.

Posted on March 18, 2016 March 25, 2016

Ridgewood’s Planning Board reviews litigation matters, affordable housing

BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD – The village’s planning board met Wednesday night in the hopes of coming to decisions in regards to pressing matters currently before the board such as Valley Hospital and the village’s affordable housing obligations.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/members-review-litigation-matters-affordable-housing-1.1529792

Posted on March 3, 2016 March 3, 2016

N.J. judge challenging whether municipalities still face past, unmet affordable-housing obligations

BY MARINA VILLENEUVE
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

A state judge has challenged a core argument by more than 200 municipalities opposing advocates’ call for construction of more than 200,000 low- and moderate-income housing units statewide over the next 10 years.

Judge Marc Troncone’s Feb. 18 ruling in Superior Court, Ocean County, marks the second time a judge has ruled that local governments can’t ignore the housing demand that’s built up since 1999 amid stagnant action on the issue.

Troncone is one of 15 judges reviewing the affordable housing plans of hundreds of municipalities statewide — and what should be their baseline numbers.

Both municipalities and housing rights groups cite experts with sharply different ways of calculating so-called affordable housing needs until 2025. Each side says it is the one being realistic.

Troncone’s opinion specifically questions a Dec. 30 report, commissioned by a group of 283 municipalities, putting the need at just under 37,000 units. The Philadelphia-based Econsult Solutions report doesn’t include the “gap period” of 1999-2015, when a state agency failed to set affordable-housing quotas for communities..

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-judge-challenging-whether-municipalities-still-face-past-unmet-affordable-housing-obligations-1.1521053

Posted on November 17, 2015 November 17, 2015

Affordable Housing Deadline dictates housing dialogue in Ridgewood

NOVEMBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015, 2:23 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

With the deadline to submit a housing element to the courts, village officials must act diligently to avoid possible lawsuits and meet its affordable housing obligations.

Housing was a major topic of last Monday’s meeting as affordable housing and how to proceed in regard to the issue of multifamily housing in Ridgewood’s Central Business District (CBD) came to the forefront.

The village successfully applied for a declaratory judgment seeking immunity from possible builder’s remedy lawsuits in July and was given five months to come up with a housing plan to be submitted to the court.

Village Attorney Matthew Rogers noted the court had found Ridgewood had been acting in good faith, which can be at least partially attributed to the inclusion of the Planning Board’s June 2 decision to amend the master plan and create new zones that allow residential and mixed-use development in previous commercial areas.

Rogers said he advised the court the council was carrying the ordinances in order to conduct additional studies as to the impact new housing would have on the village.

The housing element must first be determined by the village’s Planning Board, as it is the sole arbiter of the master plan document. The plan must then be submitted to the Village Council for consideration and adoption before the Dec. 7 deadline.

However, Rogers said there were a couple of “major impediments” to accomplishing that task.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/deadline-dictates-housing-dialogue-in-ridgewood-1.1456572

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