Join the celebration of Kilwins Grand Opening of Kilwins Chocolate, Fudge and Ice Cream Shop located across from Memorial Park at Van Neste Square,
121 E. Ridgewood Ave.,
Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
201-445-4837
Try the world’s best Mackinac Island fudge, original recipe ice cream lots of fresh caramel and chocolate treats and caramel
apples…”Sweet in every Sense since 1947.
Bring the kids and meet…KILWIN the MO– USE.
Philip and Mary Davis and the entire Kilwins
Ridgewood team.
AUGUST 7, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2014, 1:21 AM BY CHRIS HARRIS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD Print
RIDGEWOOD — Traffic in the village will likely increase with the development of three multifamily housing projects downtown, the Planning Board’s traffic expert testified this week.
Jahr testified at the Planning Board’s meeting Tuesday night that zoning regulations permit a myriad of commercial uses at the three properties being eyed by developers for high-density housing.
Jahr’s findings align with those presented previously by the developers’ traffic experts.
Jahr’s analysis on Tuesday will play into the board’s consideration of a master plan amendment that would potentially permit such developments in Ridgewood.
Village Planning Board – Executive Session at 7pm – August 5, 2014 Meeting
PLANNING BOARD
AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
Executive Session – 7 PM
to Precede August 5, 2014 Meeting
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that prior to the start of the August 5, 2014 Planning Board Special Public Meeting which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Ridgewood High School Student Center, 627 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey, the Planning Board will hold an executive session at 7:00 p.m.
With the exception of Executive Sessions, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.
Urbanization: Ridgewood ordinance on master plan amendments at center of debate
AUGUST 1, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 2014, 12:31 AM BY JODI WEINBERGER STAFF WRITER
On July 18, 2007, a law was passed that defines the process of how the master plan in Ridgewood is amended.
More specifically, the law – Ordinance No. 3066 – makes formal the process and fees charged to any interested party should they petition the Planning Board or Village Council for a change.
The ordinance has been the topic of much debate over recent months as the Planning Board has heard back-to-back applications for amendments to the master plan, first from The Valley Hospital and currently from three housing developers seeking to put high-density housing in the Central Business District (CBD).
One thing is for sure: The ordinance was written in response to The Valley Hospital’s first proposal to expand in 2006. But what’s happened since then is less clear. The ordinance became a talking point during this year’s municipal election and has pitted developers against residents as they battle over who has the right to plan the vision of the village.
To get a better understanding of how the law works, The Ridgewood News spoke with attorneys representing the village (Matt Rogers), the Planning Board (Gail Price), The Dayton and Chestnut housing developers (Thomas Wells), and the citizen opposition group (Ira Weiner) about the history of the ordinance and how it’s played out with the public.
Yes it make me sad also to see so many stores empty but let not blame it all on parking. How the failing economy. Bad business plan . Internet sales and greed of the landlords.
Does anyone else think the very limited store hours of most of the Village merchants is significant detriment to shopping here , sorry folks I still have a job and there are many merchants I have never seen open ?
And what about the Chamber ,shouldn’t they be promoting the Village instead of spending their time coming up with schemes to get at tax payer money ?
Yes some of the same landlords that want more building. We the residents pay the majority of property taxes not the landlords. Its funny you see many stores empty but not many building for sale. Why is that?
Reader says a Parking Garage may actually make the downtown more pedestrian friendly and safer
Parking Garage, in the downtown area on Franklin, with store fronts on Walnut and Franklin to create a facade that would hide the garage structure. Remove Parking from some some streets partially or entirely. This would force people to use the garage, and may actually make the downtown more pedestrian friendly and safer. A possible enticement is for restaurants and stores to provide partial parking vouchers when purchases are made in their establishment. I’ve heard this was done in California with good success.
JULY 27, 2014 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2014, 1:21 AM BY KATHLEEN LYNN STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
Since she moved from a single-family home to an apartment in downtown Englewood, Linda Kourakos has been able to spend less time in the car and more time on foot.
“You walk out the door, you have shops and restaurants, you have the Bergen Performing Arts Center,” said Kourakos, 62, a retired interior designer who moved from East Brunswick to be closer to her daughters in Bergen County. “I felt if I was downsizing, it would be nice not to have to get into a car all the time.”
Her neighbor, Andrea Diamond, also moved from a single-family house to the Towne Centre apartments in Englewood.
“You can walk to everything, the supermarket, the post office, the library, restaurants,” said Diamond, 65, who has children and grandchildren nearby.
As Diamond and Kourakos found, a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle can be a good fit for people who want to drive less (or not at all) as they age. And North Jersey was highlighted in a recent report by New Jersey Future for having towns that can work for seniors because they offer walkable neighborhoods, downtown shopping areas and good access to public transportation.
JULY 25, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014, 12:31 AM BY LIZ WELLINGHORST STAFF WRITER THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Residents will not need to head to their favorite vacation destination to watch a fresh batch of fudge being hand-paddled at the candy shop.
That’s because Kilwins Chocolate and Ice Cream shop, usually found in vacation spots like Florida, is now open on East Ridgewood Avenue. The July 12 soft opening was anything but soft.
“Some have a surprised look when they come into the store, like they’ve been here before,” said Mary Davis, who is co-owner and franchisee of Kilwins with her husband, Philip. “We had people congregating in the front window, especially kids who glue their faces to our storefront window to watch fudge being made.”
Kilwins, founded in Michigan in 1947, is broadening its reach to suburban ‘urban’ areas. This is the second Kilwins to open in New Jersey.
