To my fellow residents:
This coming village council election on May 10 is likely to be the most important in Ridgewood’s history. It sounds like I am exaggerating, but unfortunately I am not. In the four years since most of the current council was in place, Ridgewood has set in motion three projects–a doubling in size of Valley hospital, high-density luxury housing, and a parking garage–all at the same time. This to me signals a move toward urbanization and is not the reason we moved to Ridgewood!
I did not know this when we moved here in 2013, but the village council plays an enormous role in the village. Residents elect council members, and from that five-person group come the mayor and deputy mayor. Those two roles are largely ceremonial but as a group the five people have a LOT of say in the village, including appointing the planning board, zoning board, financial advisory committee, village manager, and more.
These three projects coming to a head now are because the three exiting members of the board have voted lockstep in a bloc. We want three INDEPENDENT voices bringing different viewpoints to the table, who will manage measured growth and development holistically across the village–taking into account infrastructure, schools, safety, and more–and who will work WITH residents as well as developers toward right-sized projects instead of letting the floodgates open.
For this reason I am voting Voigt, Walsh, and Hache
I’ve spoken to many of you regarding the high-density housing issue. I’m not against development, I’m against massive development. 35 units an acre is too much and sets a precedent for future development. More importantly is the impact it will have on our school system. Our schools are already overcrowded and I’m not willing to stand by and sacrifice our children’s education.
This next part is probably too much in the trenches, but it’s important to know the hospital SUED the village–the planning board and the village council–after its expansion plan was rejected in 2014, and the next village council is our best shot at fighting back. Since it launched its expansion plan 10 years ago, Valley continues to fail to give us a viable compromise–the last one offered a mere 3 percent reduction. That’s not a typo.
I, and the candidates I’m endorsing, are not anti-hospital. not anti-modernization, anti-change, anti-development. I am anti-doubling in size and projects that are too big. Valley wants buildings the size of Paramus Park Mall in a residential area surrounded by homes–this will in effect dramatically, and forever, change the fabric of the entire village.
I could go on and on, but appreciate your taking the time to read this! Thank you for voting May 10.
Christopher Kaufman
