Tag: CBD

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Reader says “Save Ridgewood” group should focus on solutions

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Reader says “Save Ridgewood” group should focus on solutions

Has anyone in the “Save Ridgewood” group thought about the impact of doing nothing. Three of the four proposed residential development sites are currently vacant. At the recent Planning Board meeting in which the Brogan site was discussed one genius suggested that the site be developed for Retail use. This would produce far more traffic, noise and clutter than any residential use. It is time for the Save Ridgewood group to stop complaining and come forth with some well reasoned suggestions for the long term use of what are becoming increasingly blighted properties.

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‘Save Ridgewood’ group protests new apartments proposed for former commercial area

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‘Save Ridgewood’ group protests new apartments proposed for former commercial area

Originally published: March 11, 2014 8:06 PM
Updated: March 11, 2014 8:48 PM

RIDGEWOOD – Concerns over increased traffic and school overcrowding have sparked a battle over several new apartment complexes in Ridgewood.

Some residents in the upscale community have formed a grassroots movement called “Save Ridgewood,” which is fighting to block three proposed apartment complexes from going up.

The group says the three- and four-story buildings would change Ridgewood’s small town charm.  They are also concerned hundreds of new residents could create traffic and parking problems.

https://newjersey.news12.com/news/save-ridgewood-group-protests-new-apartments-proposed-for-former-commercial-area-1.7360992

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Record Restaurant mini-review rates Wasabi 3 stars out of 4

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Record Restaurant mini-review rates Wasabi  3 stars out of 4

FRIDAY MARCH 7, 2014, 3:25 PM
THE RECORD

Authentic Japanese cuisine, including absolutely fresh sushi and sashimi, fully cooked Japanese specialties like tempura and teriyaki. Prices: Appetizers $5 to $16 , entrées $14 to $48. Hours: Lunch noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; lunch noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday; noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Liquor, wine: BYO. Noise level: Can be a little noisy on a busy, hectic night but certainly bearable, even then. Credit cards: AE, D, DC, MC, V. Reservations: Recommended, especially on weekends. Accommodations for children: Highchairs, booster seats. Dress: Casual. Early-bird specials or deals: No. Takeout: Yes. Parking: Street and small private lot. Reviewed: July 26, 2013. • 848 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood; 201-493-7575.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/food_dining/249039611_Restaurant_mini-review__Wasabi______.html#sthash.yCXA02sP.dpuf

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Planning Board Amended Meeting Schedule – March 10, 18, 31

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Planning Board Amended Meeting Schedule – March 10, 18, 31

PLANNING BOARD

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE

Special Public Meetings: March 10, March 18, March 31

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled special public meetings for:

• Monday, March 10, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Ave., Ridgewood, NJ, at which time the Board will continue the public hearing on the proposed H-Hospital Zone amendment to the Master Plan.

• Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Ave., Ridgewood, NJ, at which time the Board will continue the public hearing on the proposed H-Hospital Zone amendment to the Master Plan and have discussion regarding the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Plan.

• Monday, March 31, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Ave., Ridgewood, NJ, at which time the Board will continue the public hearing on the proposed H-Hospital Zone amendment to the Master Plan.

The Board may take official action during these Work and Public Meetings.

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Village has options other than a parking garage

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Village has options other than a parking garage

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Village has options other than a parking garage
Boyd Loving

To the editor:

Re: “Parking partnership moves ahead,” The Ridgewood News, Feb. 28, page A1.

Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn routinely boasts that he’s “passionate” about improving parking in Ridgewood. In my opinion, the facts say otherwise.

For example:

* “Coins only” meters are in still place on streets throughout the village’s Central Business District (CBD); there are no street located multi-space pay stations offering alternative payment options that generate higher revenue streams along with virtually eliminating the possibility of “shrinkage,”

* A single, repeatedly malfunctioning, cash only, multi-space pay station that has frustrated users, and resulted in massive revenue losses for years, remains in place at the Chestnut Street lot.

* A Village Council-backed proposal to install a single, multi-space, cash only pay station at the very large Route 17 Park & Ride – sure to cause long lines at peak commuting times and continue Ridgewood’s tradition of “cash only, please” (despite the risk of continued “shrinkage”).

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/248948371_Letter__Village_has_options_other_than_a_parking_garage.html#sthash.I30G0Fzk.dpuf

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Leadership needed to establish goals

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Leadership needed to establish goals

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Leadership needed to establish goals
Martin Walker

This letter was also sent to the Ridgewood Planning Board.

