June 3,2015
the staff of the Roidgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, 35 Units per acre was approved by the Ridgewood Planning Board in a 6 to 3 vote, in what can only be described as a victory for special interests over the residents of the Village . Last night the Planning Board approved a change to the Village master plan from a density of 12 units per acre (current) to a density of 35 units per acre (almost triple) , giving the Village Central Business District a higher density than Hackensack 22 units per acre, Teaneck 28 units per acre, or Fair Lawn 17 units per acre.
According to Citizens for a better Ridgewood ,( CBR ) YES VOTES FROM….David Thurston (works in commercial real estate), Nancy Bigos (works for our parks and recreation), Mayor Paul Aronsohn (excited to open the door to high density), Charles Nalbantian (has sat on the board way too long, the public seems to annoy him), Richard Joel (has young children in our schools), Kevin Reilly (seemed hesitant to vote Yes, but did anyway) NO VOTES FROM…Council Woman Knudsen, Wendy Dockrey and Michele Peters. ALL THREE NO VOTES WANTED DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS MORE IN CHARACTER WITH OUR VILLAGE WITH DENSITIES CLOSER TO 24. THEY WANTED OTHER OPTIONS THAT BLAIS FAILED TO GIVE THEM. THEY PUSHED FOR OPTIONS LAST NIGHT AND THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD REFUSED TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS.
While opponents of the high density Master Plan change look for other options , many wonder if this now opens the door to a court victory for Valley’s major expansion?
CBR is still circulating there petition to stop the over development of the Village https://www.change.org/p/ridgewood-nj-planning-board-village-council-vote-no-on-the-high-density-housing-amendment-at-35-units-per-acre-last-minute-petition?just_created=true .
There is an opportunity to speak Mayor Paul Aronsohn how will be holding office hours for Ridgewood residents this Saturday. Mayor Aronsohn will meet with residents on Saturday, June 6 from 9AM to Noon in the Council Chambers (Sydney V. Stoldt, Jr. Court Room) on the fourth floor of Ridgewood Village Hall. For an appointment to meet with the Mayor, please call the Village Clerk’s Office at 201-670-5500 ext. 206. You may come to the Mayor’s office hours without an appointment, but those with appointments will be given priority.
