Tag: CBD

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Vote on Ridgewood multifamily housing put on hold

Village Council Special Public Meeting

OCTOBER 1, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015, 5:23 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Plans to take a final vote on the ordinances that would rezone four parcels of land in downtown Ridgewood for multifamily housing were put on hold as the council decided to commission more studies on the impact of the potential resulting projects.

Wednesday was set to be the final public hearing on the five ordinances and hundreds of residents turned out to hear the council’s decision. Those packed into the council chambers displayed signs and often erupted in applause after a speaker voiced opposition to the amendments. Reaction was similar in the crowded overflow rooms on the first floor where the public watched via live stream on projectors.

Deep into the evening, members of the council intervened to request more studies and analysis, echoing the call of many speakers who believed the governing body had not done its due diligence.

Between speakers, the council broke off into a discussion about possibly continuing the public hearing at another meeting since it was already past 11 p.m. and many residents were still on line waiting to speak.

The discussion resulted in Councilman Michael Sedon officially putting forth a motion to have a financial study on the impact of the new developments in the Central Business District, particularly in regards to the effects new apartment buildings would have on the tax base.

Councilwoman Susan Knudsen seconded the motion, asking Sedon to amend the motion to allow for a traffic study along with an impact study on the downtown area as a whole, to which Sedon agreed. As the discussion ensued further, infrastructure and school impact studies were also included in the motion.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck joined Sedon and Knudsen, voting in favor of having the studies done and continuing the public hearings to Monday, Nov. 9.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-council-holds-off-on-vote-1.1423164

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Village Council Tables Vote on High Density Housing

Village Council Tables Vote on High Density Housing
all photos by Boyd Loving
October 1,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , A huge turn out filled the the courtroom last night with some estimates saying there was another 300 people in the rooms downstairs watching it on the TV’s.It seems the people were finally heard. The council voted 4-1 (Al Pucciarelli the only no vote) to continue the hearings and conduct impact studies on the fiscal impacts, traffic (a comprehensive study that would include all off the proposed buildings as well as the 2 parking garages and the 98 unit assisted living facility), and schools.

 The resistance to the over development and urbanization was spearheaded by the Citizens for a Better Ridgewood . The group is  non-profit with a mission to make sure development is achieved within the character of Ridgewood.

They are in favor of development that compliments our existing CBD. “Our town has been reacting for far too long. It is time for a shared vision, a comprehensive plan that allows for extensive community input and can move us forward.”

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The council has postponed the vote on the ordinances to increase the density from 12 to 35 until those studies have been done. The next meeting will be held Monday, November 9th. Many people left because it just ran too late so If you want your chance to speak Nov 9th, you will be able to.

Reader said , “Partial victory tonight… tabled the vote! However the real solution here is to roll back the “Valley Hospital inspired” master plan changes which allowed these ordinances even be proposed in the first place.”

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Aronsohn accepted campaign contribution from developer

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file photo by Boyd Loving

October 1,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, An individual candidate’s report from the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission’s website reveals that during his 2008 campaign for Village Council, Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn accepted an “In Kind” contribution of $383.92 from local real estate developer John Saracino.  The “In Kind” contribution was made in the form of a candidate’s reception.

An ordinance that would essentially approve Mr. Saraceno’s high density multi-family housing project, “The Enclave,” is currently being considered by Mayor Aronsohn and the Village Council.

Does the acceptance of the noted campaign contribution indicate a conflict of interest exists on Mayor Aronsohn’s part?

https://www.elec.state.nj.us/ELECReport/SearchCandidate.aspx

ELEC_Document (1)

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VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 7:30 P.M.

Village Council

file photo by Boyd Loving

NOTICE: Village Council Meeting – September 30, 2015

NOTICE – VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 – The doors of the Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Courtroom of the Ridgewood Village Hall will open at 7:00 p.m. on September 30, 2015 for the Village Council’s Work Session and Special Public Meeting. If the Courtroom is filled, overflow seating will be provided on the first floor of the Ridgewood Village Hall with audiovisual equipment available to see and hear the meeting. All members of the public wishing to speak will be given an opportunity to do so.