To the editor:

“Options ‘come down to economics’” (The Ridgewood News, Friday, Feb. 21, page A1) made good headlines, but Planning Board member objections to assisted living and parking facilities around building heights, location and aesthetics in North Walnut Street Redevelopment miss the enormity of issues affecting our community. Are we fiddling while Rome burns, or is there no leadership establishing goals and priorities?

The Organizational Development giant on leadership, Elliott Jacques, demonstrated that levels of institutional authority are correlated with the degrees of future time span awareness. Is no one in town governance articulating a vision for Ridgewood’s future? Doesn’t compromise require a shared goal in order to balance competing needs in the service of a greater good? Visionary leadership for Ridgewood requires a clearer articulation of where we are going.

The two perennial certainties, aging and taxes, provide the most stable variables around which to articulate any family community’s future. Every single one of us will age and the fact that tax revenue is tied to property values means our taxes will increase indefinitely. Visionary leadership must articulate what this means for our town.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/248948441_Letter__Leadership_needed_to_establish_goals.html#sthash.xjgQk81N.dpuf

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Special Public Planning Board Meeting – March 4, 2014

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Special Public Planning Board Meeting – March 4, 2014

PLANNING BOARD

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE

Special Public Meeting: Tuesday, March 4, 2014

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014, in the RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CENTER, 627 E. RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The Board may take official action during this Special Public Meeting. The agenda for the meeting includes the following:

1. Continued public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Land Use Plan Element of the Master Plan, which amendment would recommend creation of new zone districts and changes in zone district boundaries within the Central Business District and surrounding area including AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts.

2. Other Planning Board business per the agenda.

The proposed master plan amendment and related exhibits are at the office of the Secretary of the Ridgewood Planning Board on the third floor of Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey and are available for public inspection Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The amendment and exhibits are also posted as a courtesy on the Village’s website at www.ridgewoodnj.net

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.

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Readers suspicious over BCIA involvement in Parking Garage

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Readers suspicious over BCIA involvement in Parking Garage 

Out of 70 Town in Bergen Count. They are going to come here and help us with our garage. You asked the county to fix a road or line stripe one of their roads and it falls on deaf ears but all of a sudden they are going to do this for us. Whats in it for them or is this Council going to sell us down the drain to further the agenda

If it made financial sense to build a parking garage…..it would have been built long ago.

BUT….if you can get your buddies at the BCIA (that independent authority that gets to borrow millions and millions and millions of dollars) to do a study, and to pay for it, and that you will have some influence in it’s results, then you do it.

The Republican County Exe. Donovan stated she would not issue bonds through the BCIA, now she wants to use tax dollars to do just that. Also Glen Rock School Board, refused to use the BCIA because of their high fees

I’ll believe it when I see it. The plain and simple truth is there’s no need for a parking garage in Ridgewood. It simply can’t be cost justified. If they build it, people will NOT come because it will be too expensive to park in.

Here’s a simple idea that costs no money. Free up parking spaces in the downtown district by having your employees park a couple of blocks away and walk to work.
There you go…..I’ll give you that advice for free.

I would think the powers that be would concentrate on getting the stores filled and operational before they build a garage to house the customers that aren’t there yet.

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Excess sewer fees in Ridgewood get flushed

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Excess sewer services fees in Ridgewood get flushed

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014, 1:45 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood businesses and other entities that discharge an excessive amount of sewage into the village’s water treatment system will be charged at a rate comparable to previous years. The Village Council introduced last week an ordinance establishing the 2013-14 rates for those that deposit more than 109,500 gallons of sewage into the system.

The ordinance, which will be up for adoption next month, sets up a fee of $4.03 per 1,000 gallons in excess. The rate is the same as one previously approved by the village.

Last fall, officials proposed a fee increase to $4.44 per 1,000 gallons for 2013, and a spike to $4.84 per 1,000 gallons in excess for 2014. The enacting ordinance was eventually defeated, in part because of resistance from business and restaurant owners in Ridgewood’s Central Business District.

“The reason for [the fees] is [excessive discharge] puts extra wear and tear on our water pollution control facility. In addition, especially in the Central Business District, we put extra de-greasers into the system there because of all the food products that go into the system,” said acting Village Manager Heather Mailander.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/247295261_Excess_sewer_fees_in_Ridgewood_stay_at_status_quo.html#sthash.GL3Sd0Cn.dpuf

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Ridgewood, Bergen County moving on plans for parking garage

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Ridgewood, Bergen County moving on plans for parking garage

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014, 10:33 PM
BY  CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER

RIDGEWOOD — Village and county officials have been meeting on a parking garage partnership since late 2013, and have agreed that a parking study should be conducted to determine just how big that garage should be.

The Bergen County Improvement Authority would commission the study, which would take a few months to complete, Mayor Paul Aronsohn said. The authority will meet in the next week or two to discuss the study.

