Tag: Urbanization

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Readers not buying Senior Move to Apartments in Ridgewood

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Ridgewood’s senior population is 12%, 4 % is under the poverty level and could never afford one of these apartments. Majority of the rest of the senior population are living in houses where their mortgage is paid off so their expenses are taxes and maintenance. Average tax burden is around $15,000 per year. Apartments renting at $3,000-$4,000 per month (they’ll be “luxury apartments”), will costs seniors $36,000-$48,000 TO RENT. The argument that Ridgewood has to do this for the seniors is BS. It’s just a BS political sound bite HE glommed onto to justify his supporting the developers. ‘Doing it for the seniors’ who could argue with that, right. He would have used children as a sound bite but you know, that would be ridiculous. This is all about using Ridgewood to make the developers a ton of money and the paybacks for supporting it will be beneficial to their personal pursuits. Shame on all 3 of them.

Emptynesters in town like the privacy of their home.They do not want to hear their neighbor in an apartment .They can afford landscapers and snow removal so since the mortgage is paid for they can afford to make repairs as necessary.The Former NYC residents who moved here 10-20 years ago “for the schools” will move BACK to NYC to an apartment , since NYC has the museums etc that Ridgewood does Not. As a resident since 1969 I know plenty of old timers, their families, etc….not a single one h as considered moving to those proposed apartments. It’s either back to NYC, or to NYC or FL.

3 DAYS LEFT…..Email council to VOTE NO!Paul Aronsohn – paronsohn@ridgewoodnj.netAlbert Pucciarelli – apucciarelli@…

Posted by Citizens For A Better Ridgewood on Sunday, September 27, 2015

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Citizens for a Better Ridgewood : Pushes Letter Writing Campaign to Halt Over Development

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Please attend the final meeting next Wednesday AND email council members now! (Easy cut-and-paste letter below )

Ridgewood Residents!! An unprecedented, sweeping urban-zoning change is coming to Ridgewood!

Please attend the Village Council meeting on September 30 at 7:30 in Village Hall, and please write your council members to voice your concerns.

A sample letter is below if you wish to simply cut, paste, sign and send to:

Paul Aronsohn – [email protected]
Albert Pucciarelli – [email protected]
Gwenn Hauck – [email protected]
Susan Knudsen – [email protected]
Michael Sedon – [email protected]

 

Dear Council Member,
I am a citizen and a voter of Ridgewood and am writing to urge you to “Vote No” to the high-density housing ordinances on September 30th.

A “Yes” vote risks diminishing our quality of life forever, creating urban-scaled developments that are entirely inconsistent with our town’s size and character.

For generations Ridgewood has taken great pains to protect the small town character of our community by smart zoning in both our business and residential districts. In one night, on September 30th, the Village Council could destroy the legacy and the trust of all these generations.

Amending the master plan to truly “spot zone” at the requests of a few developers is a mistake. And despite some council-member’s baseless claims of widespread support for high density zoning, it is NOT supported by a majority of residents. This was clearly evidenced by the landslide wins in the last council election for the two candidates who spoke openly against the high-density amendment.

The ordinances should be rejected because they will:
Forever change the small town feel of Ridgewood;

Potentially add too many kids to our schools, which are already full to capacity;

Worsen our existing parking and traffic crisis;

Risk increasing our excessive property taxes, if the developments do not succeed financially, or if more children live there than you estimated;

Over stress our limited water supply and aging infrastructure;

Overburden our maxed out ballfields and open spaces; and

Result in a cascade of me-too lawsuits from neighboring property owners who similarly wish to benefit from the profits to be attained from building a 35 unit per acre development in the Central Business District.

The Planning Board never did any comprehensive independent study on these changes. They relied far too heavily on biased data provided by developers. On the Council’s end, you have not done any financial studies (which are now allowed at the Planning Board level), to better gauge impacts on the Village. You don’t know the full impacts. As such, approvals on 9/30 will be reckless.
I will be paying close attention to YOUR VOTE on this crucial issue, which will strongly influence MY VOTE in the coming election.
Please do the right thing — stand with the overwhelming majority of citizens who oppose this risky plan and VOTE NO to the ordinances as they stand now.

Sincerely,
(your name goes here)

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Save Our Village!!

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TODAY AND SUNDAY!!

Dear Friend,

We are asking for your help this weekend to get the word out about the big vote on Wednesday. The future of our village is at stake.

Come join a group of enthusiastic volunteers TODAY and/or Sunday at 1:00 pm to help pass out flyers and talk to our fellow residents about the importance of showing up for Wednesday’s vote at Village Hall.

Many, many residents have written emails to the Mayor and Council (it’s not too late for you to write, too — see attachment), there were four compelling Letters to the Editor in the paper yesterday (see links below), and our cause has gone viral on Facebook.  We have a lot of momentum going into Wednesday’s meeting, and we need all the help we can get to make one final push!!

