Tag: Ridgewood Planning Board

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Shakespearean tragedy in Ridgewood

Valleywood_theridgewoodblog
May 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The CRR vs. PB and Valley complaint reads like a Shakespearean tragedy (or comedy), brought about by Valley’s scorched earth tactics and Gail Price’s hubris.  How so?
First, during those “Whispering Woods” hearings, Valley attack dog/super lawyer Jon Drill sends an oh-so polished legal brief to the Board demanding Wendy Dockray be recused for being on Jeff Voigt’s campaign team.  What a smarty pants Jon must have thought he was.  But OOPS, wait a minute Jon, guess you didn’t know that Valley’s second favorite attorney, Ms Gail Price, is married to candidate Richard Brooks? (Hurrah for women who retain their maiden names.)  You didn’t see that one coming, did ya?  And as a good attorney like Jon knows, the ethics rules that govern lay people (like Dockray) go QUADRUPLE for attorneys. It’s called the “appearance of impropriety” standard, meaning CRR doesn’t need to prove there will be a new “Price-Brooks” wing at Valley; there just needs to be the potential for some stank.  But to make it ACTUALLY stanky, when confronted with the conflict allegation in public, Gail still refused to step down as PB attorney and went straight to Facebook and threatened anyone in Ridgewood with “libel” for mentioning that she and Rich are married.
Gail hurdled “impropriety” and went straight to the “F–k you all, I know what’s best for Ridgewood” standard.  That’s why I’m betting we say bye-bye to that mediated settlement, and perhaps to Gail as well. And as for Drill, though he can’t unhoist himself from that petard, I’m thinking Queen Audrey will give him a reprieve because she didn’t know Price and Brooks were married either.
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Reader says public input early is key in the Ridgewood Planning Board process

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I do think public input early in the process is key. I agree current council has been scared of allowing opposition to formalize as it did with CRR and Valley. They seem to think that if you do it quick you minimize the ability of the public to create opposition groups, etc.

So I agree, make people aware and get stakeholders into the informal meetings. But I think the public comment and the entire process would be helped if it was less formal. The Planning Board public comment period is supposed to focus on whatever specific legal objections and technical objections can be raised. They tolerate kids getting up to say there will be construction and people speculating about construction workers oggoling children, but that is not really what the Planning Board hearing is about. HOWEVER, a less formal informative session format would give a perfect outlet for those kids to be heard before the Planning Board or the developers are locked into a legal process. There can be a dialogue this way.

Now legally this would have to be voluntary for the developers. BUT we could create a voluntary preliminary planning framework. Publish a description online and in the paper. Have 2 meetings at different times on different days. Allow cross talk so questions can be addressed and answered. You could even publish a summary of the meetings but agree they will not be recorded or be considered binding. Let the developer have the right to sign off on the summary before it is published to correct their own statements as needed. This will free everyone up to talk more freely.

Following this process a plan would be submitted for the formal planning board. The carrot to get developers to take the deal would be that the Planning Board would have the option to allow comment and vote on the same night ONLY IF the developers went through the preliminary voluntary process. Otherwise the Planning Board would typically allow 1-2 sessions of public comment BEFORE voting.

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Reader asks will Brooks ever be able to vote on any subject whatsoever that has been addressed by the Ridgewood Planning Board?

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A question about Brooks – – since his wife is the planning board attorney who steered the Valley expansion through the Planning Board, will he ever be able to vote on a Valley related matter one way or the other? Won’t there always be a conflict of interest presented by the concern that he is merely voting to prop up and validate her advice to the Board during their deliberations?

For that matter, will Brooks ever be able to vote on any subject whatsoever that has been addressed by the Planning Board? Isn’t he going to have to sit on the sideline during the next couple of years? Even if she and her firm were to resign now from the planning board, the big decisions of the past few years are going to be fine tuned and acted on by the council over the next couple of years.

In that case, electing Brooks would equate to electing an empty chair.

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Council Candidate Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh : “To disregard the resident’s voice, is to disregard the process”

Bernie Walsh
April 6,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, Council Candidate Bernadette Coghlan-Walsh ,released the following statement to the Ridgewood blog on the Planning Broad Special Public Meetings , “While I applaud all the members of the Planning Board for their dedication and hard work, I feel they fell short of representing the residents last evening.  As PB attorney Katie Razin stated in her comments, each member of the Planning Board should be deliberating on the process based on the facts presented and public approval.  I interpreted that as examine the evidence and listen to public comment and decide for yourself as to whether or not the public approves of this expansion plan.   The residents who showed up this past week and en masse last night, in my opinion from their statements into the record, were not in approval of this mediation agreement.  To disregard the resident’s voice, is to disregard the process. “

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RIDGEWOOD PLANNING BOARD SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETINGS – VALLEY HOSPITAL TONIGHT !

