Tag: Planning Board

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Parking should be first priority

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Parking should be first priority

SEPTEMBER 19, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014, 9:55 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Parking should be first priority
Felicia Angus

To the Editor:

The Planning Board meeting on Tuesday night was a firm confirmation as to why the board has to take back control of the future of this town. Sitting there, you might have thought we had all stepped into a Perry Mason special instead of a village meeting. The former Sealfons building developer’s lawyer came out like a bulldog in his “cross examination” of CBR’s [Citizens for a Better Ridgewood] hired planning advisor and was at times condescending, mean-spirited and outright bad-mannered. If he is the representation of the developers that hired him then we can only infer how they would be once they were to get any sort of go ahead to develop in this town. Kudos to Ms. Brigette Bogart, CBR’s planning advisor, for keeping her calm and not being coerced into answering the deliberately leading questions.

What this town needs to thrive is a good parking option to let those who already live here, as well as those from other towns, make use of all that the village has to offer. Walk into any shop and ask the owners. This should be priority number one in helping boost the Central Business District. After that, the Planning Board should decide how it wants to change the town plan and proceed with housing for the empty nesters. Let the village put out the requests for proposals and not be pushed into anything that is not appropriate for the nature of this town.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-parking-should-be-first-priority-1.1091964#sthash.HyNeepem.dpuf

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Readers debate cost of living in the Central Business District

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Readers debate cost of living in the Central Business District 

I went to their website and had problems with the “data” that they presented. They think that someone in stupid.

The P&I on my mortgage is $1,800. I have a large 5 br 3/3 bath home. My taxes are $2,500. I am not looking to downsize to a much, much smaller rental for a higher cost. This development does not solve my tax problem. It just gives me an expensive alternative. I think that I need a smaller house or townhouse, but not in Ridgewood.

BTW. How many parking spots do I get? We have two cars.

and ….

 How about your cost for lawn maintenance, snow removal, repairs and the set-aside for major repairs (new roof, new AC etc., etc.) I know a former Ridgewood resident who had a house that is probably similar in size to yours. He and his wife are empty nesters and they decided to move to an apartment in Manhattan. They have a 2br, 2bath unit with a doorman and pay $6000/mo. When I commented that it appears that it would have been less expensive to simply stay put in Ridgewood he laid out the cost for me and guess what they totaled about $6000/mo. The Ridgewood developers are talking about $3000/mo for 2br/2br. Granted Ridgewood does not compare with the Big Apple but for the difference in rent a couple could easily afford to go into the city several times a month …..and still have a few bucks left over.

 

https://downtownridgewood.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/RidgewodRumorVsReality.pdf

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Reader asks Why would someone leave a Manhattan 1 bedroom for a Ridgewood 1 bedroom?

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Reader asks Why would someone leave a Manhattan 1 bedroom for a Ridgewood 1 bedroom?

Why would someone leave a Manhattan 1 bedroom for a Ridgewood 1 bedroom? It would add an hour commute, Manhattan is just as safe, and the public schools in Manhattan are, in many cases, better. The reality is different from your view.

https://downtownridgewood.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/RidgewodRumorVsReality.pdf
The enclave:
2 Bedrooms / 2 Baths
1000 sq. ft.
Monthly rent: Monthly rent: $3000

It costs me less than that to own a 4br home in the Ridge school area with a 15 yr 5% mortage.
You’d have to be a moron to pay 3k for rent.

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Ten Reasons to Welcome The Master Plan Amendment (With questions and rebuttals)

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Ten Reasons to Welcome The Master Plan Amendment (With questions and rebuttals)

•Additional housing choices will retain residents who outgrow their homes (But your study says that owning a $550,000 house costs about the same. Is this place for families that are downsizing or upsizing?)

•The proposed developments create lesser traffic than any other development option (Please cite specific references and back your claim up with actual data)

•Minimal additional school children (Really? I believe that this comes from yet another less-than-believable “study” funded by the applicant. Please we all just sat through 7 years of Valley “studies” and we’ve kind of had it)

•Height and mass would be the same if commercial use (But commercial buildings don’t house as many people with cars and school children as your proposed building does.)

