SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015, 11:41 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
As the second of two public hearings in front of the Village Council dedicated to multifamily housing nears, a long chapter in the town’s history may come to a close as officials will render a decision regarding the future of new apartment buildings in downtown Ridgewood.
On Wednesday, Sept. 30, residents will have one final chance to persuade the governing body to vote one way or the other.
The council is scheduled to take a vote on each ordinance, ostensibly settling the issue of high-density housing in Ridgewood.
What is unclear, however, is the status of litigation related to the master plan amendment as it has been revealed that neither the village nor the Planning Board has been officially served.
During a Sept. 15 meeting, it was brought to light by board attorney Gail Price that the Planning Board had not yet actually been served as defendants in the lawsuit.
The Ridgewood News reported last month that Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR) had filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court against the Planning Board and the Village of Ridgewood, citing numerous irregularities, procedural missteps and alleged conflicts of interest as reasons the Planning Board’s June 2 decision to amend the master plan should be declared void.
A copy of the complaint obtained by The Ridgewood News certifies that it was filed with the Superior Court clerk on Aug. 10 and docketed on Aug. 13.
Village Attorney Matt Rogers said he was not aware of any service from the village standpoint, which goes through the clerk’s office.
This was confirmed by Village Clerk Heather Mailander on Wednesday afternoon. She said the village indeed had not yet received a lawsuit.
When asked for a statement, CBR did not directly comment on the status of the lawsuit, but did state the group is “continuing to pursue its original objectives, specifically to heighten awareness about significant zoning changes underway and to encourage the village to engage in comprehensive planning that is strategic and visionary.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-housing-hearings-wrap-up-sept-30-1.1420947
