Various options for North Walnut Street redevelopment in Ridgewood
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2014, 4:33 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
After a three-month hiatus on discussion about the proposal, the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Plan was reviewed at a Planning Board meeting on Tuesday.
Village Planner Blais Brancheau noted that, with the village’s many aims for the site, “trade-offs” will be needed to attract a developer. Brancheau was asked to discuss the North Walnut Street plan again at the end of the March 18 Valley Hospital hearing.
The plan was drafted for the village around 2007 by the consulting firm The Metro Company to address concerns with two municipal parking lots and specific adjoining properties on Franklin Avenue, North Walnut Street and Oak Street.
Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing
Monday February 17, 2014, 11:45 AM
The Ridgewood News
Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing
Francis H. Schott
To the editor:
Over the past decade, Ridgewood has made great progress in improving our citizens’ quality of life. Our schools have been enlarged and modernized to make them adequate for our 5,800 students, a number that has steadily grown over the decade. Our recreational space, although still below state and federal standards, has been substantially augmented for the first time in generations by the acquisition and development of Habernickel Park and the purchase of the Schedler property as well as the enlargement of Citizens Park.
Admittedly we are still struggling with parking and traffic problems downtown, but the positives outweigh the negatives of the early 21st Century by a wide margin.
file photo Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck as Vice President of the Valley Auxiliary
Readers ask One question for Valley and its supporters: How is the Valley expansion good for the tax payers of Ridgewood?
So who works for who here? Valley pays no taxes, benefits from all of Ridgewood’s municipal services and taxes our infrastructure with patients and employees coming in from surrounding towns. Yet THEY drive the agenda at hearings about THEIR expansion that will use even more municipal services and tax our infrastructure even further. For still no taxes.
While Valley is Ridgewood’s largest employer, less than 10% of its employees live in town. Similarly less than 10% of Valley’s patients are Ridgewood residents. Valley’s plan is clearly to draw from surrounding towns for both employees and patients which is great for surrounding towns but terrible for Ridgewood. We get a 7 year construction project followed by traffic, over taxed infrastructure and a lower quality of life.
Valley does, on the other hand throw a great party so its socialite supporters can see their picture in the Ridgewood News and 201 Magazine.
One question for Valley and its supporters: How is the Valley expansion good for the tax payers of Ridgewood? Maybe Mrs. Hauck can tweet the answer…
Valley Hospital buying up string of properties near its Ridgewood site
Friday, February 14, 2014 Last updated: Saturday February 15, 2014, 12:40 AM
BY LINDA MOSS AND BARBARA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITERS
The Record
As The Valley Hospital has struggled for years to expand its campus in Ridgewood, it has been quietly buying real estate in Bergen County, assembling a portfolio that includes a string of properties on North Maple Avenue in Ridgewood and the building that houses the New Jersey Children’s Museum in Paramus.
Over the past two years, the hospital, in some cases through holding companies, has spent at least $54 million to acquire roughly a half-dozen sites in the village and neighboring Paramus as potential future locations for doctors’ offices, along with outpatient and other services that would be moved from its main campus. Some of these newly acquired properties are already operating as off-site hospital facilities.
But the hospital’s plans for some of its other new properties remain unclear, and Valley’s real estate shopping doesn’t appear to be over. Recently, it has been in talks to purchase buildings that the global parcel deliverer UPS will be vacating on Winters Avenue in Paramus, as reported by The Record. If that deal closes, it would add another property to a medical-services cluster that the hospital has been creating in Paramus, near the Fashion Center mall.
Reader urges caution for Schedler development do to its uniqueness
Jane S
I didn’t ask them to build or not to build anything in particular. I only asked that the Council be aware of its geographical reality (for lack of a better description) before they decide on anything.
The property is right on the highway. A parking lot, especially if it has lights and no developed police presence, is an obvious spot for drug sales. You’d pull in, buy or sell drugs and be back on Rte. 17 and in NY in minutes.
It wouldn’t be like trouble at Vets Field or the high school. It’s a bit remote and off the radar. #4, I’d agree that people might use spike in crime, child safety, pedestrian safety, etc. to win other arguments, but this is one of the most unique spots in town and as such makes it worthy of extra caution.
