Tag: CBD

Posted on by — 4 Comments

New Jersey town decides to pay Uber instead of building a parking lot

Marco Rubio Speech On Innovation At Uber's DC Offices

Pilot program is meant to test out ride-hailing as a solution to last mile challenge

by Andrew J . Hawkins Oct 3, 2016, 10:56a

Lately, Uber has been positioning itself as the ultimate solution to the eternal challenge of shuttling people between transit hubs and their homes, also known as the “last mile challenge.” To that end, the ride-hail giant announced today that it struck a deal with the suburban town of Summit, New Jersey, to launch the state’s first subsidized commuter program.

Under the deal, Uber will offer free or extremely cheap rides to commuters who have struggled to find parking at Summit’s New Jersey Transit station. In exchange, the city, which is 30 miles from Manhattan, will subsidize the rides, paying Uber directly to cover the costs of the trips. The city says the deal will help free up nearly 100 parking spots at the transit station, as well as keep it from having to spend millions of dollars to build additional parking.

“As an alternative transportation option, ridesharing is not new,” said Summit Mayor Nora Radest in a statement. “But our program is the first of its kind in the United States to use ridesharing technology as a parking solution. Our innovation has the potential to shape how municipalities think about and implement parking options in the future.”

https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/3/13147680/uber-new-jersey-free-ride-parking-lot-train-commute

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Reader claims Ridgewood News is Trying to Hide Traffic Congestion

Reading_theridgewood_news_theridgewoodblog

Speaking of pedestrians being struck, have you noticed that whoever compiles the police blotter appearing in The Ridgewood News and the Suburban News no longer provides any information about motor vehicle accidents, including incidents involving pedestrians who were seriously injured after being struck by vehicles? Obviously, someone is trying to hide the fact that traffic congestion in Ridgewood is getting worse. I wonder who is behind this deception and why. And why does The Ridgewood News in particular fail to find this information out from other sources? Or is one hand washing the other.

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Van Neste Memorial Park Lighting Project in Ridgewood

Van Neste Memorial Park Lighting Project

photos by Boyd Loving

October 18,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, residents came out to see and participate in the creation of a new era of illumination in the park at the heart of Ridgewood. The Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands hosted a demonstration of Phase I of their lighting and audio project at MEMORIAL PARK AT VAN NESTE SQUARE on Monday, October 17 at 7:30 pm.

DSCF1804

The Conservancy stated prior to the event ,”We will be turning on the lighting in the trees, on our pathways, and on our Historic Memorials for just this one evening, to give you a special demonstration of what the park will look like once Phase II is completed in the spring. We look forward to showing you a magnificent transformation of the park that will ultimately allow the community to host events throughout the year. This gift will be a meaningful to both the residents and the Central Business District, drawing our community together and benefiting all.”

The Van Neste Lighting Project is a collaboration of the Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands with lighting design firm Jan & Brooke, Luminae and the International Landscaping Lighting Institute.

DSCF1800

 

Posted on by — 5 Comments

Reader contradicts , No Councilman Hache did not say “free parking for Employees”

Parking_meters_theridgewoodblog

WHAT??? I was at that meeting and that is not what Councilman Hache said. He was supporting a reduction in the parking fee at Cottage Pl for 60 spots to be set aside for employee parking. It was just for those spots only. He suggested reducing the rate to 25 cents. It was a suggestion in order to get employees to use that lot instead of parking on the street, which will open up spots for customers. And yes, it could also help some of the employees who are minimum wage earners. The free parking was suggested by somebody else.

Editors Note: From what we have heard ,there are over 700(?) employees in the Central Business District so employee parking represents a major issue .Frankly we think employees should be parking at some kind of discounted rate , or free if they park in some distant out of the way spots. We also think meter rates should be lowered but meter times should be extended later into the evening say 9pm ,to give dinners a chance to participate and take some of burden off CBD shoppers .

 

Posted on by — 6 Comments

New era of illumination in the park at the heart of Ridgewood, readers say no thanks

Village of Ridgewood : Van Neste Memorial Park "Revival" project

file photo by Boyd Loving

Damn, turning a charming town into Times Square. There is a time and place for everything.A time for light and a time for darkness, a time for activity and a time for rest. What about saving electricity. Even LED.You know what, I am never going to spend my money in the CBD again. Even to buying gifts at Bookends, unless those lights are ripped out.

So much of this sounds line new-agey nonsense. Can the new council just pull the plug on everything the last council majority approved that hasn’t yet come to fruition?

