Tag: Urbanization

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Bergen County’s suburbs embrace a touch of the city 

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Bergen County’s suburbs embrace a touch of the city 

NOVEMBER 16, 2014    LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014, 12:48 AM
BY JOAN VERDON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Robert Weiner, co-owner of the Bruce the Bed King mattress and furniture store on Hackensack’s Main Street, last week took his 96-year-old father to see a first in the 60 years since his family opened its store — a 222-unit apartment building rising on State Street, a block from downtown.

That project and two others that will put an additional 700 apartments on Main Street are the result of zoning revisions that Hackensack put in place two years ago and the first signs of a policy shift that could produce the biggest transformation of North Jersey’s downtowns since the arrival of the malls pulled shoppers away from town centers in the 1960s and 1970s.

A growing number of North Jersey municipalities, like Hackensack, believe that adding rental apartments in their downtowns is the key to revitalizing their Main Streets. Not everyone, though, is convinced that downtowns and residential apartments are a perfect fit.

North Jersey, and particularly Bergen County, was an example of suburban prosperity in the latter part of the 20th century, typified by single-family homes and shopping centers along highways. But now North Jersey’s suburbs are responding to a 21st-century sensibility of millennials — those between the ages of 18 and 33 — who want to live in urban environments such as Hoboken or Brooklyn, as well as aging suburbanites who want to downsize without leaving their hometowns.

Demand for rental apartments, especially near train stations, is driving the change. “People want to live in places where they have that downtown, where they can live close to things that they’re going to eat and things that they’re going to buy, and the market is following,” said Maggie Peters, director of the Bergen County Economic Development Corp. Developers, she said, have known this already “and now municipalities are starting to react.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen-county-s-suburbs-embrace-a-touch-of-the-city-1.1134517

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Ridgewood Planner’s report on multifamily housing misses the point

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Ridgewood Planner’s report on multifamily housing misses the point

To the editor:

After recently moving to a home that is only a block outside of our Central Business District, I had an even more vested interest in attending the last Planning Board meeting. I was curious to hear our village planner, Blais Brancheau, as he told our Planning Board about this new high-density zoning change. I was incredibly disappointed with Blais’ presentation. He talked in circles and back peddled, saying not much about very little.

We want our village planner to have a plan, not just deal with developers as they come along! We need to know the long-term repercussions of this zoning change. We deserve this, as citizens and taxpayers of this town. He has yet to set forth facts on how these developments will impact our municipal services, traffic, our schools and the future of Ridgewood.

Instead, we heard about State of NJ planning guidelines and recommendations from NJ Transit. Why didn’t Blais discuss local and regional issues ahead of generalized state planning recommendations? Our schools are at or are near maximum capacity, yet Blais told the Planning Board this should not be a primary concern. Really? That is why we live here … the schools are the best.

According to Blais’ report, Page 14, using the Rutgers Study, the actual number of schoolchildren attending Ridgewood schools from apartments in/around the CBD was almost four times higher than the projected amount. And Blais neglected to highlight data that would make this projection even higher.

Our lack of parking is a huge issue right now, yet all of these high-density zoning changes will come with less than the state required parking. Our town’s Open Space committee gave a full presentation on our severe deficit of open space in this town, yet rezoning for up to 500-700 new apartments will surely exacerbate this problem.

Our Planning Board needs to think long and hard about the decisions before them. Yes, there is a need for beautiful, higher-end apartments to keep empty nesters in Ridgewood, their town they love and invested in for years. But people cannot be expected to sit through endless testimony, read through ridiculous blogs, or pay for attorneys in order to fight for their town. But that is the way it is today.

Why not put forth a non-binding referendum to see what the taxpayers of Ridgewood see for the future of Ridgewood? Upper Saddle River just did it. How about a village-wide mailing of the facts to every resident to educate us on exactly what the Master Plan amendment includes? Upper Saddle River just did that, too. (Oh, and Upper Saddle River just voted 11-1 against high-density zoning.)

It is up to the Planning Board to do what is right for Ridgewood, not for the developers, today and in the future. As leaders of our community, we truly hope they will.

Gail and Jim McCarthy

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-planner-s-report-on-multifamily-housing-misses-the-point-1.1133373

 

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Different views offered on Ridgewood planner’s housing estimate

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Different views offered on Ridgewood planner’s housing estimate

NOVEMBER 14, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
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PAGES: 1 2 > DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE

One figure quoted briefly at last week’s Planning Board hearing has attendees talking.