•Parking self-sufficient (Based upon how many cars per unit and how many cars per resident? If there are no kids in your building there will be more grownups with cars. Pick one.)

•No requirement of town services (Great – then you’ll agree put down a sizable deposit against which the town can draw if you’re wrong?)

•Contributions to traffic improvement (Isn’t this from that other less-than-believable study that said that traffic will improve if we allow this building to be built?)

•$1.5 million annual net fiscal benefits to school budget and general budget (Seems light. I’d like to see the math here)

•Planned parking structure will ease clog (How does parking ease whatever “clog” is?)

•Resolves affordable housing threat (Sorry, you don’t get this one both ways either. Affordable housing will draw families with school age kids.)

•Solidifies land use in the town with minimal yield (Really? How?)

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Reader says No one is against development, just gross and stupid over-development.

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Reader says No one is against development, just gross and stupid over-development.

Number 1 Sure — very simple. One option, the developer who purchased the property follows the existing code — which will include some apartments and some single family homes as well as some business. Another option, the Village condemns the property using eminent domain and turns it into a park.

No one is against development, just gross and stupid over-development. You have exactly made the point as to why the developers are all wrong. Your argument is in effect, we need to approve the hundreds of units the developers want to build or we will have urban blight. Just the opposite is true — say no to over-development and the master plan as written will allow more sensible building with no need for amendments to the master plan or zoning adjustments.

Why do you suppose the speculator who bought that property is happy to have junky trucks sitting there now? Its exactly to bait people into voting for change without realizing the problems change will bring.

Now that you have heard these alternative solutions, I suppose you will agree with one of them?

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Can this town handle 50 units an acre?

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Copied from CBR Facebook page:Can this town handle 50 units an acre? 

We need more members of the public to attend this meeting tomorrow night at RHS.(Sept 16, 7:30pm) There are only a few meetings left before the planning board comes to a decision on higher density housing in Ridgewood. Can this town handle 50 units an acre? What happens next? Will more developers seek the same zoning benefits? Will our town have to grant those requests or else fall victim to “spot zoning” claims and expensive litigation brought on by other land owners seeking the same density increases? Once this new zone is created, there is no turning back. 50 units an acre that cover 10 acres of our town. Our planning board needs to proceed cautiously and settle on a number that makes sense. This is what planning boards do. Planning Boards plan for communities and amend master plans to ensure a better quality of life for the residents. At what number should the density increase, in order to stimulate development, yet still compliment existing structures and not fundamentally change the character of this town? This whole process is like a walk on a tight rope. The answer lies in a delicate balance. We are hopeful that our planning board finds that balance and does not fall. Please come tomorrow night.

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Change of Location : Special Public Meeting for Planning Board – September 16

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Change of Location : Special Public Meeting for Planning Board – September 16

PLANNING BOARD

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE

Special Public Meeting: Tuesday, September 16, 2014 

Change of Location

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014, in the RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CENTER, 627 E. RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning AT 7:30 p.m.

The Board may take official action during this Special Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Land Use Plan Element of the Master Plan which would recommend changes in zone district classifications and boundaries within the Central Business District and surrounding area including AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts.

The proposed master plan amendment and related exhibits are at the office of the Secretary of the Ridgewood Planning Board on the third floor of Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey and are available for public inspection Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The amendment and exhibits are also posted as a courtesy on the Village’s website at www.ridgewoodnj.net.

All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.

Jane Wondergem

Secretary to the Board

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Reader says It is time to just say no to Urbanization

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Reader says It is time to just say no to Urbanization 

Mr. Wrubel is right — the new housing will be a great accommodation for those looking to live in a more urban environment.

But he’s wrong in suggesting Ridgewood should be the site of that migration. The thing is, those of us not looking to living a denser environment are being asked to foot the bill for developers hoping to increase their profit. Those of us who have worked and paid taxes to maintain the standards of our Village are being told we need to open up the downtown for others to come in and enjoy the benefits of what has been built.