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Reader says Its way cheaper and comfortable for a senior to stay in your moderate sized house with no mortgage vs. apartment or condo

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The number of days it takes to sell a single family home in northern NJ continues to decline.
source: NJMLS. Info deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Its way cheaper and comfortable for a senior to stay in your moderate sized house with no mortgage vs. apartment or condo, just expenses of property taxes, (get the NJ senior freeze) usual monthly electric, gas, cable, insurance etc. bills, with expected seasonal maintenance lawn, snow removal. There could a major replacement costs if one needs a new roof after 20+ yrs,.or if property taxes get ridiculous.. As a senior, my preference is the privacy of my own home, would never like apartment living or even consider it. If things get to expensive, move south Jersey to retirement villages with new house.

When you get to the stage where one can’t manage on their own, age related or physical, either home care is preferable, or next step assisted livings runs average $5,000 month and up, they are a gimick, my mom was in one before needing a nursing home $12 -15,000 month. A 92 yr.old neighbor went to Cupola assisted living just last year, was $5,000 month. Hope I’m gone before my money gets pissed away to one of those places.

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Ridgewood downtown housing hearings wrap up Sept. 30

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SEPTEMBER 29, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015, 11:41 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

As the second of two public hearings in front of the Village Council dedicated to multifamily housing nears, a long chapter in the town’s history may come to a close as officials will render a decision regarding the future of new apartment buildings in downtown Ridgewood.

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, residents will have one final chance to persuade the governing body to vote one way or the other.

The council is scheduled to take a vote on each ordinance, ostensibly settling the issue of high-density housing in Ridgewood.

What is unclear, however, is the status of litigation related to the master plan amendment as it has been revealed that neither the village nor the Planning Board has been officially served.

During a Sept. 15 meeting, it was brought to light by board attorney Gail Price that the Planning Board had not yet actually been served as defendants in the lawsuit.

The Ridgewood News reported last month that Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR) had filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court against the Planning Board and the Village of Ridgewood, citing numerous irregularities, procedural missteps and alleged conflicts of interest as reasons the Planning Board’s June 2 decision to amend the master plan should be declared void.

A copy of the complaint obtained by The Ridgewood News certifies that it was filed with the Superior Court clerk on Aug. 10 and docketed on Aug. 13.

Village Attorney Matt Rogers said he was not aware of any service from the village standpoint, which goes through the clerk’s office.

This was confirmed by Village Clerk Heather Mailander on Wednesday afternoon. She said the village indeed had not yet received a lawsuit.

When asked for a statement, CBR did not directly comment on the status of the lawsuit, but did state the group is “continuing to pursue its original objectives, specifically to heighten awareness about significant zoning changes underway and to encourage the village to engage in comprehensive planning that is strategic and visionary.”

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-housing-hearings-wrap-up-sept-30-1.1420947

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VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 7:30 P.M. LAND USE AND DEVELOPEMENT

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VILLAGE COUNCIL

SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

7:30 P.M.

1.  Call to Order – Mayor
2.  Statement of Compliance with the 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

4.              ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING

a.  #3489 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development –         Establish AH-2 Zone District

b.  #3490 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Establish B-3-R Zone District

c.  #3491 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Establish C-R Zone

d.  #3492 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Establish C Zone District

e.  #3493 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Amend Various Sections – Multiple Zone Districts and General Affordable Housing Regulations

f.   #3500 – Lease of 1057 Hillcrest Road for              Recreational/Educational Purposes

5.   RESOLUTIONS

15-305    Award Contract – Lease of 1057 Hillcrest Road

15-306    Accept Donation from Ridgewood Baseball/Softball                   Association (RBSA)

3 DAYS LEFT…..Email council to VOTE NO!Paul Aronsohn – paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.netAlbert Pucciarelli – apucciarelli@…

Posted by Citizens For A Better Ridgewood on Sunday, September 27, 2015

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Firm details design of proposed parking garage in Ridgewood

Hudson_street_parking_theridgewoodblog

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015, 1:30 PM
BY BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The eighth Central Business District forum was held on Wednesday night with an emphasis on parking and concepts for a potential garage to be built at the Hudson Street lot.

The Village Council recently selected Desman Design Management to design a multi-level parking deck and present architectural renderings for a public review by residents and the governing body.

Desman will be working with S&L Architectural studio, which Desman Executive Vice President Tim Tracy said would help develop the “bones” of the garage, along with the aesthetics. Desman will also be working with Maser Consulting to assist with the site engineering and traffic studies. Tracy said Maser has previously been engaged with the village and is familiar with traffic flow and patterns.

Ideally, Tracy said, the new garage would bring a net increase of at least 300 spaces, giving the deck approximately 350-400 spaces in its final configuration.