The results of the study, which will determine the village’s overall parking needs, also will dictate how many spots the new garage facility will eventually have and what rates will be charged to customers.

“We’re all on the same page, and the county executive is also into the idea,” Aronsohn said, adding that the parking study will be “comprehensive,” with results reviewable sometime this summer.

The Bergen County Improvement Authority will cover most of the costs of the study, but the design of the garage will be mutually determined by both the village and the county, Aronsohn said.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/Ridgewood_to_seek_approval_for_parking_study.html#sthash.eNZqZYiY.dpuf

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Chef Chris Tarta of Due and Bella Campagnia on the crazy thing diners ask for

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Chef Chris Tarta of Due and Bella Campagnia on the crazy thing diners ask for.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014, 8:38 AM
THE RECORD

Like most executive chef/owners, Chris Tarta has a hectic schedule. But the 35-year-old father of two (with a third on the way) must juggle two restaurants, Bella Campania Ristorante in Hillsdale and Due in Ridgewood, which opened in June. Tarta, a new Wyckoff resident, admits to growing pains at Due (it received two out of four stars in this newspaper; Bella Campania received two and one-half in 2010), but says the problems are getting fixed. He recommends that you head to Bella Campania for a family dinner, while saving Due for a special occasion. Here, Tarta talks about his daily mozzarella-making, his grandmother and Swedish meatballs.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/food_dining/247202331_Chef_Chris_Tarta_of_Due_and_Bella_Campagnia_on_his_daily_mozzarella-making_and_the_crazy_thing_diners_ask_for_.html#sthash.Dpy6pCq6.dpuf

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MOZART to MONET-free trial – join us!

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MOZART to MONET-free trial – join us!
Wed, February 26, 2014
Time: 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Mozart to Monet starts children at 9 months and open them to the world of music and art.
Early exposure will open children up to a lifelong love and passion for the arts. This program introduces children in a kid-friendly environment and allows them a hand on experience to be involved.

FREE Trial on Wednesday, February 26
Art with a “splash” of music from 10:30am-11am
meet the instruments for ll:30am-Noon

CLASSES START AS FOLLOWS:

Meet the Instruments –
ages: 1-3 years
days: Wednesday, 11:30am-12:15am
dates: March, 5, 12, 19, 26, 2014
price: $140/4 sessions
where: 211 E. Ridgewood Ave.
lower level Bookends

Art with a “Splash” of Music
ages: 3-5 years
days: Wednesday, 10am-11:00am
dates: March 5, 12, 19, 26, 2014
price: $140/4 sessions
where: 211 E. Ridgewood Ave.
lower level Bookends

Want Mozart to Monet to come to you.
for more information:
201-543-4900
www.mozarttomonet.com
[email protected]

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Ridgewood Girl Scout hopes crossing flags will save lives

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Ridgewood Girl Scout hopes crossing flags will save lives

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Amelia Maas knows that her idea will not solve all traffic problems in the Central Business District, but the Ridgewood teen hopes her proposal will reduce the number of pedestrian accidents in town.As part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Maas, a member of Troop 1380, presented her plan to bring crosswalk flags to Ridgewood and arm pedestrians — specifically for those navigating across the village’s busiest thoroughfares — with a simple tool that will alert motorists when an individual is crossing the street.

“Pedestrian visibility, or lack thereof, contributes to more than 60 percent of accidents in crosswalks. When a driver is unable to see obstacles that are in the way, collisions are unavoidable,” said Maas, 17.

Her pitch, delivered at a Ridgewood Council meeting earlier this month, is an inexpensive and relatively uncomplicated remedy to one of the downtown’s biggest headaches. The project, as proposed by Maas, calls for the placement of brightly colored flags at targeted intersections.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community/246475341_Ridgewood_Girl_Scout_hopes_crossing_flags_will_save_lives.html#sthash.GYmoR3Iz.dp

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Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing

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Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing

Monday February 17, 2014, 11:45 AM
The Ridgewood News

Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing
Francis H. Schott

To the editor:

Over the past decade, Ridgewood has made great progress in improving our citizens’ quality of life. Our schools have been enlarged and modernized to make them adequate for our 5,800 students, a number that has steadily grown over the decade. Our recreational space, although still below state and federal standards, has been substantially augmented for the first time in generations by the acquisition and development of Habernickel Park and the purchase of the Schedler property as well as the enlargement of Citizens Park.

Admittedly we are still struggling with parking and traffic problems downtown, but the positives outweigh the negatives of the early 21st Century by a wide margin.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/245838491_Letter__Village_should_say__no_thanks__to_high-density_housing.html#sthash.bUE3N6wk.dpuf