Mark Krulish , Staff Writer, @Mark_KrulishPublished 3:16 p.m. ET June 21, 2017 | Updated 8 hours ago
RIDGEWOOD — Two down, two to go.
After a literal 11th-hour change to the site plan, the Ridgewood Planning Board approved the application for an apartment complex on South Broad Street at the old Brogan Cadillac site.
The project, known as The Dayton, is one of four multifamily housing applications filed in the wake of a master plan amendment that rezoned areas of downtown Ridgewood for multifamily housing.
“However, we believe the actual reason is that grant money was used to construct the bike lane to nowhere and rules associated with the use of grant funds would require the Village to give the money used back if the project were removed.”
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At the time, we were told that (a wondrous) grant would pay for (most?) of the fabulous Bike Lane and it would be a win for everyone and that the grant money must be used for this purpose (traffic easing – aka stealth population control to force a socialist agenda driven by the master plan known as “Agenda 21” – look it up). It’s a big F U sugar coated in feel good language and yes, we are stuck with it.
. I think that ANY Garagzilla project needs to INCLUDE FUNDING to rip out the idiotic Bike Lane to nowhere AND INCLUDE FUNDS TO PAY BACK THE GRANT – otherwise no garage gets built.
We voted out the last Gang..perhaps those new folks have crossed the magic river of unreality .You don’t build for peak use times..economics 101.let these terrific business go bond it themselves. Once privately bonded grant them a 30 year ground leased at below market rates,.different story now?.Police don’t patrol today.you think a rent a cop
will make this garage safe late at night..not a chance…useage goes into the can when it becomes a drug and homeless center..then the Car rental and urban blight stores open up 24 /7 for the new homeless..pretty picture
Of Potterville gone Bad..
This Village has to wake up to the math. A $9mm garage that increases parking by 140 spaces cost about $64,000 per space. If one were to assume that every one of those incremental spaces (because incremental space is what we are paying for) was filled 256 day per year, (360 less weekends), it would take about 10 years at $25 per space per day just to cover the $9mm construction cost. This is a wild ass assumption in its own right. A few other items to think about- i) we can’t build outdoor bathrooms without going over budget so that $9mm figure is a wish, ii) the math mentioned above does not take into consideration financing, operating and capital costs and iii) the Village should not underestimate the external costs associated with increased traffic in an already congested business district. I would guess that when those costs are realistically added in, this project will create significant deficits that would be funded by the tax payers. Hey, let’s go for it assuming we all know how much the pretty building will cost us and who really benefits from another white elephant.
I feel horribly sad that this stupidity was not put behind us as many believed would happen after the referendum. True, the referendum applied to a specific bond and a specific price, but as others point out here, we’re approaching that dollar figure anyway. HORRORS, especially at this moment in the village’s fiscal history. A garage was never meant to be at that location until the Aronsohn crew began pounding it into our heads. Building it is a big mistake that will be recognized soon, when the money has been spent and that little corner destroyed.Smaller is better, but merely reconfiguring and resurfacing the lot would be even better and cost relatively nothing. I believe this council is allowing itself to be swayed by the squeakiest wheels in town, many with much to gain, financially or politically, from the construction of this monstrosity and others. Those council members who still have a conscience and common sense will deeply regret their decision. Like an engaged person who can’t face admitting that love is gone and dreads the upcoming marriage but can’t disappoint their parents and friends or justify losing the money already spent, we will apparently go through with this, only to rue it later. It will be too late to get a divorce before the first anniversary, as can happen in such cases. Such an edifice in that spot will be ugly and overbearing at any price and in any style…it will cast shadows over a nice sunny area with outdoor tables…it will increase traffic that is already near-lethal. And it will cost us dearly when dollars are badly needed in the municipality for other things.
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act MAYOR: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call
4. RESOLUTION
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, NUMBERED 17-142 IS TO BE ADOPTED BY A CONSENT AGENDA, WITH ONE VOTE BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL. THERE IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION BESIDE THIS RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE READ BY TITLE ONLY:
17-56 Award Professional Services Contract – Professional Historic Architectural Consultant – Zabriskie-Schedler House Stabilization Project (Phase I)(NTE $50,000) –
This resolution authorizes the hiring of Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects to document the current conditions of the site, restore and stabilize roof, prepare and present nomination to New Jersey and National Register Nomination, and provide assistance for preparation of 2017 Bergen County HPTF Application.
5. Adjournment
PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
MAY 24, 2017
7:30 P.M.
7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor
Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
Roll Call – Village Clerk
Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
Motion to Suspend Work Session and Convene Special Public Meeting
Special Public Meeting – See Attached Agenda
Motion to Adjourn Special Public Meeting and Reconvene Work Session
Presentation
a. FAC – Amend Various Fees and Fines
Discussion
a. Ridgewood Water
b. Parking
1. Discussion of Proposed Parking Garage
2. Train Station – New Parking
c. Budget
1. 2017 Estimated Tax Rate
2. Hardware for E-Ticketing Software
3. Award Second Year of Contract – Crossing Guard Services
d. Policy
1. Boards and Committees – Structures and By-laws
e. Operations
1. Request for Resource Room at Gatehouse – Women Gardeners of Ridgewood
2. Proposed Stop Signs – Upper Boulevard and Glenwood Road
3. Kings Pond Area Cleaning Program – Ridgewood Wildscape Assoc. & Partners
4. Renew Agreement for Community Development Block Grant Program & Other Grants
5. NJDOT Request for Additional Bus Stop – State Highway 17 at Race Track Road
Manager’s Report
Council Reports
Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
Resolution to go into Closed Session
Closed Session
A. Legal – Partial Divestiture of Ridgewood Water, COAH; Valley Hospital; HealthBarn
B. Contracts/Negotiations – Barrington Road
C. Personnel – Appointments to Boards and Committees
Adjournment
American retail culture may well have reached a tipping point.