The width of the Hudson Street lot is not ideal for a parking garage lot, but Desman is looking at other opportunities to “borrow” from existing infrastructure, such as building a cantilever over the sidewalk, to expand the footprint of the site. Although such a proposal could mean losing the on-street parking available on Hudson Street, it could potentially bump the total number of parking spots available even higher.

“We have a site that is somewhat geometrically challenged,” said Tracy. “We have properties adjoining three sides of this property and we need to respect those properties. Some of those properties rely on this current parking lot for access and egress and service vehicles. All of that will be considered.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/firm-details-design-of-proposed-parking-garage-in-ridgewood-1.1420443

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Reader says The Village has been lucky to have politicians who were serving the citizens not developers….until now

3 amigos

…they say 1. ‘it’s to provide high end apartments to seniors looking to downsize, 2. To re energize our town which is apparently viewed as deteriorating and 3. If you don’t let us do this we will put something on the properties which will be way worse than apartments. People say aren’t apartments better than what is there now? NO. Why do you think they have been barren properties for so long? Because they have been told they have the support of politicians to get this done for them. High density apartments is the most profitable option for developers. For decades developers have wanted to crack our Master Plan which has always been in tact to prevent such overdevelopment. The Village has been lucky to have politicians who were serving the citizens not developers….until now.

3 DAYS LEFT…..Email council to VOTE NO!Paul Aronsohn – paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.netAlbert Pucciarelli – apucciarelli@…

Posted by Citizens For A Better Ridgewood on Sunday, September 27, 2015

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Readers not buying Senior Move to Apartments in Ridgewood

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Ridgewood’s senior population is 12%, 4 % is under the poverty level and could never afford one of these apartments. Majority of the rest of the senior population are living in houses where their mortgage is paid off so their expenses are taxes and maintenance. Average tax burden is around $15,000 per year. Apartments renting at $3,000-$4,000 per month (they’ll be “luxury apartments”), will costs seniors $36,000-$48,000 TO RENT. The argument that Ridgewood has to do this for the seniors is BS. It’s just a BS political sound bite HE glommed onto to justify his supporting the developers. ‘Doing it for the seniors’ who could argue with that, right. He would have used children as a sound bite but you know, that would be ridiculous. This is all about using Ridgewood to make the developers a ton of money and the paybacks for supporting it will be beneficial to their personal pursuits. Shame on all 3 of them.

Emptynesters in town like the privacy of their home.They do not want to hear their neighbor in an apartment .They can afford landscapers and snow removal so since the mortgage is paid for they can afford to make repairs as necessary.The Former NYC residents who moved here 10-20 years ago “for the schools” will move BACK to NYC to an apartment , since NYC has the museums etc that Ridgewood does Not. As a resident since 1969 I know plenty of old timers, their families, etc….not a single one h as considered moving to those proposed apartments. It’s either back to NYC, or to NYC or FL.

3 DAYS LEFT…..Email council to VOTE NO!Paul Aronsohn – paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.netAlbert Pucciarelli – apucciarelli@…

Posted by Citizens For A Better Ridgewood on Sunday, September 27, 2015

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Question for users of Parkmobile app or “pay by phone”

parkmobile_meter (1)

September 26,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Parkmobile’s website says – “Parkmobile is the payment solution and does not own or manage the area in which you park.  As such, we do not determine whether or not parking is free [Note:  meaning whether parking at the time you are accessing the Parkmobile app, or initiating a “pay by phone” request, is actually free; e.g., before/after metered hours, Sunday, legal holiday].  In some cases, your local parking authority instructs us to code our system for free parking.  Please note that transaction fees charged by Parkmobile are assessed any time you activate or extend a parking session.  If you are creating a session and see that the charge only includes your transaction fee, parking may be free.”

This statement begs the Staff of The Ridgewood Blog to ask the following:  Has the Village of Ridgewood instructed Parkmobile to “code” their system with the times, days, and dates on which parking in each specific Ridgewood zone is free.  For example, if a user accesses the Parkmobile app in any Ridgewood zone on a Sunday, is the Parkmobile transaction charge the only charge that shows up, or is an hourly parking rate posted as well?  What about parking at meters after 6:00 PM?  And how will the free shopper parking during “Downtown for the Holidays” be handled?

We would appreciate feedback from any Parkmobile users regarding this issue.

Thanks.

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Ridgewood Parking : an Idea

Chestnut_street_parking_theridgewoodblog

September 26th 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Exxon station on Godwin Ave. is closing.