That figure is the “500-700 units” that, as the village planner noted in response to a resident’s question last Monday, could be built in Ridgewood if the currently proposed amendment to allow high-density multifamily housing in the Central Business District is approved and fully “built out” – i.e. a possible snapshot of how the amendment under consideration might affect the village in a “worst-case” scenario.

Village Planner Blais Brancheau noted that this number would require buildings comprising at least an acre of land to be torn down, and he believed the figure was unlikely. Members of Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR), however, had serious concerns about that figure, which they believe is low.

The citizens action group has long been asking the village to reassess a density increase that is currently being deliberated – from 12 units per acre to 40-50 units per acre – and, through study and master plan reexamination, find a lower maximum density for new proposed apartments that might better suit Ridgewood.

On Tuesday, CBR trustee Amy Bourque said that the organization considers Brancheau’s cited estimate a “conservative number.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/differing-views-on-estimate-offered-1.1133512

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Hoping for a parking garage, Ridgewood to survey Hudson St. lot

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Hoping for a parking garage, Ridgewood to survey Hudson St. lot

NOVEMBER 11, 2014    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2014, 5:40 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

One lot = a lot of parking hopes.

In preparation for a parking garage, to be built by either the county or Ridgewood, the village is planning to survey the Hudson Street lot.

This survey follows a recent vote by the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders to transfer $180,000 from a 2002 rail network capital bond to the Bergen County Improvement Authority (BCIA), which will then lead to a parking feasibility study in Ridgewood, with eyes on the Hudson Street lot.

Ridgewood officials and BICA representatives have been talking for about a year on the potential partnership to create a multistory parking garage on Hudson Street.

Last Thursday, the BCIA planned to “take up a resolution to approve funding for a study of Ridgewood,” according to Mayor Paul Aronsohn.

According to Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser, the village’s survey of the lot would show the county that “we’re sharing the cost.”

“As we all know, we’re really serious about building a parking garage, particularly at the Hudson Street site. Regardless of how that garage gets built, we have some work to do,” said Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, noting that a preparatory environmental engineering study of the site will also need to be paid for. “This [survey] is about $6,300 worth of work … We’re going out with [a request for proposal] for the environmental.”

At last Wednesday’s public work session, the council also discussed its latest plans for new parking measures that would offer short-term alleviation for parking woes, while the village remains focused on plans to build a garage, one way or another.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/village-to-survey-hudson-st-lot-1.1130841

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Planning Board Amendment to Meeting Schedule – November 17th

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Planning Board Amendment to Meeting Schedule – November 17th

PLANNING BOARD

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE

Special Public Meeting: Monday, November 17, 2014 

Change of Date and Location

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014, in the RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CENTER, 627 E. RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning AT 7:30 p.m.

The Board may take official action during this Special Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Land Use Plan Element of the Master Plan which would recommend changes in zone district classifications and boundaries within the Central Business District and surrounding area including AH-2, B-3-R, C-R and C Zone Districts. 

The proposed master plan amendment and related exhibits are at the office of the Secretary of the Ridgewood Planning Board on the third floor of Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey and are available for public inspection Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The amendment and exhibits are also posted as a courtesy on the Village’s website at www.ridgewoodnj.net. 

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.

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Ridgewood addresses parking crunch

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Ridgewood addresses parking crunch

NOVEMBER 7, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014, 1:21 AM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — Parking in the village may have gotten a little easier this week, depending on where you live.

Considerable debate regarding Ridgewood’s parking dearth — and how best to address it — resulted in determined action Wednesday night, as the council approved several ordinances and a resolution updating the village’s various parking standards.

The council’s focus in recent months has turned toward improving parking for Ridgewood’s residents and village visitors.

Recently, the council adopted regulations permitting valet parking at certain businesses, and orchestrated a deal securing space at the former Ken Smith Motors site on Franklin Avenue for parking by employees of village businesses.

Council members have also been working with county officials to secure funding to build a parking garage downtown.

But this week’s moves by the council standardized meters throughout Ridgewood, changing 12-hour meters to three-hour meters, with meters in effect from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The council also amended its parking permitting process.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-addresses-parking-crunch-1.1128839

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Reader asks when fully built out, could result in 500 – 700 new apartments. Why would the Ridgewood News leave out that information?