Major department stores are floundering about like fish in a rapidly draining pond after reporting dreadful earnings last week.
The time-honored multigenerational giants like Macy’s, Sears and JCPenney are all looking at a dramatically different future.
Macy’s stock collapsed 17 percent after Thursday’s first-quarter report. And high-end retail behemoths like Nordstrom are getting clobbered, too. Shares of that politically petulant retailer fell 11 percent Thursday on news of its first-quarter results.
Better take a good look, because this may be last call for the mall.
It simply won’t work due to parking psychology. The target market for the people who are supposedly in need of extra arking places are the shoppers and diners. These people simply won’t use a parking facility of this kind. First we have the shoppers. The reality is that there really is a declining shopping-in-Ridgewood demand. It’s not a Ridgewood thing but a national thing where people are changing their shopping habits, moving more and more to online, and when they do go brick and mortar, it’s big box places. As for diners, yes, there will always be the dining crowd, however, they will simply go to a different town to eat if they can’t find street, and more importantly, free parking.
This garage will be the equivalent of the Simpson’s monorail.
Unfortunately , despite the fact that the new price tag is significantly less than when the Aronsohn cronies were running the show, this parking garage is still destined to become a financial disaster of major proportions. I predict that parking rates throughout the Village will skyrocket and parking times will be extended in an attempt to raise revenues. This will kill the restaurant business for sure, and maybe even some service businesses and retail stores. Unless the garage is filled to the brim, it won’t even break even. The only way to fill it is to force all commuters there. An operational and financial fiasco in the making. Just you wait and see
My prediction is that the council has already decided to move forward on a garage that will fit on the Hudson space. The new garage proposed offers 240 spaces in total. I believe we have something like 80-90 spaces there now so we are picking up 150-160 additional spaces. Will that solve the parking problem?? of course not. I think it will end up being used as a commuter parking garage which will free up spaces in other lots. Adding another level adds about 60 extra spaces.
Ridgewood NJ, reader says its been pointed out so many times before ,cottage place lot and other muni lots are like an artillery range of deep potholes…if Parkers fall an break bones and sue town for outright neglect..completely mill and repave and
repaint stall lines for all of those lots.people don’t see those lots as safe and useable.Impossible to shovel and plow those surfaces to any degree of safety..they are ice fields and broken unsafe utilities…shackle and spit
Fill never worked and was a waste of towns money.
Ridgewood NJ, Village attorney Matt Rogers told the council the Village is not obligated to fly the “Rainbow or Gay flag”. Rogers talked at length of both legal and policy implications .Rogers went on to explain the “freedom of Speech ” issues as well as the Village flag pole had not history been used to make a political statement or as a public forum . Temporary signs are also banned from Village public property which would include the Village hall flag pole .
Mike Sedon chimed in that the American flag is inclusive and is the most potent symbol of inclusion world over. Both Bernie and Jeff were supportive of the Rainbow flag on the idea of “inclusiveness ” along the road that other groups celebrate on Village property like the RBSA and so on. Councilmen Hache worried about other groups who may want to raise a flag that may not be supported by the community in general. The mayor worried it was a road we don’t want to go down to be auditing countless groups looking to fly their flag over the Village hall.
Ridgewood NJ, the Pike Company made a very impressive parking garage presentation to the Ridgewood Village Council . Pike uses a pre-manufactured system , like a modular home ,and they have been doing so for 15 years.Pike looked at Hudson Street ,and came up with a precast approach to the Hudson Garage . The reason for pre-cast is to keep down the cost and also cost controls.
Pike was founded in 1873 and is a billion dollar company ,has no debt and no law suits .Pike views Ridgewood as a good risk and they would front the costs ie… a “no money down ” deal.
Pike used aerial drone footage and then semi imposed the proposed garage on the site . Pike pointed out that there would be fire access on all sides of the garage . Pike said there would be no encroachments on any easements. The company seemed to go to great lengths to fit the garage into the Central Business District ,be respectful to Mount Carmel Church and think through the logistics of building the garage unlike in the past. Planning included everything from lighting ,safety to the brick face.
Pike offered many options including even a management lease option .According to Pike the project would take about 8 months of construction with cost estimates for 240 spaces coming in at $8 million dollars. Pike would provide all financing using lender mandated requirements .
Mark Krulish , Staff Writer, @Mark_Krulish2:57 p.m. ET April 27, 2017
RIDGEWOOD — In an effort to add parking spaces at the train station, the council is weighing a plan to reduce the size of a grass median and create new spots for compact cars.
The design, presented by Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser to the council Wednesday, calls for narrowing the island on the western side of the train tracks by 4.5 feet to accomodate parking for compact cars on both sides of the median. The new layout would add 41 spots.
THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL’S PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA
APRIL 26, 2017
REVISED
1. 7:30 pm – Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with Open Public Meeting Act
Mayor: “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record, and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including the date and time of this meeting.”
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute/Moment of Silence
5. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 3 Minutes per Person – 40 Minutes in Total)
6. Discussion:
a. Ridgewood Water
Award Contract – Professional Engineering Services – Suez Corrosion Control
Water Conservation
b. Parking
1. Parking Kiosk – RFP
2. Train Station – New Parking
c. Budget
Fourth Quarter Financial Report
d. Policy
1. Graydon Pool – Designation of Historic Places
2. Amend Chapter 260 – Trees and Shrubs
e. Operations
1. Yardwaste Regulations – Factoids
7. Manager’s Report
8. Council Reports
9. Public Comments (Not to Exceed 5 Minutes per Person)