Neighbors in Ho-Ho-Kus join Schedler property discussion in Ridgewood
Tuesday February 11, 2014, 10:27 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
The Ridgewood Council has yet to resume public discussions on the future of the Schedler property, but a handful of residents continue to keep the topic fresh on the governing body’s mind.
Council members last rang in on the potential development of the site in December, when members of the Ridgewood Eastside Development organization presented a series of facts and findings.
Jane Shinozuka, who lives on Ridgewood’s east side, was the most recent resident to broach the topic, when she suggested last week that development might result in a spike in crime. Others, during a January council meeting, stressed the importance of basic winter maintenance to the historic house that currently stands on the 7-acre tract of land sandwiched between Route 17 north and West Saddle River Road.
Ridgewood needs to progress with time
by Edward Martin Walker
The following letter was also sent to the Ridgewood Planning Board.
To the editor:
Opinions on housing density are stuck in an either/or duality that lacks a vision for sustaining our quality of village life. We need a realistic growth vision from village leaders and a perspective shift by opponents in order to sustain the very things we all value so dearly. Ridgewood cannot “just stay the same.” Time waits for no one.
Our Planning Board should alter the Master Plan to foster equal living opportunities to both our elders and to our children, starting by limiting all higher density residential building to a 55-and-over demographic. The reasons for doing this are economic, ethical and moral.
Economic reasons: The single greatest future threat to any family’s life in Ridgewood is that it will be unaffordable to grown children and for retirement. This threat lessens by shifting the ratio of taxpayers to tax consumers (school-age children) in the direction of reduced individual tax burdens, while increasing business activities through economic growth. The only way to do this without burdening our schools is by limiting higher density residential to a 55-and-over demographic. We must also promote assisted-living facilities in the CBD, which will increase revenues with minimal utilization of town services, while increasing business spending by those providing goods and services. In addition, our master plan must create ways for older residents to age in place by sharing residences, or renting to other adults. Finally, in-law apartments and other ways to keep families together must be part of a wider vision for Ridgewood to sustain itself as a multi-age family community versus becoming simply a commodity primarily servicing school-age children and the enhancement of property values so as to facilitate relocation elsewhere once children graduate from high school. Anyone unaware of this dilemma is simply not paying attention.
Planning Board Special Public Meeting – February 4 at RHS Student Center
Special Public Meeting: Tuesday, February 4, 2014
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 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014, in the RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CENTER, 627 E. RIDGEWOOD AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning at 8:00 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 Board anticipates that the order of presentation to the extent known as of this date will consist of the following:
a) Commencement of expert testimony – professional planning (direct and cross examination of planners on behalf of any interested party – opportunity to ask questions after the conclusion of each witness’ testimony)
b) Announcement of next hearing date and other Planning Board business per the agenda.
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.
Ridgewood planning board hears engineer on Valley Hospital expansion
Thursday January 30, 2014, 8:01 AM
BY BARBARA WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
The Record
RIDGEWOOD – There were no surprises Wednesday night at a hearing for The Valley Hospitals plan to expand to nearly 1 million square feet. An engineer hired by the Planning Board told residents that there are no impediments to allowing the project to go forward.
Several of the audience members said they had been expecting M. Golam Kabir, from Converse Consultants in Whippany, to agree with testimony already presented by Valleys experts. Theyve been told for nearly a year that excavating 170,000 cubic yards of soil and rock and pulling out up to 300,000 gallons of water per day wont cause lasting damage to the neighborhood surrounding the hospital.
“Based on the review of the documents, it did not disclose any geotechnical impediments that could preclude the proposed construction,” Kabir said in his report to the board.
His testimony concurred with information presented by Valleys engineer, Moustafa Gouda, director of Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Services at Maser Consulting in Red Bank.
Valley has their existing building in Ridgewood where they are planning their “Renewel.” They own the 128,000 sq ft building in Paramus mentioned in the article. They just payed $28ish Million for the “Duck Pond” building on E. Ridgewood Ave, they own the entire strip on Maple Ave which consists of the old Ford dealership down to the Corset Shop. They have also allegedly purchased the Ken Smith site in downtown Ridgewood which is why the developer pulled the development plans.
Ever wonder why your health care costs continue to rise? Nice to be a non-profit with no competition huh? Can just raise prices and raise prices and raise prices. Tough to negotiate prices when your life is on the line. Not much leverage when you are gasping for air.
