file photo by Boyd Loving
November 8,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, On Wednesday November 4, the agenda for the Village Council’s Public Workshop Agenda included a single line item: Public Hearing – Change in Use of 1057 Hillcrest Road (The Gate House) at Irene Habernickel Family Park. No one in the neighborhood of the park had been informed via any official channels. A small, almost unreadable sign posted at the park informed of the meeting, but few saw it and many who might have would not have read such an insignificant posting. Many found out about the meeting through a grapevine of neighbors. One was told, off the record, by a police officer. Another heard about it from a contractor working at her home. Some learned as they were arriving home from work that night.
The basic gist of what is going on is as follows. For many years, the Gate House had been rented to a family, who opted not to renew their lease. An ad placed for a new renter yielded no interested parties. A business, however, had indicated an interest in acquiring the property. Late in the summer, on September 16, an ordinance was introduced to change the use of 1057 Hillcrest Road to “recreational/educational purposes.” Health Barn USA won the bid, and soon thereafter the business website indicated the new address in Ridgewood. The website, should you care to read further, is https://www.healthbarnusa.com/
Some reached out to one of our elected officials, Councilwoman Susan Knudsen in advance of Wednesday’s meeting. Responding appropriately and promptly, Councilwoman Knudsen explained to those who inquired how to speak their concerns at a Council Meeting, and who to speak with at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regarding the regulations involved using a property that was purchased with Green Acres Funding for business purposes.
Many residents of the neighborhood arrived at the November 4 meeting, not sure what to expect, but certain that they wanted to speak their opposition to this plan. For most, this was the first Village Council meeting they had attended. They waited patiently while other business items were discussed and presented.
When the Public Hearing began, the owner of Health Barn USA, Ms. Stacey Antine, explained the mission and purpose of her business. She also denied some allegations that had been swirling prior to this meeting, stating that she was not involved in any litigation with her former landlord (Abmas Farm in Wyckoff) and that no children from inner cities would be bused in for the programs. Following her presentation, several clients of Health Barn USA gave testimonials, and employees of the Village of Ridgewood spoke about safety and other concerns surrounding the changed use of the property.
When the residents finally got their chance to speak, they were amazing. Twenty one individuals spoke, ranging in age from 18 to “retired.” One after the next they voiced valid objections to the change in use, to the way the matter has been handled by The Village Council, and to the legality of defying the NJ-DEP Green Acres guidelines. They were all clear, determined, insistent, polite, even while frustrated. Many expressed a sense of wonder that their elected officials had actually changed the use and drafted (although not finalized) a lease on a business BEFORE the Public Hearing. You can hear their excellent comments on the Village of Ridgewood website U-Stream.
Here are a few highlights, in no particular order:
1. One resident was reprimanded sarcastically and loudly by Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck. Yes, you read that correctly, a member of the public, a taxpayer, was publicly humiliated by one of our elected officials.
2. Results of a traffic study conducted by the Ridgewood Police Department seemed to greatly differ from the neighbors’ observations of traffic at the site.
3. While the original presentation by the Health Barn USA owner indicated that busses would not be coming in and out of the park, later in the evening it was revealed that mini-busses and full-size school busses could be expected on a regular basis.
4. The business has been granted permission by the Village to use a large plot on the park property for gardening; this is separate from the home and its immediate surrounds.
5. Assistant to the Village Manager, Ms. Janet Fricke, expressed frustration that one of our elected officials assisted residents in navigating the process without including her in the discussion. Likewise, Village Manager Ms. Roberta Sonenfeld indicated that no such communications between a councilmember and the public should take place without everyone being cc’ed. SINCE WHEN DO EMPLOYEES TELL ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO? Does anyone actually believe that an elected official should not assist residents who ask for assistance?
6. No resident, not one, criticized the business in any way or maligned Ms. Antine for having sought this location. Their argument was not with Health Barn USA; it is with the proposed presence of any business in their quiet residential neighborhood.
7. In summary, Mayor Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli, and Councilwoman Hauck all indicated that with some minor adjustments to satisfy the NJ-DEP, they will be looking forward to welcoming this wonderful new business, thereby completely ignoring the impassioned pleas of these residents.
So, are the Habernickel Park neighbors getting the shaft just like the Schedler Park residents? Sure looks like it. Once again, the Council Majority is running a steam roller right over the taxpayers.
