May 16,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Tonights 7:30pm Planning Board meeting at Village Hall is going to be an important one for the fate of Ridgewood and we need you to show up and voice your concerns.
If you are concerned about our current water shortage/restrictions, ask yourself:
How do you think 200-300 added apartments in the proposed high density developments are going to impact this water shortage?
Forget about worrying about your lawn. What about your home? What if there ever was a fire? Should these oversized developments be built and should the current water shortage continue, will there be enough water pressure coming out of your street hydrant to save your house?
The Planning Board is likely to vote for the Ken Smith high density housing site tonight, 7:30pm at the Village Hall courtroom. This water concern is a public safety issue that the Planning Board can vote NO on as the developers have yet to do the proper research to address. Please come out this evening, speak about your concerns at the podium and help protect our village.
The Planning Board can vote NO on the basis that there is a public safety issue with the site plans – which we strongly believe is the case!
Here’s how (courtesy of Dave Slomin) :
WATER: A major safety issue is WATER. When Ridgewood Water testified on housing, they did so before the historic drought of the past two years. If current residents are unable to use water fully on a regular basis, how can we add 200-300 new homes in town? What happens if there is a fire at one of these buildings during peak water usage hours in the summer… that could be a disaster?
TRAFFIC: At the last meeting, there was debate about what level of responsibility falls to the developers to fix new traffic issues they create, all along the Franklin Ave corridor. Right now, they are saying they only have to install lights and signs, right near their building. But even the Planning Board’s own traffic engineer admitted, they don’t know the full impact of this development. But for the CURRENT RESIDENTS… WE NEED TO KNOW!
Until these issues are resolved, the Planning Board must vote NO. Please hold them to that by coming to tomorrow night’s meeting. The future of our downtown depends on it.
Ridgewood Water :
Stage II restrictions (2 days per week irrigation) were imposed in June 2016 and are still in effect in Glen Rock, Midland Park, Ridgewood and Wyckoff. Without these restrictions, the use of drinking water for irrigation will continue increasing toward levels that are unsustainable regardless of drought conditions. To reverse this trend, an ordinance was approved by the Village Council on April 12, 2017 to amend the provisions governing Watering and Water Emergencies in the Village of Ridgewood Code. Changes include:
- Making 2 days per week irrigation permanent year round,
- Restricting irrigation hours to limit losses to evaporation,
- Restricting irrigation using private wells to 2 days a week,
- Adding new exemptions, including drip irrigation and smart controllers.
This ordinance became effective on May 2, 2017 and applies only to Ridgewood, but it is expected that the Boroughs of Glen Rock and Midland Park, and the Township of Wyckoff will enact similar rules as they have in the past. Below is the approved ordinance. Questions can be directed to Ridgewood Water at 201-670-5521 or cswater@ridgewoodnj.net.