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livestream planning board meeting  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jp0OPnUFv4

Planning Board Amendent to Meeting Schedule – Special Public Meetings – March 30, 31, and April 4, 5, 7

Please Note – The Board may take formal action when the matter is concluded on any of these dates
For complete details for the meeting schedule – Click Here

Valley Exhibits
1.  A-1 2013-2014 Bird’s Eye View Exhibit
2.  A-2 2016 Bird’s Eye View Exhibit
3.  A-3  2013-2014 Site Section D (2013 Exhibit A-12 Slide 18)
4.  A-4  2016 Site Section D
5.  A-5  2016-Ex-A-5-2013-Ex-A-12-Evers-slide-19-section-E
6.  A-6  2016 Site Section E
7.  A-7  2013-2014 Setback Exhibit (2013 Exhibit A-29 Slide 21)
8.  A-8  2016 Setback Exhibit
9.  A-9  Photo Simulation Long View from Meadowbrook Ave
10. A-10  Photo Simulation Closer View from Meadowbrook Ave
11. A-11  Photo Simulation View from North Van Dien Avenue
12. A-12  Photo Simulation View from 318 Steilen Ave
13. A-13  Photo Simulation View from 258 Steilen Ave
14. A-14  Photo Simulation View from BFMS Ballfield
15. A-15  2016 Reduction in Floor Area Calculations
16. A-16  2016 Building Floor Area by Phase
17. A-17  List of Conditions Generated during the 2013-2014 Master Plan Hearing
18. A-18  2016-Ex-A-18-2016-Building Floor Area by Phase
19. A-19  Survey-property line at N Van Dien
20. A-20  Survey-property line rearyards of Steilen
21. A-21  Photo-from-BFMS-ballfield-looking-south-to-TVH

Village of Ridgewod Planning Board Exhibits
1. B-1 – Planning Board Public Notice
2. B-2 – Court Remand Order
3. B-3 – H-Hospital Zone District – Proposed 2014 Land Use Plan Amendment (defeated by Planning Board)
4. B-4 – H-Hospital Zone District – Proposed March 15, 2016 Land Use Plan Amendment (red-lined version shpwing changes from 2014 plan amendment)
5. B-5 – H-Hospital Zone District – Proposed March 15, 2016 Land Use Plan Amendment (unlined version without showing changes from 2014 plan amendment) 
Transcripts
1.  March 30, 2016 – H-Zone Master Plan Hearing
2.  March 31, 2016 – H-Zone Master Plan Hearing
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RIDGEWOOD PLANNING BOARD SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETINGS – VALLEY HOSPITAL TONIGHT!

Valley_Hospital_theridgewoodblog

Planning Board Amendent to Meeting Schedule – Special Public Meetings – March 30, 31, and April 4, 5, 7
Please Note – The Board may take formal action when the matter is concluded on any of these dates
For complete details for the meeting schedule – Click Here

Valley Exhibits
1.  A-1 2013-2014 Bird’s Eye View Exhibit
2.  A-2 2016 Bird’s Eye View Exhibit
3.  A-3  2013-2014 Site Section D (2013 Exhibit A-12 Slide 18)
4.  A-4  2016 Site Section D
5.  A-5  2016-Ex-A-5-2013-Ex-A-12-Evers-slide-19-section-E
6.  A-6  2016 Site Section E
7.  A-7  2013-2014 Setback Exhibit (2013 Exhibit A-29 Slide 21)
8.  A-8  2016 Setback Exhibit
9.  A-9  Photo Simulation Long View from Meadowbrook Ave
10. A-10  Photo Simulation Closer View from Meadowbrook Ave
11. A-11  Photo Simulation View from North Van Dien Avenue
12. A-12  Photo Simulation View from 318 Steilen Ave
13. A-13  Photo Simulation View from 258 Steilen Ave
14. A-14  Photo Simulation View from BFMS Ballfield
15. A-15  2016 Reduction in Floor Area Calculations
16. A-16  2016 Building Floor Area by Phase
17. A-17  List of Conditions Generated during the 2013-2014 Master Plan Hearing
18. A-18  2016-Ex-A-18-2016-Building Floor Area by Phase
19. A-19  Survey-property line at N Van Dien
20. A-20  Survey-property line rearyards of Steilen
21. A-21  Photo-from-BFMS-ballfield-looking-south-to-TVH

