Ridgewood developer’s request to put distribution lines underground denied
MARCH 18, 2014, 12:00 AM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014, 11:03 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
After former village resident Dean Cerf’s recent housing development experience, one fact has been illuminated: PSE&G will not bury distribution lines underground in many cases, even if an individual is willing to pay.
After Cerf embarked on a plan to build three homes on Farview Street in Ridgewood, he was told by the village to have PSE&G bury the distribution lines underground.
But, to the frustration of Cerf and the Planning Board, which required the underground utilities, he learned PSE&G will not do it.
“We said [to PSE&G], ‘You have to, because it’s in our plans, and the town’s requiring it,'” Cerf said. “We tried to discuss it every which way we can. They wouldn’t discuss it. They said ‘no.'”
Cerf, the director of the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital, noted that he was happy to comply with the village’s request, and planned to pay any cost to put the wires underground for the sake of the village’s aesthetics and safety.