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Reader asks when fully built out, could result in 500 – 700 new apartments. Why would the Ridgewood News leave out that information? 

At this same meeting Blais said that this new high density zone, when fully built out, could result in 500 – 700 new apartments. Why would the newspaper leave out that information? What will happen once the language in our Master Plan is re-written to encourage more development at a higher density over a large area in our CBD? The vague recommendations of Blais, our town planner, will be permanently written into our Master Plan and any developer moving forward will be able to use that language to argue for higher density on their properties.

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Reader says Our Village Planner does not plan – he reacts

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Reader says Our Village Planner does not plan – he reacts

Our Village Planner does not plan – he reacts. His role during the entire Valley process was to react to their plans, their assertions and their experts. Now during this process all he seems to be able to do is say “it’s not such a bad idea”. Does he have any opinion at all about how densely populated the Village should be? Has he done any homework at all? Has he been to any of the meetings in Upper Saddle River? He says that “the devil is in the details” but isn’t knowing the details the primary part of his job?

Never has a man with “Planner” in his job title been so devoid of foresight.

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Testimony by Ridgewood planner was disheartening

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Testimony by Ridgewood planner was disheartening

NOVEMBER 7, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
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Planner’s testimony was disheartening
Felicia Angus

To the editor:The village planner’s testimony on Monday night vis-à-vis the amendments to the Ridgewood master plan was disheartening at best. The presentation was anything but impartial. He came across very much as someone who does not have to worry about the ramifications of his recommendations as he does not live in the village. To whimsically say to the effect that “sure there will be more traffic, but there’s traffic anyway” and address the shortage of parking in the same manner made him appear disinterested in the outcomes and effects of his decisions.

In addressing the potential influx of school children, it was pointed out that the taxes on many village houses do not cover their own child’s schooling. This was presented in a manner as to imply that since the average household already doesn’t cover the cost of their children, then what’s the big deal with adding more to the already tight schools and to our already sky high taxes? It is this very attitude that has us in the highest tax bracket predicament that we find ourselves already.

With his talk of students, there should have been added cost projections. Some estimated number of extra children will then push these three elementary schools and middle schools to overflow, and either we redistrict or float yet another bond issue for school expansions, teachers, etc. thereby increasing the average household taxes by X. Because of extra citizens in the town we will now need to hire more policemen, firemen, etc. in order to serve the community safely. What are these added costs? And what is the break even between extra school children and the projected taxes paid on any one of these proposed structures? That is a number we should all know by now. We cannot be OK with the planner’s implication that we will just “pay it forward” in increased taxes to deal with the decisions made today.

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-testimony-by-ridgewood-planner-was-disheartening-1.1128662

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Ridgewood planner sees broad benefits to downtown housing

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Ridgewood planner sees broad benefits to downtown housing

NOVEMBER 6, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014, 3:02 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The issue is not whether new housing should be allowed in Ridgewood at all, emphasized Village Planner Blais Brancheau on Monday.

In his long-awaited testimony on Monday night, the near-end of an almost year-long hearing process, the village planner endorsed the many “broad public benefits” of a master plan amendment that would allow high-density housing in the downtown.

And he noted that “the issue should not be whether multifamily housing should be permitted at all, but to what extent and with what standards.”

Speaking at length to a crowd of about 50 people, including proponents and critics of the three high-density housing developments that have been proposed in and around Ridgewood’s Central Business District (CBD), Brancheau came to this conclusion in part by citing the state redevelopment plan, an NJ Transit document and the non-profit organization Sustainable Jersey.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/planner-sees-broad-benefits-to-multifamily-housing-1.1128450

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Ridgewood files destroyed in flood prove to be costly

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Ridgewood files destroyed in flood prove to be costly

NOVEMBER 4, 2014    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014, 2:05 PM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A state-licensed site remediation professional (LSRP) will perform costly tests to the soil at the Ridgewood Library to determine whether pesticide contamination seeped into the groundwater.

At a Ridgewood Library Board of Trustees meeting last month, members expressed frustration that they were again being asked to shell out thousands of dollars to address what board president John Johansen called a “decades old paperwork problem.”

This issue dates back to 1997 when the state told the library to remove a 2,500-gallon underground oil tank from the front lawn. A couple years ago, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) came back to the library saying that the paperwork for the tank removal was never completed, and soil testing would need to be done to put the case to rest.

