Tag: master plan

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Ridgewood Planning Board member calls for moratorium on proposals to amend master plan

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Ridgewood Planning Board member calls for moratorium on proposals to amend master plan

JULY 17, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014, 3:14 PM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER

Following three hours of testimony and questioning on proposed multifamily housing on Tuesday night, Ridgewood Planning Board member Michele Peters said she felt rushed by developers for an answer on whether the village’s master plan should be amended.

Three developers are seeking the amendment as the first step in a process to gain approval to build multifamily housing in the village’s Central Business District.

“How are we going to stop this train?” Peters said. “When are we going to take the time to really talk about the master plan?”

Applications to amend the village’s master plan amendment from the housing developers, and one from Valley Hospital which was recently rejected, have forced the board to hear proponents of change for several years.

In response to vocal opposition from resident group Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR) and lawn signs that read “Save Our Village,” Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli has scheduled an informal public meeting for an open discussion on the future of the CBD. The forum will begin at 7:30 p.m. on July 23 in the Village Hall courtroom.

The issue stems from an ordinance adopted in 2007 that allows individuals or groups to propose master plan amendments. Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, who was sworn in earlier this month, has called for the village to repeal the ordinance.

“Can we have a moratorium on applications? Can we not take some time to stop so we can talk about this … instead of dealing with a fire as it comes to us?” Peters asked.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-planning-board-member-calls-for-moratorium-on-proposals-to-amend-master-plan-1.1053301

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Reader says Repeal ordinance 3066. Let redevelopment happen, within the current Master Plan

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Reader says Repeal ordinance 3066. Let redevelopment happen, within the current Master Plan

Repeal ordinance 3066. Let redevelopment happen, within the current Master Plan. The current CBD – as it stands – is a shadow of it’s vibrant, former self. Blog posters here are deluding themselves – or just don’t spend any time or money in the CBD – if they think values are enhanced by empty store fronts, gold pawn shops, decrepit old auto dealers and the old Town Garage, not to mention the horror of North Maple in to Ho-Ho-Kus. There is a lack of parking, parking meters need to be modernized to allow for credit card payment, flow is bad, and many retailers just don’t want to come here because our building department is legendary for sitting on permit approvals that kill the economics of their business.

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Logic questioned on eliminating traffic lane

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Logic questioned on eliminating traffic lane

MAY 23, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014, 1:58 PM

Logic questioned on eliminating traffic lane
David Slomin

To the editor:As a resident involved in the efforts to limit excessive apartment density increases pushed upon us by overzealous developers, I planned to write a letter of kudos to Ridgewood’s citizens for their great turnout and overwhelming vote of solidarity to Save Our Village in last week’s election. But then something came up.

I was made aware, only on the eve of construction, that Ridgewood was permanently closing lanes under the Franklin Avenue underpass, limiting traffic to one lane each way, while adding a dangerous bike lane.

While I thoroughly applaud efforts to improve safety, I question the logic and process by which this was approved. No clear notice or information was provided to residents and nobody reached out for input. Ridgewood’s website ignores it. Furthermore, while I’m told Engineering did careful reviews of this location, no village-wide traffic study was done to see how this might impact neighboring streets. And … this is right where they are proposing rezoning for more than 100 apartments!

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-logic-questioned-on-eliminating-traffic-lane-1.1022631#sthash.jEf9AntC.dpuf

Wilsey & Garber Square Road Resurfacing and Improvements

Click Here https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/engineering/2013WestSideStreetscapeOptionE.pdf

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Reader says ,The Central Business District is in nobody’s back yard

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Reader says ,The Central Business District is in nobody’s back yard 

The Central Business District is in nobody’s back yard – Rewriting the Master Plan to allow its overdevelopment will affect all of us. Your use of the term “NIMBY” makes no sense here. That term has become the rallying cry of special interest groups in town that have completely hijacked the agenda on what is best for Ridgewood moving forward. By all appearances, this has been fine with our Council and Planning Board as they each pursue their personal agendas. Hats off to residents that are taking matters into their own hands and getting involved in the process.

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Ridgewood needs to progress with the times

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Ridgewood needs to progress with the times

Friday, February 7, 2014
The Ridgewood News

Ridgewood needs to progress with time
by Edward Martin Walker

The following letter was also sent to the Ridgewood Planning Board.

To the editor:

Opinions on housing density are stuck in an either/or duality that lacks a vision for sustaining our quality of village life. We need a realistic growth vision from village leaders and a perspective shift by opponents in order to sustain the very things we all value so dearly. Ridgewood cannot “just stay the same.” Time waits for no one.

Our Planning Board should alter the Master Plan to foster equal living opportunities to both our elders and to our children, starting by limiting all higher density residential building to a 55-and-over demographic. The reasons for doing this are economic, ethical and moral.

Economic reasons: The single greatest future threat to any family’s life in Ridgewood is that it will be unaffordable to grown children and for retirement. This threat lessens by shifting the ratio of taxpayers to tax consumers (school-age children) in the direction of reduced individual tax burdens, while increasing business activities through economic growth. The only way to do this without burdening our schools is by limiting higher density residential to a 55-and-over demographic. We must also promote assisted-living facilities in the CBD, which will increase revenues with minimal utilization of town services, while increasing business spending by those providing goods and services. In addition, our master plan must create ways for older residents to age in place by sharing residences, or renting to other adults. Finally, in-law apartments and other ways to keep families together must be part of a wider vision for Ridgewood to sustain itself as a multi-age family community versus becoming simply a commodity primarily servicing school-age children and the enhancement of property values so as to facilitate relocation elsewhere once children graduate from high school. Anyone unaware of this dilemma is simply not paying attention.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/244165251_Letter__Ridgewood_needs_to_progress_with_the_times.html#sthash.84qHE4ZG.dpu