Village of Ridgewod Planning Board Exhibits
1. B-1 – Planning Board Public Notice
2. B-2 – Court Remand Order
3. B-3 – H-Hospital Zone District – Proposed 2014 Land Use Plan Amendment (defeated by Planning Board)
4. B-4 – H-Hospital Zone District – Proposed March 15, 2016 Land Use Plan Amendment (red-lined version shpwing changes from 2014 plan amendment)
5. B-5 – H-Hospital Zone District – Proposed March 15, 2016 Land Use Plan Amendment (unlined version without showing changes from 2014 plan amendment) 
Transcripts
1.  March 30, 2016 – H-Zone Master Plan Hearing
2.  March 31, 2016 – H-Zone Master Plan Hearing
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PLANNING BOARD AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE SPECIAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

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February 22, 2016 Executive Session – 7 PM

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board will hold a special meeting for the purpose of conducting an executive session at 7:00 p.m. in the 5thfloor conference room of Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss ongoing litigation.

With the exception of executive sessions, all meetings of the Ridgewood Planning Board (i.e., official public meetings, work session meetings and special meetings) are public meetings which are always open to members of the general public.

Michael Cafarelli

Secretary to the Boar

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Ridgewood Planning Board continues review of master plan

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file photo by Boyd Loving

JANUARY 29, 2016    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

During last week’s Planning Board meeting, Village Planner Blais Brancheau explained some changes he recommended the board make to the master plan.

Brancheau began by reading from the current master plan, discussing housing, changes in population in the village and historic preservation, among other topics.

One change he recommended was updating the master plan regarding soil removal.

“Right now, we have three levels of soil permit procedures: a ministerial, a minor and a major permit,” he said. “We don’t need that level of difficulty to do a soil movement permit, where you’re going to get both Planning Board and council approval to move soil. One or the other should suffice.”

Another change he said would be beneficial was updating the master plan in terms of flooding zones.

Brancheau explained that the federal government has been making changes to its flood area designations, and that these should be reflected in Ridgewood’s master plan.

Chris Rutishauser, the village engineer, noted that this would be done as soon as possible, since people who would potentially be in flood zones may need to purchase flood insurance, and should know sooner rather than later if they required it or not.

Brancheau also pointed out that flood areas prohibit certain activities, such as building houses in some locations, making it even more important that the changes be updated as soon as possible.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/master-plan-review-continues-1.1501713

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Ridgewood Planning Board meeting tonight at 7:55

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December 1,2015
Ridgewood the staff of the Ridgewood blog

NJ, Planning Board Meeting  tonight 7:55 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. – Continued discussion of the reexamination of the Master Plan and development regulations – Residential Land Use.

Our Master Plan has not had a thorough re-examination in 30 years. According to our Village Planner, Blais Brancheau, 90% of the language needs to be re-written. This is a huge undertaking for our planning board. Please attend.

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Planning Board continues reexam of Ridgewood master plan

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NOVEMBER 12, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015, 12:48 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The village’s Planning Board forged on with its reexamination of Ridgewood’s master plan last Tuesday with a discussion that focused on its circulation and community facilities plan.

With an early February deadline to submit a complete master plan reexamination, the board voted unanimously to include the village planner’s recommendations in the draft version of the report with final determination to be made prior to adoption.

One of the recommendations made by Village Planner Blais Brancheau was the establishment of a Transportation Improvement District (TID) in Ridgewood, which would allow the village to allocate the cost of roadway improvements to areas of development in town based on the property’s use. The board also asked for the Complete Streets program previously adopted by the Village Council to be included in the report.

In discussing the current circulation and community facilities plan with the board, Brancheau said he was “struck” by how outdated they are and said both are in need of a major overhaul.

Brancheau suggested the board could decide to do away with the respective elements altogether as they are not mandated by the state and some municipalities have no such elements in their master plan.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/planners-continue-master-plan-reexam-1.1454175

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Ridgewood Planning Board accelerates master plan reexamination

clock_cbd_theridgewoodblog

OCTOBER 12, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2015, 9:41 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

With just a few months remaining to complete and adopt its state-mandated master plan reexamination report, village officials acknowledged the need to accelerate the process and tackled its next subject at last Tuesday’s Planning Board meeting.