Although the board believes that the work was done correctly at the time, the paperwork to prove it was lost along with boxes and boxes of other files during Tropical Storm Floyd in 1999.

“When Village Hall flooded, most of the records were down on the first floor,” said village attorney Matt Rogers. “We lost a tremendous amount of planning and zoning files.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/files-lost-in-flood-prove-to-be-costly-1.1126169

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Parking no problem in Ridgewood

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Parking no problem in Ridgewood
Jim Finn

I have some very strong concerns that my town, Ridgewood, and Bergen County are in the process of spending valuable money to build a parking garage in an attempt to attract more shoppers and ease the crunch for residents.

I don’t know what the crunch is. I moved into Ridgewood in 1952, have lived in the general area since then and am a resident of the village once again. I have never had a problem finding a parking spot except in extreme cases like on the Fourth of July.

My primary concerns can be easily observed by spending a short amount of time in town on a Saturday evening. Cars are speeding through town and not paying attention to pedestrians in crosswalks. There are also arrogant jaywalkers galore, cars making illegal turns and cars illegally parked. There is no police presence.

read more :
https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/the-record-letters-thursday-oct-30-1.1122394?page=3

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Reader says Preservation implies a “status quo” do nothing again ,others disagree

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Reader says Preservation implies a “status quo” do nothing again ,others disagree

By preserving, you are absolutely doing “something”. It is not an easy job either.

In 2011, Ridgewood was ranked #26, by Money Magazine, as one of the best places to live. This year the new list came out and we are not even on it. There are three towns in NJ that are, #16 Parsippany, with 800 acres of “preserved land”, #26 Franklin Lakes – 1/3 of which is farmland or recreation “preservation” and #27 Piscataway – rich in history and “preservations incuding….”. All three of these top NJ picks use the word “Preservation” in describing their towns. By treating preservation as if it “doing nothing” you are moving farther from what makes a place a great place to live.

I agree let’s start “preserving”. Of course you do understand that by reducing ratables your taxes will go up…..big time !! Perhaps you are willing to pay more tax for added ‘green space” but are your neighbors so inclined ? Also, have you seen the giant office complexes along Rt 10 in Parsippany or the huge industrial warehouses in Piscataway ? These complexes offset a lot of the local tax burden. Are you suggesting that Ridgewood allow construction of similar facilities within its borders to help offset taxes here ?

Esurance

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Ridgewood planner set to testify at next multifamily housing hearing

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Ridgewood planner set to testify at next multifamily housing hearing

OCTOBER 28, 2014    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014, 9:45 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The much-anticipated testimony is coming: Village Planner Blais Brancheau will testify on multifamily housing on Monday, Nov. 3.

At last week’s Planning Board meeting, the location of Brancheau’s testimony was set for the Ridgewood High School Campus Center at 7:30 p.m. that Monday.

After the planner’s testimony, which will consider an amendment to the village’s master plan that would allow high-density multifamily housing in the central business district, the hearing process will be that much closer to conclusion.

Ridgewood’s hearings on the multifamily housing have been ongoing since January 2013.

Three developers have asked for an amendment to the master plan: Garden Homes Development, for a 106-unit complex on South Broad Street at the site of the old Brogan Cadillac lot; Ridgewood resident John Saraceno, who has plans to develop a 52-unit mixed-use housing complex at the old Sealfons site on East Ridgewood and North Maple avenues; and 240 Associates, which aims to develop a 52-unit complex on 166 Chestnut St.

Following this testimony, there will be time for public comment.

According to Planning Board officials, after public comment concludes, lawyers representing all sides of the debate will need to engage in cross-examination, followed by closing statements.

The hearing process should then conclude.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/planner-to-testify-on-multifamily-housing-1.1119501#sthash.ZdRUxktG.dpuf

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Planning Board Meeting Amended Schedule – November 3

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Planning Board Meeting Amended Schedule – November 3

PLANNING BOARD

AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE


Special Public Meeting: Monday, November 3, 2014

Change of Date and Location

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled a special public meeting and work session for MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014, in the RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CENTER, 627 E. RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning AT 7:30 p.m.

The Board may take official action during this Special Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the public hearing concerning a proposed amendment to the Land Use Plan Element of the Master Plan which would recommend changes in zone district classifications and boundaries within the Central Business District and surrounding area, creating the AH-2, B-3-R, and C-R Zone Districts and amending the existing C Zone District. 

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