First of all where did the hell did they get $250,000 ? Second I guess the Chamber and the Guild need all for their events? Next is the Gazebo donation

16-83 Accept Gift from the Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands – Lighting at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square – Accepts the gift from the Ridgewood Conservancy for Public Lands of the purchase and installation of a tree illumination system, installation of conduit in trenches, installation of pathway lighting, installation of concealed electrical outlet boxes, installation of an audio system and other ancillary items at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square. This gift is valued at $250,000. This resolution is adopted pursuant to Title 59.

Posted on by — 23 Comments

Readers ask did Councilman Ramon Hache suggest that because most employees in the CBD make minimum wage the Village of Ridgewood should give those employees free parking?

Ridegwood parking Town garage 12:10 5 24 2016

Did you hear Councilman Ramon Hache suggest that because most employees in the CBD make minimum wage the Village of Ridgewood should give those employees free parking. So let me understand this Councilman because the employers only pay their employees minimum wage it now becomes the Village taxpayers responsible to supplement there income by giving them free parking. How are you going to know if they are indeed being paid minimum wage Councilman ask for their w 2 before you give them free parking ?

Posted on by — 16 Comments

Reader questions whether we can afford Full-day Kindergarten with the hundreds of apartments that are being built downtown

CBD high density housing

Here is my biggest concern with the proposed all day kindergarten. Although conceptually there are pluses, I question whether we can afford it. And I think one of the biggest reasons we won’t be able to afford it has to do with the hundreds of apartments that are being built downtown. These apartments will be marketed to those with two income earners and young families. Our schools are going to be one of the largest drivers of families to those units. I question whether we will be able to afford the influx of new elementary age students as it is, and that problem will be compounded if we have to double the number of kindergarten seats both for existing children and new children. I worry that we are going to need to construct new classrooms at our elementary schools – – and I am not sure that cost has been factored into the equation. I simply haven’t seen enough to convince me that the $110 tax increase is going to cover the costs of new residents from the multifamily housing units. Particularly if we have to build new classrooms to accommodate these new students, then the $110 number may be multiplied very quickly.

We keep proposing to add more and more to our town without thinking through how each addition takes away from the whole. Those pushing for all day kindergarten need to also get involved in other aspects of our town as well so they can view and work towards making sure things remain in balance. It may be a great idea, but does it fit with the needs and budget of the town as a whole? If we are going to keep adding hundreds of new residents, will we be able to afford ideas such as all day kindergarten and are we going to need to cut back on other Village and school services in order to balance our budget?

Posted on by — 27 Comments

October 5th Village of Ridgewood Work Session Recap

Village Council work session

photo by Boyd Loving

October 6,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  Ellie Gruber and Jeanne Epiphan gave a presentation on the state of Gypsy and Kings Pond. Invasive species is a huge problem as well as a dilapidated dam.  Wildscape felt at the very least a fence should be put in place that would help to mitigate the encroachment of damaging species of plants such as Japanese Knotweed.  Tim Cronin said that permits from the DEP would be necessary but the preliminary work could begin if the council agreed.  Jeff Voigt suggested including the Eagle Scouts in the project.  A scout leader was present and said that it could be done.  The council agreed to move forward on the project beginning with the fence.

Next on the agenda was a presentation by the village engineer and resident Jeanne Johnson on the availability of a grant for the purpose of pedestrian safety and alternate transit opportunities ( bikes) for municipalities.  Better stop lights, bike lanes, refuge islands etc.  Mayor Knudsen felt that she would need more information as there had been many  complaints regarding the Garber Square do to the so called improvements ie “traffic easing” and  “suicide bike lane”. The council will read the plans and come to a decision.  The grant application is due November 10th.

Parking was next on the agenda and the council continued its discussion on how best to increase parking options in the CBD for shoppers, employees and commuters.  One idea was to try a pilot program at the Chestnut Street Lot which would use a kiosk which accepts coins, credit cards and Park Mobile.  This seemed doable and the council authorized going forward with this program. Much talk over fees throughout the town at the meters and the lots . Heather will be working on the several ordinances needed to address the changes.

It was  obvious how hard the council is working to improve parking and to mindful of the cost to the village.

Deputy Mayor Mike Sedon explained changes in our tree replacement program which includes allowing the village to examine trees on private property and if a tree had a diameter larger than 6 inches, it could not be taken down unless it was deemed diseased, dead or a hazard.  Trees that are taken down would need to be replaced by the property owner or 150 dollars paid to the village for a tree planting in another location. The hope is to replenish or depleting shade tree stock with municipal funds, grants and stricter guidelines for property owners.

A thin blue line is to be painted between two yellow lines on Linwood Avenue to show support for our police force.

Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser seemed to contract “foot in mouth disease”,when talking about the Village tree stock he used the term Ghetto Palms to describe a tree that grows in Patterson ,saying “The Paterson Palm.  A tree that grows best in ghettos.” he would like to eradicate in Ridgewood.  It was said in a somewhat derogatory manner and both Anne and Boyd spoke about this during public comment.  They were highly offended. Other felt it was a dumb and insensitive comment.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Last Night’s Ridgewood Planing Board Meeting Fireworks and the Recap

Ridgewood Planning board
photo by Boyd Loving
Dear Friends,
Many of you have been asking how the Planning Board meeting went last night, especially given the VP debate going on at the same time. So, pasted at the bottom of this email is the speech I gave.
Before I get to it, I think it’s important to note that Planning Board Chairman Richard Joel attempted to stonewall my presentation of this speech. At the only public comment during the meeting, it was explained that only items not on the agenda would be permitted to be discussed. When I stood at the podium and asked whether I would be able to speak during the point in the agenda, when a statement would be made regarding the filed resident complaint (dated Sept. 16th), Chairman Joel said he hadn’t yet decided if I would be allowed.
It was only after several other residents, Mayor Knudsen and members of the Planning Board spoke out to allow my speech did Chairman Joel finally permit it.
This brings into question Chairman Joel’s stewardship as to whose interests he really represents.
While I do not have the exact text here, the statement that was read aloud by Chairman Joel regarding the resident complaint basically says that more consideration needs to be done before the Planning Board can adequately address it. My concern is that this is a delay tactic and that under Chairman Joel’s guidance, the Complaint will not be put on the agenda to be voted on. I hope I am wrong about this. Ridgewood residents deserve a hearing to investigate what ‘mistakes’ happened with regard to the High Density housing issue.
So, here’s the speech I gave along with a video of its presentation:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hxys03hqjgqsoxl/2016-10-05%2000.02.32.mp4?dl=0
Mayor Knudsen and Members of the Planning Board, as you know, it is your duty to represent the interests of the residents of Ridgewood.
As such, you have an obligation to put the brakes on the current High Density site plan review and begin an investigation based on the complaint that was signed by myself and other residents, dated September 16th. Within your bylaws, you have the ability to do so and to investigate the conflicts of interest and mistakes alleged in our motion. If you find they are true, you can then seek to overturn a vote that may have been wrongly attained and created so much discord in Ridgewood.
These are some of the questions we demand investigated:
1) Why didn’t our former deputy mayor and planning board member, recuse himself from all the Planning Board work sessions leading up to the formal hearings? The same conflict existed then. How could he advocate so fervently for the ordinances during work sessions and then suddenly find a conflict of interest when the hearings started.
2) Why was an unvetted/unsubstantiated letter from the housing advocacy group, Fair Share Housing Center written into the record as fact/evidence by the former Planning Board Attorney for the High Density Housing vote in June, 2015? Under the Planning Board attorney’s own guidelines, it was clearly hearsay. And why wasn’t the public or Planning Board members given the opportunity to question the Fair Share Housing rep, Kevin Walsh?
3) Contiguous to the timing of the filing of our Motion of Complaint, one of your members who is mentioned as having a conflict of interest in the complaint, strangely resigned his planning board seat. Is this just a mere coincidence? Why did he wait so long and step down long after the vote?
Members of the Planning Board, your attorney may advise you to bundle this complaint with the pending lawsuit by RCRD. However, to do so would be a disservice to the residents of the village as this complaint is completely separate from that lawsuit and should be handled as such. This is not, at this time, a legal matter. It is a matter of proper and fair governing process for Ridgewood. And the grounds for our motion are so strong.
Your attorney might argue that residents should have made the motion within some type of limited window, or that current Land Use law may be in conflict with some of our Planning Board’s Bylaws. But… (1) the village never gave residents access to the Bylaws, nor made residents aware of the remedies available thereunder (despite all the clear cut opposition and complaint of conflict), and (2) the Bylaws definitely do not clearly command the Board to adhere to a 45 day limit.
Rather, the Bylaws state:
Any motions to rehear an application or portion thereof made after the 45 days following the publication of decision shall be considered strictly by leave and discretion of the Board in consideration of the protected interests of the applicant as balanced against the public interest.
We the residents believe the public interest here is greater. Your attorney would have to argue that the developers have a greater interest here than the village or its residents. That’s the criteria and that would be dangerous.
Furthermore, at this time your residents are not yet asking for a “rehearing” or anything that might be argued to conflict with land use law. We are asking, as is our defined right under your own Bylaws 2.13 and 7.22, for an investigation and public hearings to investigate some very material Conflicts and Mistakes that tainted the process and harmed the “public interest.” The PB can decide if an Application “rehearing” is necessary later, after the hearings regarding Planning Board “process”!
Allowing these conflicts and mistakes to stand, uninvestigated, creates a dangerous new precedent for Ridgewood, where village-changing decisions may be made with improper influence and/or error. It is in the Public Interest to review this and, if issues are found, set the right precedent to make sure it doesn’t happen again!
cleardot
Dana H. Glazer