The master plan reexamination report, which is an evaluation of a municipality’s master plan and its development regulations, is required to be undertaken by the Planning Board at least every 10 years. Ridgewood’s reexamination report is due in early February 2016.

With Planning Board meetings often dominated by higher-profile topics, such as the multifamily housing hearings, which wrapped in June, the reexamination has appeared sparingly on board agendas this year.

Village Planner Blais Brancheau expressed his opinion to the board that, due to the compressed timeframe, a “minimum requirement” examination be completed to satisfy state requirements before delving in depth into the numerous issues that need to be addressed.

“I think it’s important we get this adopted,” Brancheau said. “It’s not intended to limit discussion. We can continue discussion once we’ve adopted the reexamination. In fact, it’s my personal feeling a number of sections of the master plan really should be updated and we’ll get into that more as we move forward.”

If Ridgewood fails to meet the state’s deadline, it will be opened up to possible exposure in a legal challenge involving the village’s regulations.

In litigation, a village’s regulations are presumed valid and the litigant bears the burden of proof to show otherwise. Without a properly adopted reexamination report, the burden shifts to the village, said Brancheau.

Chairman Charles Nalbantian asked if the board could simply note, as part of the reexamination report, where the areas in the master plan are that warrant in-depth work.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/board-accelerates-reexam-process-1.1430654

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Ridgewood Planning Board approves plan for new PNC Bank

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The village Planning Board heard and approved a minor site plan application last week to convert the former Pompanoosuc Mills site into a PNC express branch and add a handicap accessible ramp.

The plan calls for a 4- by 6-foot Americans with Disabilities Act compliant ramp to be constructed at the front of the building facing East Ridgewood Avenue and the tenancy of a wealth management office occupying the second floor and a portion of the first floor of the building along with an automated teller machine (ATM) lobby.

Currently, there is no handicap accessibility at all. The only way a handicapped individual can access the bank is to use the rear door of the building and take the elevator to the ATM or wealth management offices. The first floor will contain an ATM and three conference rooms and employees will work out of cubicles on the second floor facing North Maple Avenue.

At the bank’s main entrance, the express branch and the wealth management office will share a common vestibule, allowing customers to access either area of the building.

In front of the building, a ramp on the western side of the entrance with decorative aluminum railings that carries customers up 21 inches will be built next to the set of stairs already in place.

The compact design of the ramp created the need for a variance to be granted by the Planning Board. The building is compliant with the 12-yard setback from the sidewalk required, but the ramp will encroach 7 feet into the setback where only a 5-foot encroachment is allowed.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/pnc-s-plans-for-new-branch-ok-d-1.1407664

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Ridgewood appoints members to planning, zoning boards

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JULY 7, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015, 9:42 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood Village Council held a special public meeting last month in order to make appointments to the village’s Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment as well as hire a new labor attorney and special labor counsel.

The Planning Board will see plenty of familiar faces return as all five appointees served during the previous year. Mayor Paul Aronsohn, board member Nancy Bigos and Councilwoman Susan Knudsen each return for a one-year term as Class I, II and III members respectively.

Number two alternate Khidir Abdalla was given a two-year term and Chairman Charles Nalbantian will keep his seat for the next four years as a Class IV member.

On the Board of Adjustment, current Chairman Joel Torielli and Vice Chairman Hans-Jurgen Lehmann each received four-year terms to continue in their respective roles.

Jennie Wilson was promoted from alternate to full board member on a two-year term while Sergio Alegre was bumped up to the position of first alternate on a two-year term.

Ines Bunza joins the Board of Adjustment as the second alternate on a one-year term.

Appointments for these two boards will be effective at their respective reorganization meetings.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/residents-named-to-ridgewood-boards-1.1369679

 

Planning Board – July 7th Special Public Meeting

PLANNING BOARD

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE

SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board will hold a special public meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in the Village Hall Court Room, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. The purpose of the meeting is to hold the Annual Reorganization Meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. A regular business meeting will follow.

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.

Michael Cafarelli

Secretary to the Board

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Council and Board Meetings Village of Ridgewood

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file photo Boyd Loving

07/07/157:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting
07/08/157:30PM Village Council Public Work Session Available 
07/14/157:30PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting
07/15/158:00PM Village Council Public Meeting
07/21/157:30PM Planning Board Public Meeting
07/28/157:30PM Board of Adjustment Public Meeting

The  Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 4 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting will be aired live on FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77. Or it may be viewed live via the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Link in Live” tab.

Click here to view the agenda and addendum for the June 22, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.