Mr. Wrubel’s basic premise is entirely backwards looking. Its been said many times on this blog before and it is worth repeating: A downtown exists to serve the town and not the other way around. If the functionality of Ridgewood’s downtown has reached a historic end, because its been replaced say, by Route 17 shopping, then the downtown parcel should revert to open space or single family homes in keeping with Ridgewood’s community purpose. The death of the downtown should not be allowed to kill off Ridgewood altogether, and that is what a lot of well meaning people seem to overlook.

Let’s look to the future and beyond the self interest of the developers and the yarns they have spun: Young families continue to want to live in a safe, suburban environment in the long desirable Village of Ridgewood — why are folks in such a rush to take away that opportunity? Why is our Planning Board and Council even considering allowing that to happen?

It is time to just say no.

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Crumbling pipes cause concern in Ridgewood

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file photo Boyd Loving

Crumbling pipes cause concern in Ridgewood

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014, 2:39 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
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Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the crumbling pipes, are calling for repair in Ridgewood.

According to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, who detailed the issue in her manager’s report at last week’s Village Council meeting, Ridgewood recently discovered that many of its sewer drainage pipes are “crumbling.”

The problem, she said, was discovered when a contractor employed by PSE&G was doing gas main work around Downs Street and Pearsall Avenue in August. The contractor noticed that the “pipe material was crumbling” in some nearby sewer drainage pipes.

The pipe cost about $1,300 to replace, she said.

According to Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser, the now-deteriorated, aluminum-corrugated metal pipes in Ridgewood’s sewer drainage system were installed 35 to 40 years ago, and are located “all over” the village. But “it’s hard to say” what percentage of the pipes – all in the storm drainage, not sanitary system – are made of this material and need replacement, he said.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn expressed concern when the pipe issue was raised at the meeting on Sept. 3.

“You’re saying this type of pipe, that crumbles at the touch, is all throughout the village,” he said. The mayor also asked Rutishauser if he was concerned.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/crumbling-pipes-cause-concern-1.1087035#sthash.28ETplWZ.dpuf

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Village’s plan to lease Gilsenan/Gap property falls flat

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Village’s plan to lease Gilsenan/Gap property falls flat
September 10 ,2014

Boyd A. Loving
11:17 PMRidgewood NJ, The following resolution was unanimously approved by Village Council members on 09/08:

#14-219: Reject Bids for Lot 12 – The Gap Parking Lot – Rejects the bids for this project due to the fact that revenues did not meet the Village’s financial expectations and there were too many zoning variances required for both bids that were received.

In a nutshell, there will be no building constructed on the Village owned property between Gilsenan Insurance/Realty and The Gap. Those who were interested in the lease proposed offering way too little in terms of annual rent, and wanted to build a structure(s) much larger than what the Village Council had envisioned.

Village Council members, and select Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce members, had hoped a real estate development firm would step forward and offer big bucks to construct a 2-story retail/office building on the property. The revenues would have been earmarked for the construction of a parking deck at the Hudson Street parking lot.

This is the second complete failure associated with this plan

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Ridgewood developers would add parking

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Ridgewood developers would add parking

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
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RIDGEWOOD — The village will be getting some much-needed parking along North Walnut Street under the terms outlined in a 42-page bid soliciting potential developers for the downtown’s redevelopment zone.

A new Request for Proposal and Qualifications, or RFP, has been issued by Ridgewood officials and seeks the redevelopment of 10 properties the heart of the Central Business District.

The 2.07 acres — some of it municipally owned — was designated a “redevelopment zone” by officials in 2007, which permits mostly retail and restaurant uses.

The redevelopment zone — currently the site of an ice cream shop, an 89-space parking lot, a mechanic’s shop, restaurants and retail stores — further allows for residential developments and is already being considered by at least one developer for a future assisted-living facility for seniors.

The RFP states that all proposals and plans from interested developers must be submitted by December and must include some manner of parking garage.

While an issue for decades, the village’s lack of parking has become an increasing concern for businesses and residents.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-developers-would-add-parking-1.1084530

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Special Public Meeting for Planning Board – September 16

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NOTICE – Special Public Meeting for Planning Board – September 16

PLANNING BOARD

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE

Special Public Meeting: Tuesday, September 16, 2014 

Change of Location

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014, in the RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CENTER, 627 E. RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning AT 7:30 p.m.