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

When: Sat/Sun 1pm
Where: Northwest corner of Van Neste Park (Across from Raymond’s)
Why:  Because this is the real rent we pay for living in a great democracy and a place like Ridgewood.

If you have kids, please bring them. This is a great opportunity to teach civic engagement.

If you plan to arrive, please email Dana at [email protected] or call 917-685-9056

If you can’t make it but want to be involved, email Dana as well.

Hope to see you out there this weekend — and at the Village Council meeting on WEDNESDAY!!

Thank you for your continued support!!

Citizens for a Better Ridgewood
[email protected]

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Urge Village Council to Learn the Facts

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Please read this compelling email from CBR Supporter, Lorraine Reynolds, and consider emailing Village Council Members.

Thank you!

Citizens  for  a Better Ridgewood
[email protected]

All,

As you may or may not know, on September 30th the village council will be continuing the 2 night hearing and voting on the 5 ordinances regarding the high density housing. These ordinances would increase the density allowed from 12 units per acre (current) to 35 units per acre (UPA) in our downtown. Here’s a comparison as to what some other towns in our area allow: Fort Lee 50 UPA, Teaneck 28 UPA, Englewood 12 UPA, Hackensack 22 UPA. If passed, Fort Lee would be the only town in our area, similar in population, with a greater density per acre. I do believe the majority of the town is accepting of development, but on a smaller scale. Maybe 25 units per acre? Do we really want to be built up more than Teaneck? I certainly don’t want to be anywhere near Fort Lee’s density.

The planning board spent approximately 3 years in discussions and 1 1/2 years in a public hearing before voting. The village council had a small portion of their Sept 16 meeting devoted to this and now the council will be coming to the sept 30th meeting with their written statements prepared on how they are voting and why. The Ridgewood News had an editorial last week about “what’s the hurry?”. I have to agree with them. While I don’t want this to drag out, I do want the council to do their due diligence and get all of the facts before they vote. During the Valley hearings at the council level, the council brought in the traffic expert, planner, geotechnical engineer, etc and each council member asked questions of these experts and based their vote on what was discussed at council.

It appears that the majority of the council does not want to bring in any experts. They are ready to vote without asking any questions of any experts as to how this will effect Ridgewood. At the planning board level, a concern about the increase this would bring to our taxes was brought up several times by residents. The discussion was always shot down, because “it is not in the purview of the planning board to consider finances.” In fact, the village planner stated, “residential housing almost always increases taxes, we should not be doing this if we think taxes will go down, but there are other benefits to residential housing.” The council has a much broader scope of items they can discuss, finances being one of them. You may remember that Tom Riche voted yes to the Valley amendment at the PB level, but no to it at the council level. That is because the council is able to look at a broader range of issues. Finances should definitely be discussed.

I would like to see the council bring in several experts in addition to a financial expert. Water must be discussed. I know this year is an exception with the lack of rain, but we have mandatory water restrictions every year. Can you imagine an additional few hundred apartments to supply? I can’t.

Schools must be discussed. The planning board did not have a member of the BOE at their public hearings. The council needs to ask Dr Fishbein to appear at the council hearing to answer questions.

The traffic expert, the engineer, the planner, etc should all be questioned. I do hear the planner will be there, but that’s it.
I don’t know how anyone could possible vote on something so monumental without questioning all of these experts to see what the impacts will be for Ridgewood.

I urge you to e-mail our council and ask them to have these experts at the hearing, get the facts first hand, and then vote.
These people are our elected officials, and we have a right to make sure they have done their due diligence before they vote.
Whether you are for or against the increase to 35 units per acre, I think we can all agree that each council member needs to be able to ask questions of the experts to help them in their decision making process.

Below are the e-mails of all the council members. Please send them an e-mail today and forward this to friends. Thanks

[email protected]
[email protected]
s[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

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Citizens for a Better Ridgewood Urges Residents to Speak Up at Public Meetings on High Density Housing for the Central Business District

village council meeting

file photo by Boyd Loving

September 25,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Village Council has now scheduled two public meetings to gather public input on the high density housing projects planned for the central business district .The two public hearings are scheduled for THIS Wednesday, September 16 at 8 pm, and Wednesday, September 30.

This is an opportunity to Voice your opinion or just be present to show you care about a series of “sweeping reforms” that will allow high-density housing to be built in our Central Business District.  The Village Council will vote on September 30. These reforms will change the character of the Village for ever and may effect both the quality of life and property values in the Village .

The grass roots group CBR urges everyone to show up and be heard .

