Tag: Urbanization

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Justice Alito Rejects NJ Housing Appeal

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SCOTUS Declines NJ Housing Injunction: Mayor Ghassali Vows the Fight Against ‘Mount Laurel’ Isn’t Over

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, The high-stakes legal battle over New Jersey’s affordable housing mandates reached the steps of the nation’s highest court this week—and the result is a setback for dozens of NJ municipalities.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has officially denied an emergency application for an injunction filed by a coalition of New Jersey towns led by Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali. The injunction sought to pause the looming March 15, 2026, deadline for towns to adopt new high-density zoning ordinances under the state’s “Fourth Round” housing obligations.

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You Get What You Voted For: Ridgewood Council Pushes New Parking Garage

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Is Ridgewood on the verge of a parking revolution or a taxpayer nightmare?

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, on Tuesday, February 3rd, Village Hall transformed into a battleground of ideas as the community gathered for the Community Forum on Downtown Parking. While the official invite promised a “comprehensive look” at the Central Business District (CBD), many residents are smelling a rat—specifically one involving rising debt and potential conflicts of interest.

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NJ’s Future: Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill Signals Major Push for Urbanization and Affordable Housing

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Sherrill Doubles Down on Development: New Gov.-Elect Taps Top Housing Expert, Signaling Massive Shift in NJ’s Urbanization Strategy

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill is wasting no time in signaling her administration’s core focus: tackling New Jersey’s acute affordability and housing crisis. In a move that clearly emphasizes an intent to address development and housing access, Sherrill announced the appointment of Adam Gordon, Executive Director of the Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC), to her Transition Team.

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Proposed NJ Senate Bills Eliminates all Parking Requirements and Allows High Density Development Near Public Transit Hubs

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Westwood NJ, New Jersey lawmakers are set to vote on two controversial bills—S2974 and S1408—that could dramatically change suburban communities across Bergen County and Pascack Valley. These bills, expected to go before the NJ State Senate on March 24, 2025, would:

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Teaneck Planning Board Member Removed in Retaliation for Vote

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TEANECK NJ,  Mayor Mark Schwartz has removed Councilwoman Hillary Goldberg from her Class I (Mayor’s Representative) seat on the Teaneck Planning Board, not due to performance issues in her Planning Board role, but in direct retaliation for her independent vote as a Council member on March 11, 2025.

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Developers Score: Paramus Accepts State Affordable Housing Mandate of 1,000 New “Affordable Housing Units”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, the borough of Paramus, New Jersey, has officially accepted the state-mandated requirement to add 1,000 new “affordable housing units” over the next decade—the largest obligation of any town in Bergen County. While town officials acknowledge the necessity of meeting state housing laws, they are also seeking ways to reduce this number to 250 units through a study of available land.

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Bergen County’s Affordable Housing and the Hackensack Bus Terminal Project Moves Forward

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Bergen County is advancing a transformative project at 133 River St. in Hackensack, aimed at providing affordable housing for public service workers and modernizing the Hackensack Bus Terminal. This development replaces the former Bergen County probation building, now a vacant lot, and will revitalize one of New Jersey’s busiest transit hubs.

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New Jersey Judge Upholds “Affordable Housing” Mandate in Big Win For Developers

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ, New Jersey’s affordable housing mandate will move forward in 2025 after a state Superior Court judge denied a motion to pause a new law aimed at enforcing the Mount Laurel Doctrine. The ruling, made on Thursday in Mercer County by Judge Robert Lougy, dismissed a legal challenge brought by over two dozen municipalities seeking to delay the implementation of the legislation enacted earlier this year.

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Massive Development Scheduled For North Jersey in 2025

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, North Jersey’s development landscape shows no signs of slowing down. From multifamily housing to sprawling warehouses, the region is transforming rapidly to adapt to economic shifts like the rise of remote work and the explosion of on-demand delivery services. While some developments breathe new life into blighted areas, others replace beloved landmarks, altering the character of local communities.

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List of Towns Fighting the Bogus “Affordable Housing” Mandate Continues to Grow

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Montvale NJ  ,a bipartisan group and growing list of New Jersey mayors, led by Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali, has filed a lawsuit against the recently enacted housing law, P.L. 2024, c. 2. This action, brought by the Local Leaders for Responsible Planning (LLRP) coalition, challenges the new housing mandates and aims to protect local communities’ right to manage their growth responsibly.

Parsippany-Troy Hills which was named as one of the best places to live in America and the Garden State, has now approved the resolution to join the coalition. This lawsuit was the only way that we could get officials in Trenton to pay attention to the issues and concerns that we and our residents have about this brand-new process that was imposed upon us. This lawsuit is not about delaying or obstructing affordable housing, it is about advocating for a coherent, statewide strategy for building affordable housing that reflects modern development patterns and allows for responsible local planning without the fear of developers leveraging every large parcel in town for high density housing.

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Trenton Continues to Push a Massive Over-development Scheme Under the Guise of . “Affordable Housing”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, A proposed “Affordable Housing” law aims to establish the required amount of affordable housing for towns to protect against developers bypassing municipal approval processes. The law suggests using a formula outlined in a 2018 court opinion by Judge Mary Jacobson, which initially applied to Princeton and West Windsor. The Department of Community Affairs would calculate the town’s affordable housing number by Dec. 1, 2024, or seven months within the bill’s effective date, avoiding the need for three regional court-appointed special masters, as proposed in the previous session’s draft.

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More High Density Housing Heading for Ridgewood and Surrounding Towns

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Anthony M. Bucco voted against legislation today that they warned would lead to higher-density housing developments in many New Jersey towns.

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Glen Rock Say NO new mixed-used development after Police Chief calls it a “public safety nightmare”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, a new mixed-used development at 175 Rock Road in Glen Rock was rejected 3-2 by the Glen Rock Planning Board on Friday, with the opposition citing traffic and safety concerns. “As a cop, you go with your gut instinct,” Police Chief Dean Ackermann said, “and my gut instinct is that this will be a public safety nightmare.”

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Stop & Shop and the township of Teaneck release joint statement saying there are no plans to shut Teaneck’s only supermarket

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Teaneck NJ, Stop & Shop  in Teaneck at 665 American Legion Drive will not be closing anytime soon. In a effort to dispel persistent rumors, Stop & Shop and the township of Teaneck have released a joint statement saying there are no plans to shut Teaneck’s only supermarket. The memo posted on the township website states that Teaneck “never asked or pressured” the store to close and that Stop & Shop is not looking to close or move.

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Candidate Paul Vagianos Promotes More Urbanization for Ridgewood

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Urbanization it is predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.

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