The Board may take official action during this Special Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Land Use Plan Element of the Master Plan which would recommend changes in zone district classifications and boundaries within the Central Business District and surrounding area including AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts. 

The proposed master plan amendment and related exhibits are at the office of the Secretary of the Ridgewood Planning Board on the third floor of Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey and are available for public inspection Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The amendment and exhibits are also posted as a courtesy on the Village’s website at www.ridgewoodnj.net. 

All meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.

Jane Wondergem

Secretary to the Board

Annual Sunflower Spectacular. Save Up to 50% at 1800flowers.com (Offer Ends 09/20/2014)show?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=216823

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Ridgewood Planning Board details process, payment for hearings

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Ridgewood Planning Board details process, payment for hearings

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2014, 6:00 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

“Rights” related to money spent by amendment applicants on hearings before the Ridgewood Planning Board – including the payment of village professionals, as detailed in Ordinance 3066 – were among the topics discussed during a review on Tuesday of proper board behavior.

The idea that Ridgewood’s applicants are afforded additional rights – beyond those afforded to applicants in other communities, who may not foot the bill for municipal experts during the hearing process – was ultimately rejected by the board attorneys.

But one key point was revealed: Ridgewood has the right to foot the bill for a master plan amendment application hearing, with or without Ordinance 3066 on the books, and thereby bring only its own experts in for a hearing, rather than also including an applicants’ experts.

During the discussion, Planning Board Attorney Gail Price also presented a legal overview regarding Open Public Meetings Act requirements and board obligations related to the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL).

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-planning-board-details-process-payment-for-hearings-1.1083491#sthash.uZY7zkt6.dpuf

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Ridgewood soliciting ideas for redevelopment area

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Ridgewood soliciting ideas for redevelopment area

SEPTEMBER 4, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014, 3:38 PM
BY BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER

The future of North Walnut Street is in the hands of a developer, but don’t count on getting any clues from a fortune teller about what’s to be built.

“Carnival enterprises, such as palmistry, phrenology, astrology and the like” are just some of the businesses banned from the Central Business District, according to the Request for Proposals and Qualifications (RFP) for the redevelopment of the North Walnut Street area published last month.

Drive-through windows, car sales lots and auto repair shops are also on the “prohibited” list in the 42-page document that will guide the look and substance of the 2.07 acres to be redeveloped.

On Oct. 8, the village will hold a meeting where RFP responders can ask questions or make comments about the document. Plans must be submitted by Dec. 1. By Feb. 4, concepts will be presented to the Village Council, which will choose one, if any, of the firms in March.

The rest of the timeline, like acquiring vacant property and beginning construction, is “to be determined.”

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-soliciting-ideas-for-redevelopment-area-1.1081324#sthash.4v7nIX36.dpuf

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The Name-Dropper: Van Neste Square

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The Name-Dropper: Van Neste Square

SEPTEMBER 4, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY JEFFREY PAGE
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
THE RECORD

Who was Lee of Fort Lee, Votee of Votee Park and Merritt of Camp Merritt? The Name-Dropper gives you the lowdown on some of the people whose names you see on public statues, memorial plaques, park signs, highways and even some local streets around North Jersey. Have suggestions? Email them to features@northjersey. com and put Name-Dropper in the subject field.

In the legendary first intercollegiate football game, when Rutgers beat Princeton, 6-4, John Alfred Van Neste of the Rutgers team may have kicked the ball, may have helped score a point, may have blocked a Princeton player.

Then again, maybe not.

Accounts of that game played in New Brunswick in 1869 report the score, but provide little about how individual players performed.

It seems easy, 145 years later, to assume Van Neste got a chance to play since the rules of that time dictated large lineups, 25 players per side.

But in one respect, how Van Neste played doesn’t matter since it was not his exploits on the gridiron that caused the Village of Ridgewood to name a sweet little downtown park in his memory. Rather it was for the remembrance of Van Neste as an adored minister in mid-19th to early-20th-century Ridgewood. He was the Reformed Church pastor who helped people of other denominations establish and build their own places of worship, and in the meantime allowed them to use his church.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-park-ministers-to-all-as-did-its-namesake-1.1081013#sthash.y4WRDtCp.dpuf