A room filled with concerned citizens is a chance to urge Council members to reconsider enacting these ordinances in their present form.
This is YOUR village and you do have a voice. These two hearings will be your last chance to speak up

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Ridgewood continues talks on North Walnut Street site

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015, 9:35 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

With the prospect of a parking garage on Hudson Street and a vote looming on the fate of multifamily housing in the village, things are heating up downtown as summer comes to an end.

Last Wednesday, the council revived the subject of the North Walnut Street redevelopment zone and the potential future uses for the site, namely the possibility of housing for seniors in need of long-term personal care.

Preliminary negotiations have begun with Kensington Senior Development, which pitched an assisted-living facility for the Town Garage site at a council meeting in March.

One of the goals of redeveloping the North Walnut Street zone is to bring additional parking spaces to Ridgewood’s Central Business District (CBD).

The request for proposal (RFP) put out by the village stated a parking garage built on the site would have to result in a net gain of 100 spaces for village use. That number is beyond the spaces currently available and any spots reserved for the development.

Kensington proposed a 60-foot-high facility with 98 assisted-living units and retail space on the first floor for the 1.1-acre site, along with a parking garage to be built and donated to the village.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/talks-on-ridgewood-housing-proposal-continue-1.1409623

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Reader says the Village Council is Not Listening

Village Council

file photo by Boyd Loving

You are so right. Here are the faces –

Aronsohn – he looks like a doe staring at headlights, absolutely no comprehension of what is being said, he is not paying any attention whatsoever, and as soon as the speaker finishes he finally brings his eyes into focus and says Thank You For Your Comments. And he never replies to anyone’s concerns.

Sonenfeld – did you check her out when the TV was focused on her on Wednesday nonstop? Her head bobs up and down when someone is at the microphone, like a chicken pecking around for scattered corn kernels. And she makes little sounds of disapproval or disagreement, while her hand fidgets with her chin.

Hauck – she stares at her ipad when anyone speaks, and reads whatever notes are being sent to her electronically from her “handlers,” who dictate what she should say (read) next.

Pucciarelli – he also stares at his ipad, but he has it on “camera” and the camera is reversed so he is looking at himself and trying to determine if the toupee needs a little more salt-and-pepper highlights woven into it yet.

Only Sedon and Knudsen actually pay attention and give thoughtful responses, even though Aronsohn has instructed all council members that they are not to engage in conversation with any member of the public.

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Readers says This high density housing will probably go through even if a thousand people speak against it

Village _council_meeting_theridgewoodblog

file photo Boyd Loving

The mayor is such a liar. He acts like the idea of a second meeting is a new idea and he is jumping right on it due to the back to school night conflicts. So much bullshit from our egomaniacal leader. Boyd Loving spoke publicly in the summer and implored Aronsohn to have more than one hearing, stating that of course not everyone could make one certain date. In this instance the mayor stated that people could talk at other meetings during the summer (when it would not be an agenda item and when half the town is away). A woman from N. hillside spoke on Wednesday night and said she was there on the 9th because she has back to school night on the 16th. In this instance the mayor stared blankly at her and made no comment. This high density housing will probably go through even if a thousand people speak up. But those thousand people will never vote for Paulie Boy ever again.

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Reader says high density housing will only result in MORE children in school AND HIGHER taxes for services to support those children

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It’s been said before and should keep being said, we all want seniors to be able to stay in town if they would like. Apartments currently exist for that purpose and a few more can and maybe should be built within the current density levels.

But the worst thing that could happen to seniors who would like to stay in their homes would be for hundreds of new apartments to be built. Either families would occupy those apartments OR the homes vacated by seniors moving into apartments. Either way the result is MORE children in school AND HIGHER taxes for services to support those children (school budget is by far the largest % of our tax bills). We NEED to find ways for people without children in school to stay in their homes and increasing the school budget is not the way to do it.

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“Rubber Stamp ” Approval of High Density Housing in Ridgewood

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Dear CBR friends and supporters,
 
The Ridgewood News editorial today highlights in the importance of the September 16 Village Council meeting for the future of our village, and asks the Mayor and Council, “What’s the Hurry?”   (see link below)
The Ridgewood News approached CBR to make a statement about how the Village Council intends to rush the vote to approve ordinances that would allow high density housing, and asked our opinion on holding the public hearing on a night that conflicts with many Back-to-School nights.  (see our statement to the Ridgewood News below)
 
We have asked the Mayor and Council to reschedule the meeting.  We urge YOU to also email the Mayor and Council and ask them to either reschedule the public hearing, or to schedule additional opportunities for public comment in the future on this very important matter.  The email addresses are below.  Also, please continue to reach out to friends and neighbors and encourage everyone to attend this vital meeting on Wednesday, September 16.
Thank you for your support.
 
