Ridgewood NJ, the request for variances that allow for two homes where only one exists now.
Ridgewood resident Denise Pierce Lima spelled out the problem on Facebook, “We need you to show up to the August 1st Planning Board Meeting and just say “NO”
We bought our home in Ridgewood, in this specific area because of the beauty of the landscape and the history. This home has helped support and make me survivor of cancer and it is our front porch and looking out to the park like setting that got me through it.
What is really happeing at the property at 315 East Glen Ave. AND the variances they are asking for – and what you really need to know is the following:
This is part of a larger project to sub-divide the property and build 2 McMansions 3600 SQ FT.
– According to the Ridgewood Tax map and assessment online files; this will be 150% larger than the 17 homes surrounding this Lot and Block. And -750 homes surrounding, only 2 homes are larger than 2200 square feet and one is the old “Libby” historical home on Glen Ave.
This property and its surroundings are from the 1830, with what we believe are remnants of a blacksmiths house bordering as well as another home from 1800’s. Especially when they plan to cut down 20+ trees and destroy the complete canapoy of the area, essentially clear cutting. The character and history of the area would be LOST
Request to “double” the easement – is purely to fit 6 cars in the new McMansion Emergency vehicles can get down the current driveway, the expansion will not allow them to “turn around”
Not to mention Several months of digging, noise, construction equipment surrounding Glen, Northern Parkway and Sterling will be impacted. And you thought PSE&G was annoying!”
Only the applicant had an attorney, testimony by professional planner on behalf of applicant was clearly orchestrated to convince the Board that Case Law made their approval inevitable.
There seemed to be an implication from testimony that the Planning Board did not have any discretion whatsoever.
Resident Martin Walker pointed out on Facebook,” Hopefully discussed that attorneys are using case law to eviscerate our zoning regulations, and thus the stated intent of our LAST Master Plan.
In other words, State Law is being manipulated to render out village governance meaningless AND the village doesn’t field any legal opinions capable of countering this.
Without legal resources to translate future Master Planning into enforceable law…there IS no possibility of village governance.”
Please come tonight, 7:30pm at Village Hall, to help remind the Planning Board who they really represent.
If you cannot attend, please consider emailing the secretary of the Planning Board, Mike Cafarelli, (mcafarelli@ridgewoodnj.net) to share with the Planning Board that we need these questions formally investigated per the complaint filed on September 20th:
Why didn’t our former deputy mayor recuse himself from March 23rd’s vote on High Density Housing, when, as a member of the Planning Board, he had previously recused himself for the same issue?
Why was an unvetted/unsubstantiated letter from the Fair Share Housing Center written into the record as fact/evidence by the former Planning Board Attorney?
Lastly, on the same day a resident complaint was filed against the Planning Board, one of its members who was named as having a conflict of interest, should happen to resign. Is that just a coincidence?
These are questions that we as residents deserve answers to. According to their By Laws, the Planning Board has the right to stop the pending high density housing site plan review and investigate these matters. Let’s hold them to doing so.
(all timeframes and the order of agenda items below are approximate and subject to change)
7:30 p.m. – Call to Order, Statement of Compliance, Flag Salute, Roll Call – In accordance with the provisions of Section 10:4-8d of the Open Public Meetings Act, the date, location, and time of the commencement of this meeting is reflected in a meeting notice, a copy of which schedule has been filed with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk, The Ridgewood News and The Record newspapers, and posted on the bulletin board in the entry lobby of the Village municipal offices at 131 North Maple Avenue, and on the Village website, all in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.Roll call: Knudsen, Voigt, Altano, Joel, Reilly, Patire, Thurston, Scheibner, Torielli, McWilliams
7:35 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. – Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board
7:40 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics, Correspondence Received by the Board
7:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Executive Session
9:30 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – Appointment of Legal Counsel
AdjournmentIn accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work sessions, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings, which are always open to members of the general public.
Members: Susan Knudsen, Jeff Voigt, Joel Torielli, Melanie McWilliams, David Scheibner, Richard Joel, Kevin Reilly, David Thurston, Isabella Altano, Debbie Patire
Professional Staff: Blais L. Brancheau, Planner; Gail L. Price, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary
Ridgewood NJ, Public Hearing on Housing Element of the Village Master Plan, and the World Mission Society, Church of God will be the focus of the June 21st ,Ridgewood Planning Board meeting.
PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE/AGENDA
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Village Hall Court Room– 7:30 P.M.
(all timeframes and the order of agenda items below are approximate and subject to change)
7:30 p.m. – Call to Order, Statement of Compliance, Flag Salute, Roll Call – In accordance with the provisions of Section 10:4-8d of the Open Public Meetings Act, the date, location, and time of the commencement of this meeting is reflected in a meeting notice, a copy of which schedule has been filed with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk, The Ridgewood News and The Record newspapers, and posted on the bulletin board in the entry lobby of the Village municipal offices at 131 North Maple Avenue, and on the Village website, all in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act.
7:35 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board
7:45 p.m. – 7:55 p.m. – Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics, Correspondence Received by the Board
7:55 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – World Mission Society, Church of God
8:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. – Public Hearing on Housing Element of the Village Master Plan
10:30 p.m. – 10:40 p.m. – Adoption of Minutes: July 7, 2015
10:40 p.m. – Executive Session (if needed)
Adjournment
In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work sessions, pre-meeting assemblies and special meetings) are public meetings, which are always open to members of the general public.
Members: Mayor Paul Aronsohn, Nancy Bigos, Councilwoman Susan Knudsen, Charles Nalbantian, Richard Joel, Kevin Reilly, Wendy Dockray, David Thurston, Isabella Altano, Khidir Abdalla, Debbie Patire
Professional Staff: Blais L. Brancheau, Planner; Gail L. Price, Esq., Board Attorney; Christopher J. Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Michael Cafarelli, Board Secretary
Planning Board Meeting – Cancelled November 17 – Scheduled November 9
PLANNING BOARD
AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
Cancelled: November 17, 2015, Public Meeting
Scheduled: Work Session & Special Public Meeting: Monday, November 9, 2015
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Ridgewood Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for Monday, November 9, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the Annie Zusy Room on the ground floor at the Village Hall, at 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood. Formal action may or may not be taken. The meeting scheduled for November 17, 2015 has been cancelled.
The agenda for the meeting includes the following, subject to change:
1. An executive session to discuss pending litigation, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and concluding at approximately 7:30 p.m.
2. Continued discussion of the reexamination of the Master Plan and development regulations, pertaining to the topics of circulation and community facilities.
3. Discussion of the preparation of the housing element of the master plan.
4. Adoption of minutes.
With the exception of Executive Sessions, 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.