 

Posted on by — 2 Comments

TONIGHTS RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA

village Council

October 5,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, tonights Village Council agenda features ; parking,Kings pond, lighting in public parks ,Airbnb,tree preservation and updates to the “Open Space Master plan”.

THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA

OCTOBER 5, 2016

1.         7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor

2.         Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act

Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin      board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission      to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and             time of this meeting.”

3.         Roll Call – Village Clerk

4.         Flag Salute/Moment of Silence

5.         Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person – 30 Minutes in Total)

6.         Public Hearing – Bergen County Open Space Grant – Kings/Gypsy Pond

7.         Presentation

  1. TAP Grant Opportunity8.         Discussion
  1. Ridgewood Water
  1. Award Contract – Ridgewood Press
  2. Award Contract – Professional Engineering Services – Various Improvements to Booster/Transfer Stations
  3. Award Contract – Professional Services for the Feasibility Study for Removing PFCs at the Carr Treatment Facility
  4. Award Contract – Control Valves at Various Locations
  5. Award Contract – EUS – SCADA Software, Hardware & Support b.         Parking
  1. Tiered Parking Meter Prices and Parking Permit Pricing
  2. Parking Reallocation at Parking Lots
  3. NJ Transit Parking Garagec.         Budget
  1. Update of Open Space Master Plan – Survey
  2. Kings/Gypsy Pond Grant
  3. Award Contract – Rebid of Furnishing and Delivering of Polymer – Water Pollution Control Facility
  4. Award Partial Contract – Street Paving
  5. Renew Lease on Chestnut Street Lot Garbage Pad
  6. Update of Health Department Retail License Fees 

    d.         Policy

  1. Stigma-Free Task Force Advisory Committee
  2. Tree Preservation Ordinance
  3. Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use – Zoning Regulations for Religious Land Use and Zoning Regulations for Houses of Worship and Public Utilities Different in Nature with Different Standards
  4. Encroachment Agreement for Titos Burritos
  5. Lighting Policy in Parks
  6. Regulations for Airbnb
  7. Best Practices Inventory and Resolutions to Affirm Current Procedures
  8. Human Resources Manual 

    e.         Operations

  1. Traffic Calming Proposal – Bogert Avenue and Cambridge Road
  2. Sherman Road and Stanley Place Safety Improvements
  3. County Shared Services Road Resurfacing 

    9.         Review of October 12, 2016 Regular Public Meeting Agenda

    10.       Manager’s Report

    11.       Council Reports

    12.       Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)

    13.       Resolution to go into Closed Session

    14.       Closed Session

    a.         Personnel – Police Department

    b.         Contractual – Shared Services Agreement – Washington Township

    c.         Legal – Legal Bills

    15.       Adjournment

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Reader says Former Ridgewood Mayor Arohnson has left us a blight that needs to be remediated now

Paul_Aronsohn_dunking_theridgewoodblog

One of two or three of the most important issues facing Ridgewood right now. The massive apartments that are about to be built will forever change the Village. They can be stopped. But in order for that to happen, we need answers and actions now from our Government. Go to the meeting. Write your council representatives.

Arohnson has left us a blight that needs to be remediated now. Go to the planning board meeting – – write the town council. But speak up today before the Aronson projects are approved and built. Do you really want to look at the cover of the Ridgewood news six months or a year from now and see a picture of Aronson’s smug face sneering at you as he stands in front of the “Aronson Arms Apartments” or whatever moniker the land speculators are going to give their new buildings in tribute to their friend who enabled them to build?

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Planning Board Meeting at 7:30pm

CBD high density housing

Dear Friend,

Please come tonight, 7:30pm at Village Hall, to help remind the Planning Board who they really represent.

If you cannot attend, please consider emailing the secretary of the Planning Board, Mike Cafarelli, ([email protected]) to share with the Planning Board that we need these questions formally investigated per the complaint filed on September 20th:

Why didn’t our former deputy mayor recuse himself from March 23rd’s vote on High Density Housing, when, as a member of the Planning Board, he had previously recused himself for the same issue?