“Everyone walks out of Kilwins with a smile,” said Philip Davis. “We have fudge, chocolate and ice cream. What better experience can you have?”
JULY 25, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014, 1:21 AM BY CHRIS HARRIS STAFF WRITER THE RECORD Print
RIDGEWOOD — Inadequate parking remains a major factor in the village’s downtown, according to residents who attended a special forum this week.
Most of 50 people at the Wednesday meeting agreed that the prosperity of the village’s Central Business District hinges entirely on parking and providing more spaces for visitors.
For more than 40 years, Ridgewood officials have tried to address the village’s parking woes, yet a dearth remains.
More than 20 people spoke during the Village Hall forum, which was hosted by Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli. Mayor Paul Aronsohn also attended.
Some speakers suggested that Ridgewood explore a joint effort with business owners to acquire and operate a shuttle bus that would circulate throughout the downtown, carting shoppers to and from off-site parking lots.
Others insisted that a parking garage needs to be constructed downtown.
JULY 24, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014, 3:27 PM BY BY JODI WEINBERGER STAFF WRITER
More than 50 people attended a meeting on Wednesday at Village Hall to voice their thoughts and concerns about the Central Business District (CBD).
In total, 18 residents spoke, 12 said parking woes stifle growth, and nine called for development in the downtown in terms of both housing and parking structures.
The meeting was triggered by what Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli said is a need for more open discussions about the CBD to get a sense of what people want for their town.
The forum was not meant to address the applications currently before the Planning Board to amend the master plan to allow multifamily housing. In fact, Pucciarelli asked that residents specifically not speak about them before the forum began.
“If we could avoid talking about that, that would be great,” he said, citing the need to give developers due process.
Three main topics were addressed at the forum: parking, development and process.
Valet parking , Trolley cars and other solutions in search of a problem.
written by readers, edited by staff and smiled upon by the gods
Welcome to Mister Rogers neighborhood? i liked that trolley…especially the part about how it transported us to the land of make believe .
Readers mentioned a Trolly car system , Valet Parking , a parking garage and even the use of County Police new Light Armored Vehicles as commuter buses .
All the time keeping in mind “The public good” is not feeling as if you’re in a big city when you go downtown. Not seeing guys in polo shirts with logos on them running back from parking (and probably getting hit by cars on Franklin Ave.). Not having those guys, who will probably not be from here and unfamiliar with the territory, driving like maniacs up and down that street. Not having to TIP someone after having a pizza or burger. Personally, I will stay away more than be lured by this.
But Please folks. May I have your attention please?Attention please! I can deal with this trouble, friends, with a wave of my hand, this very hand! Please observe me if you will. I’m Professor Harold Hill, and I’m here to organize the Ridgewood Trolley Plan!
I like the trolley idea., hummm we do to ,It would be an attraction and help with the parking situation….ugh yes that right a solution in search of a problem .
Ridgewood’s Central Business District – Open Discussion July 23, 2014
July 23, 2014 – 7:30 p.m. – Court Room of Village Hall – Join Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli for an open discussion about Ridgewood’s Central Business District. Please be prepared to offer your comments, suggestions, concerns, and ideas for improvement for the Central Business District at this meeting. All are welcome to attend.
Downtown Tree Well – Volunteers Welcome on Mondays
REAC – Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee – is meeting every Monday at 9:30Am in the GAP/Cottage Place parking lot to work on cleaning up the tree wells. You are invited to help out! For further information contact Monica Buesser ….[email protected]
Ridgewood’s Central Business District – Open Discussion July 23, 2014
July 23, 2014 – 7:30 p.m. – Court Room of Village Hall – Join Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli for an open discussion about Ridgewood’s Central Business District. Please be prepared to offer your comments, suggestions, concerns, and ideas for improvement for the Central Business District at this meeting. All are welcome to attend.
Reader asks after 15 years of summer water restrictions do the “buffoons” at Ridgewood Water really think there will be no impact from all the multi family housing proposals ?
Reader says , How could the stupid buffoon possibly say there will not be a water impact. What planet is he living on???
We have had lots of rain each week and yet we are in a water shortage right now. How does the prospect of 500 to 1,000 new toilets, showers, sinks, dishwashers and other water using things not increase the use of water?
Did anyone suggest he should quit his job and go be a politician as long as he is going to be so blatantly damn stupid???
Ridgewood NJ , While seasonal water restrictions remain in effect :
Seasonal Water Restrictions – Stage 1 Restrictions Now in Effect
During the summer months, water use increases dramatically due to lawn and garden irrigation. Ridgewood Water strives to provide the maximum allowable amount of water. The supply is sometimes exceeded by the demand during hot and dry weather The excess demand lowers the reserves in storage tanks, jeopardizing the ability to fight fires..
June 1st – Stage 1 Water restrictions began and will continue to the end August.
Reader asks… The question should be why does the expert think that using the predicted 20,000 gallons of water a day will not have an adverse effect on the water table? That is 7.3 million gallons a year based on their numbers. I do not understand how we have that much extra water since we have to use water restrictions every summer.
Readers were not buying the claims one bit , The water restrictions put in place are not based upon available water but, rather, Ridgewood Waters ability to pump it in an emergency situation. There IS enough water in the aquifer, but we do not have the infrastructure to provide it in times of high demand and the restrictions guarantee (hopefully) that there will be water avaialable in an emergency. Hence, restrictions which allow only half of the households in the Village to water on any given day. Mondays are used to rechagre Ridgewood Waters tanks.
That being noted, if we need water restrictions now to ensure public safety, how will adding all of these housing units effect the Village. I realize that they will not come with lawns but they will be using water (20,000 gallons/day).