Planning Board Special Public Meeting – January 29 & 30, 2014 – GW Middle School
PLANNING BOARD
AMENDMENT TO MEETING SCHEDULE
Special Public Meetings: January 29, 2014 and January 30, 2014
In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Public Meetings Act,” please be advised that the Planning Board has scheduled special public meetings for WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 and THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014 in the GEORGE WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, 155 WASHINGTON PLACE, RIDGEWOOD, NJ beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The Board may take official action during this Work and Public Meeting at which time the Board will continue the Public Hearing on the Proposed H-Hospital Zone Amendment to the Master Plan.
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.
Reader : The notion that the 500-1,000 new residents would live in their little downtown ghetto and never venture out in a car is ridiculous
The notion that the 500-1,000 new residents would live in their little downtown ghetto and never venture out in a car is ridiculous. The notion that we need to cram more people into less breathing space is beyond stupid.
And the underlying notion that you need to change zoning laws to save the downtown is completely misplaced. A downtown exists to serve the surrounding community — not the other way around. Why are people espousing this idea that to “save” the downtown we need to put the rest of the town at risk?? Let market forces work and the downtown will stabilize. But, that’s not going to happen as long as people buy into the propaganda that we need to cram more people into town in order to help the downtown property owners. Let them lower their rents. Let them improve their properties. Let them change uses within the existing master plan to meet changing needs. Why should the rest of the town bailout the downtown property owners at our expense? Why should we fund or guarantee their profits??
Developers bought downtown properties hoping to make a profit. And now they are trying to convince the uninformed and the ignorant that somehow world peace will be achieved if only they are able to change existing laws and cram more people into the downtown.
Resistance to change harming village
Tracey Highfill
To the editor:
In my entire life I have never sided with developers, going so far as having a one-person painting exhibit deploring the loss of open space. However, the housing proposals on the table are different. They are not cutting down shady, wooded lots or digging up beautiful hay fields; the apartments replace uninspired, underutilized parcels of ugliness with much needed alternative living options.
When you live in town, you walk around. Increased foot traffic is good for business. Decreased car traffic is good for pedestrians.
On Jan. 7, hundreds of Ridgewood residents came to the Planning Board meeting to make personal statements against the proposed change to the Master Plan that would allow for high density housing developments in our downtown Central Business District.
Not a single person spoke up in favor of the change, including at least three residents who earn their living as real estate developers.
There were two common fears brought up by almost every person that spoke — the potential effect on the quality of our schools and the fear that Ridgewood would lose its small town charm and become more urban. Not a single person was anti-development or anti-improvement. They simply want improvements made to these properties within the density and height allowances of our current master plan, in order to maintain the desirability of our village.
Ridgewood NJ, The Valley Hospital is pleased to announce the election of Ann Limberg, of Mahwah, and Debra Taylor, of Franklin Lakes, to its Board of Trustees.
Ms. Limberg is managing director and Northeast division executive for U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. In this role, Limberg oversees the wealth management business for the Northeast division, serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and non-profit institutions.
Previously, Limberg served as New Jersey state president for Bank of America. She joined Bank of America in April 2004. Previously, Limberg held senior leadership positions in retail banking and private banking at NatWest and Citibank. Limberg has been recognized by NJBIZ as one of the 50 Most Powerful Nonprofit Board Members in New Jersey, the Executive Women of New Jersey’s Salute to the Policy Makers, and NJBIZ’s New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business and Top 25 Women of Influence.
Ms. Taylor is the principal of Taylor Financial Group, LLC, a full service wealth management firm located in Franklin Lakes, NJ. She focuses exclusively on wealth management for high-net-worth individuals, corporations and servicing the needs of tax exempt organizations. Debra takes a holistic approach to these areas, incorporating her legal expertise and tax background to provide integrated solutions to clients.
Debra graduated from Drew University in three years with a B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude. She received several honors while there, most notably, election to Phi Beta Kappa. Three years later, Debra graduated from Cornell Law School, where she was elected Book Review Editor of the Cornell Law Review and served as a teaching assistant. While at Cornell, Debra also served as Symposium Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy and received American Jurisprudence Awards for excellence in corporate law and trial advocacy. After graduation, Debra served as a law clerk to The Honorable John F. Gerry, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