Why was an unvetted/unsubstantiated letter from the Fair Share Housing Center written into the record as fact/evidence by the former Planning Board Attorney?

Lastly, on the same day a resident complaint was filed against the Planning Board, one of its members who was named as having a conflict of interest, should happen to resign. Is that just a coincidence?

These are questions that we as residents deserve answers to. According to their By Laws, the Planning Board has the right to stop the pending high density housing site plan review and investigate these matters. Let’s hold them to doing so.

Thanks for doing your part to protect Ridgewood.

Dana

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Reader says Aronsohn regime left to us to disentangle and nullify any progress made because it never corresponded with what was best for the village of Ridgewood

3 amigos in action Ridgewood NJ

Essential to understand that everything proposed and pushed for under the Aronsohn regime, including his years on the council before becoming mayor, and no doubt before he ran in the first place shortly after moving here, was a Lego block in his long game to power. All along he was advised by paid marketing professionals who cared nothing for the populace but were paid to further one person’s career (sound like the Bridgegate trials?).The connections, machinations, and deals could fill a book. It’s left to us to disentangle what happened and to rescind and nullify any progress made in that direction, because it never corresponded with what was best for our village.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Ridgewood Planning Board Meeting October 4th : Residents Deserve Answers

Ridgewood Planning Board

Friends and Neighbors,

Why didn’t our former deputy mayor recuse himself from March 23rd’s vote on High Density Housing, when, as a member of the Planning Board, he had previously recused himself for the same issue?

Why was an unvetted/unsubstantiated letter from the Fair Share Housing Center written into the record as fact/evidence by the former Planning Board Attorney?

Is it coincidence that on the same day a resident complaint was filed against the Planning Board, one of its members who was named as having a conflict of interest, should happen to resign?

These are questions that we as residents deserve answers to. According to their By Laws, the Planning Board has the right to stop the pending site plan high density housing review and investigate these matters.

Please join me on Tuesday, October 4th, 7:30pm at Village Hall to help remind the Planning Board who they really represent.

If you cannot attend, please consider emailing the secretary of the Planning Board, Mike Cafarelli, ([email protected]) to share with the Planning Board that we need these questions formally addressed.

Thanks for doing your part to protect Ridgewood.

Dana

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Reader says If the Aronsohn projects go through, Ridgewood downtown may never recover

CBD high density housing

RE: October 4th,the Ridgewood Planning Board will be discussing the Conflict of Interest complaint
Get out and speak up. No, get out and shout. If the Aronsohn projects go through, our downtown may never recover and the Aronsohn blight will spread through town over the next decade. We’ve all spent a lot of tax dollars to maintain this town, let’s not give it up to a handful of land speculators who have to be laughing gleefully at the stupidity of the Aronsohn council majority.

More importantly, the conflict issue raised by these citizens calls out to all of us. Is this how we want our local government to be run? If these allegations are true, we need to put that truth into the light of fay and take appropriate action. If we don’t, what message do we tell the next generation? Just as importantly,, what message do we send to the next round of land speculators who want to take over another section of town for their own profit? Do we want that message to be: “Sure, get some friends placed on our planning board and walk all over us.”

So,email or call your planning board representatives. Show up at the meeting. Write tot he town council, especially those we just elected and tell them you want action.

Please also consider sending the following note to the Planning Board and our Mayor via email:

Dear Mayor Knudsen, Chairman Joel and Planning Board Members,

I am aware that a group of concerned residents delivered a Motion of Complaint to the Ridgewood Planning Board, under By Law Sections 2.13 and 7.21, dated September 16th. Their motion brings to light a series of conflicts of interest and unacceptable mistakes that impacted the high density housing votes. It spotlights the truly defective process by which these highly unpopular ordinances (3489, 3490, 3491 and 3493) were passed. It is not right for Ridgewood residents to have such important decisions made, and the future of our village impacted, by a forum influenced by potential personal conflicts and/or mistakes. Preventing such actions is clearly the intent of the Planning Board’s own By Laws.

Therefore, I fully support the motion made by these residents. I ask that the Board stop all current high density site plan reviews and promptly begin a complete review of the residents’ complaints. Should any conflicts or mistakes be found, the Ordinance votes and Ordinances themselves should be rescinded and reevaluated via a proper and untainted process.

Secretary Cafarelli, please forward/print this email to all Planning Board members.

Thanks for considering this request.

EMAIL TO:
Mayor Susan Knudsen, Mayor ([email protected]) Michael Cafarelli, Planning Board Secretary ([email protected])
My email address: ([email protected])