Citizens for a Better Ridgewood
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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 Multifamily Housing : the Fate of the Village Hangs in the Balance

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Ridgewood Council to hold hearing on multifamily housing

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015, 9:35 PM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The subject of multifamily housing will take center stage at the Village Council’s public meeting on Sept. 16 as the governing body prepares to take action on the related zoning ordinances and hear a last round of comments from the public.

After years of public work sessions and hearings to allow testimony by attorneys and experts for three developers and comments from residents who expressed either satisfaction or concern, the Ridgewood Planning Board ultimately voted to pass the new amendments. They were then sent to the council in the form of an ordinance.

If the ordinances are approved next week, several parcels of land in the village’s Central Business District will be rezoned for housing with densities as high as 35 units per acre and building heights of 50 feet. The original amendments allowed for developments of up to 50 units per acre, but were scaled back due to the concerns of board members and residents.

Four parcels of land are currently slated for re-zoning: The old Brogan Cadillac site on South Broad Street, which would be designated as an AH-2 zone for purely residential development; the old Sealfons building on North Maple Avenue between East Ridgewood Avenue and Franklin Avenue and the Ken Smith property on Franklin Avenue, which would be put in the B-3-R zone for residential or mixed-use development; the C-R zone, a small lot on Chestnut Street for residential or mixed-used development; and the C-zone, which wraps around the C-R zone and is intended only for commercial uses.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-council-to-hold-hearing-on-multifamily-housing-1.1407448

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Our Favorite Downtowns: Ridgewood

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With elegant architecture and high-end restaurants all within walking distance, Ridgewood is both urbane and sophisticated.

By Mary Ann Castronovo Fusco | September 1, 2015

Young parents pushing strollers share the broad sidewalks with friends schmoozing at an outdoor café. Teens hunt for bargains, while grandparents treat their charges to a matinee at the Bow Tie Cinemas Warner Quad or a fresh-made waffle cone at Kilwins. Nearby, Memorial Park at Van Neste Square is an oasis of calm. Welcome to downtown Ridgewood.

“I love how walkable it is, and that everything is in one small area,” says children’s book author Ann Malaspina. “I can go to the post office and mail a package, get a coffee at Ridgewood Coffee Company, meet a friend for lunch—all while having my car serviced.” And the town is “family friendly,” adds Malaspina, who raised her two sons in Ridgewood.

East Ridgewood Avenue is the main artery, ending at the sprawling California Mission Revival-style train station, which dates to 1916 and is listed on the national and state Register of Historic Places. Over the past year, elegant way-finding signs—a joint effort by the Village and the local Chamber of Commerce—have sprouted on downtown corners, pointing visitors toward the many shops and restaurants on the side streets. More will come.

“I look at downtown as a destination,” says Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, a 19-year resident. “We have lots of people coming from different directions. It’s a small town feel that is also urbane and sophisticated.”

https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/ridgewood/

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Ridgewood will hear plans for parking garage

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SEPTEMBER 7, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2015, 1:20 AM
THE RECORD

Village to hear plansfor parking garage

Proposals for a potential parking garage in downtown Ridgewood will be discussed during a special council meeting that has been called for Tuesday night.

The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Ave.

Ridgewood officials said the meeting will include presentations from a number of the firms that responded to the village’s request for proposals.

The council will likely choose a firm to design a multilevel parking garage when it meets Wednesday night, with an official vote planned for Sept. 16.

Village residents will vote this fall on the proposed expenditure of $15 million for the garage, slated for a site within the central business district.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-will-hear-plans-for-parking-garage-1.1404971

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Glen Rock council to vote on S-2 zone , multi family high density housing

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Glen Rock council to vote on S-2 zone , multi family high density housing

SEPTEMBER 4, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY RICHARD DE SANTA
STAFF WRITER |
GLEN ROCK GAZETTE

With a final vote on a new age-restricted housing zone in Glen Rock now pushed to Sept. 16, the measure and its purpose were again challenged at the Wednesday, Aug. 26 Borough Council meeting.

Resident and attorney Ron D’Argenio ramped up his public opposition to the pending “S-2” zone ordinance, arguing that the existing zone for multiple-unit senior housing (S-1) is sufficient and saying the new one was conceived and advanced chiefly to accommodate an individual developer’s plan.

Disagreeing with building regulations to be permitted in the new zone, D’Argenio had also assailed the council at an Aug. 10 work session for recently “downplaying” what he called obvious links between the S-2 ordinance and a senior citizen apartment development planned by Glen Park Village LLC – and calling that stance “intellectual dishonesty” and “deception.”

He also criticized the absence of public council conversation around the project or the zoning question, over the period when the borough Planning Board was drafting the S-2 ordinance for its consideration earlier this year.

Mayor John van Keuren and Councilwoman Joan Orseck are also Planning Board members.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/vote-on-s-2-zone-planned-1.1403732