Tag: downtown housing

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Good thing No will be flushing toilets , bathing, doing laundry or dishes in the New High Density Downtown Housing

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Ridgewood
September 8,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Recent events once again point to critical weakness in the water supply of the Village of Ridgewood  and surrounding towns serviced by Ridgewood Water company .
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of obeying these restrictions – this is a public safety issue – our firefighters need to have the necessary water and water pressure to be able to fight fires and we also need to maintain reserves for household use.

As you are aware we have ratcheted up enforcement over the last several weeks issuing over 50 summonses and hundreds of warnings. This has had some impact but unfortunately we need to take this further – so, I have taken the additional step of appointing more Village employees who will have the authority to issue summonses in order to achieve a higher rate of compliance.”Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld

Back in July Ridgewood Water assured residents ,Ridgewood Water would not be impacted by the proposal to amend the village’s master plan to allow high-density housing, but the village’s need for open space would be exacerbated, experts told the Planning Board at a meeting July 15. https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-experts-weigh-in-on-housing-proposals-1.1053299?page=all

According to David Scheibner, Ridgewood Water’s business director, said the developments, proposed for the Central Business District (CBD) would not strain the village’s water supply.https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-experts-weigh-in-on-housing-proposals-1.1053299?page=all

So we ask is that still your story and are you still sticking with it?
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Council sets just 1 date for public hearing on downtown housing

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June 25 2015

Boyd A. LovingRidgewood NJ, In 2011, Village Council members scheduled their official public hearing on The Valley Hospital’s proposed expansion over six (6) separate dates.  The schedule was developed to insure there would be ample opportunity for members of the public to express their views of the issue, and that no individual(s) would miss out due to planned business travel/vacation, family emergency, illness, etc.  The public hearing dates were:  9/13/2011, 9/19/2011, 10/13/2011, 10/24/2011, 11/22/2011, and 11/29/2011.  Current Mayor Paul Aronsohn was a member of that Council.

On July 15 of this year, Village Council members expect to introduce four (4) separate ordinances related to proposed changes in the Village’s Master Plan that would permit high density housing in our Central Business District.  There has been significant controversy associated with the proposed Master Plan revision.

During Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session, Mayor Paul Aronsohn announced the Council’s firm intent to set September 16, 2015 as the one and onlydate for their official public hearing on all four (4) “changes to Master Plan” related ordinances.  That’s right folks, if you’re not around on September 16, or if the meeting room is closed off due to over crowding, you’re SOL.

So I wonder, why is Mr. Aronsohn so hell bent on pushing these Master Plan changes through to the point of scheduling just one (1) official opportunity for residents to comment?  He was a primary proponent of a former Council’s plan to allow multiple opportunities for official public comment regarding The Valley Hospital expansion plan.  Why the change in attitude related to high density housing in our Central Business District?  What’s the rush?  Am I missing something here?

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Downtown Parking Initiative

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Downtown Parking Initiative
Draft – Ridgewood Downtown Parking Initiative Discussed at Village Council Meeting

For the Draft Parking Plan Fact Sheet that was discussed at the Village Council Meeting on Wednesday, October 1st please

Click Here https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2014ParkingPlan.pdf

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Ridgewood mayor suggests two amendments for downtown housing

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Ridgewood mayor suggests two amendments for downtown housing

September 22, 2014    Last updated: Monday, September 22, 2014, 11:39 AM
By Laura Herzog
Staff Writer
The Ridgewood New

If two is usually better than one, what about when it comes to Master Plan amendments?

Last Tuesday, Mayor Paul Aronsohn surprised Planning Board members by suggesting the board split the currently proposed Master Plan amendment, to allow multifamily housing in the village’s central business district (CBD), into two amendments.

He also asked the board to consider reducing the proposed density, as in allowable units per acre.

One part of the newly bifurcated amendment, Aronsohn said, would consider the CBD’s “core” – East Ridgewood Avenue and Franklin Avenue – and the other would consider the CBD’s “periphery” – south of East Ridgewood Avenue and north of Franklin Avenue.

“We’re looking at a lot here. I think it would simplify it. I think it would allow the board to really focus,” Aronsohn said. “I think it would just help our decision.”

In another proposal, the mayor asked the board to consider modifying the density increase to a range around 30 to 40 units per acre, as opposed to the currently proposed 50 units per acre, which has been criticized as too great by opponents.

“I’m thinking closer to 30 makes sense,” he said.

A couple of Planning Board members expressed interest in further pursuing the ideas, which Chairman Charles Nalbantian said would be discussed more in the future, but most said the board should continue moving forward as it is.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-mayor-suggests-two-amendments-1.1093601#sthash.9hy3VdTP.dpuf

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“crumbling infrastructure” : Reader asks what will be the ultimate cost to the Village taxpayers

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“crumbling infrastructure” : Reader asks  what will be the ultimate cost to the Village taxpayers

What is perhaps most interesting about this article is the fact that when he has testified about the effect of adding 500 new families to downtown with the apartment projects, Ruitshauser has not been concerned about the effect on infra structure. For instance, at one hearing he noted that new sewer pipes would need to be dug under the streets downtown to accept the flow of sewage from the projects, and these would feed into the old pipes. But, then he suggested there would be no effect on the existing decades old pipes that flow to the sewage treatment plants.

Its clear as the apartment projects move forward and as we hear remarks about “crumbling infrastructure” that we really don’t know what the ultimate cost to the Village taxpayers will be. The projects are going to be an eyesore as well as a pocketbook sore in years to come.

Esurance

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Support for downtown housing

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Support for downtown housing

September 12, 2014    Last updated: Friday, September 12, 2014, 9:28 AM
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Support for housing proposal
Arthur Wrubel

To the Editor:

The higher density housing proposed for downtown Ridgewood is in accordance with its historical development. The downtown has changed, adapting to the needs of its growing population.

The area used to be a pedestrian-oriented destination which could supply its population with food and services. Shop owners once lived above their stores. The proximity to the surrounding residential area encouraged walking to shop and take the train to jobs.

The proposed changes to the master plan permit these ideas to flourish again. Further, there is a national trend to living in higher-density urban areas to satisfy people who want to be close to shops, work and services.

The Planning Board and others have studied the various impacts of the development, such as traffic generation, school children, water supply, fire and safety, etc. The studies indicate little or no impact. The traffic in particular is reduced compared to commercial development.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-support-for-downtown-housing-1.1086864#sthash.EGFdodJb.dpuf