Station sold to Citizen Bank. Interesting, the station was closed last year to replace the gas tanks. Just what we need, another bank. But this one will have 3 drive-thru teller windows.

Sign at the gas station says effective October 1st., the parking lot is to be closed.
So, that affects 45 parking spots commuters use for the train.

If the Ken Smith dealership becomes housing, that eliminated 80 to 100 spots for Ridgewood workers w/ special passes.

Hudson Street becomes a parking deck. During the 3 years constructions, that eliminated 120 spots temporarily. Toss in Brogan Cadillac parking spots, if that becomes housing, we have have a total of non-usable parking of approx. 300 spots.

Here’s what we need to do.

All neighborhoods around the train station and even the Ridgewood Park & Ride, do not allow commuter parking on the streets except a few areas.Home owners complain they don’t want cars parked in front of their houses all day.

Time to stop complaining.

I live across from one of the town schools and the teachers park on each side of the street. Should we ban that because they’re on my street?

So, don’t you think by opening up streets for commuter parking, can make parking for those wanting to shop in town better?

Here’s what I’m proposing.

Those current spots near mass transit, are moved a block or 2 further away. ( Where they are not currently allowed)Then the current commuter spots become shoppers spots.

Think about it. Hmmmmmm

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Save Our Village!!

Clock_Ridgewood_theridgewopodblog

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TODAY AND SUNDAY!!

Dear Friend,

We are asking for your help this weekend to get the word out about the big vote on Wednesday. The future of our village is at stake.

Come join a group of enthusiastic volunteers TODAY and/or Sunday at 1:00 pm to help pass out flyers and talk to our fellow residents about the importance of showing up for Wednesday’s vote at Village Hall.

Many, many residents have written emails to the Mayor and Council (it’s not too late for you to write, too — see attachment), there were four compelling Letters to the Editor in the paper yesterday (see links below), and our cause has gone viral on Facebook.  We have a lot of momentum going into Wednesday’s meeting, and we need all the help we can get to make one final push!!

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

When: Sat/Sun 1pm
Where: Northwest corner of Van Neste Park (Across from Raymond’s)
Why:  Because this is the real rent we pay for living in a great democracy and a place like Ridgewood.

If you have kids, please bring them. This is a great opportunity to teach civic engagement.

If you plan to arrive, please email Dana at [email protected] or call 917-685-9056

If you can’t make it but want to be involved, email Dana as well.

Hope to see you out there this weekend — and at the Village Council meeting on WEDNESDAY!!

Thank you for your continued support!!

Citizens for a Better Ridgewood
[email protected]

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Reader say , The apartments will be filled with the people who always move to towns with good schools

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog

Schedler and Valley people are tired of fighting and people are confused/think it is over anyway.

I am not one of those three but I will tell you this, the worst way to reduce taxes is to have high density housing that is not age restricted. The absolute worst. Actually no, the worst is that they are tricking seniors/empty nesters into believing that this is for them, if it were they would be age restricted. Fact is one of the developers admitted there is not enough market for empty nesters to even get a loan for that purpose so they are well aware that the demand is not there. The apartments will be filled with the people who always move to towns with good schools, young families who use services at a rate much higher than seniors.

So our beautiful town will not only be more congested but you will pay more for it.

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Citizens for a Better Ridgewood : Say NO to High Density Housing

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog
Please copy and paste this Quick and Easy email message to council. We MUST be heard. The more people who send the more we will be heard. Feel free to add your own personal touch.

Step 1: copy and paste these email addresses into the recipient line:

 

[email protected], gha[email protected], msedon@ridgewoodnj.net, sknudsen@ridgewoodnj.net, apucciarelli@ridgewoodnj.net

Step 2: copy and paste this into the Subject line:
 
Say NO to High Density Housing
 

Step 3: copy and paste this text into the message:

 
 

Dear Village Council,

 

I’m writing to urge you to vote “no” on the high density housing proposed for our Historic Central Business District. The density is too high and should not be considered for Ridgewood. If you think it should be considered, please take the time to first listen to the people who elected you then take the time to hear from real experts about the impact on taxes, traffic, infrastructure, schools, property values, quality of life, stress on services, and more.

 

The impact on our Village will be irreversible and this permanent change requires more than just two meetings and a quick vote. It certainly requires you to consider the will of the public, the homeowners, the taxpayers, the residents, the VOTERS who elected you!