Urbanization - Page 37 of 37 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on August 6, 2013May 29, 2016 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says time to end Mayor’s Monthly Column in the Ridgewood News

Reader says time to end Mayor’s Monthly Column in the Ridgewood News

Seriously, whether you like our mayor or don’t, Boyd has a very good point. Why should the newspaper provide a forum for Mayor Aronsohn to highlight the accomplishments while ignoring the major problems? This is a non-partisan government, so there cannot be an official reply from those opposed to the leader’s views on things. But we do know that at least one letter in which Mayor Aronsohn was not being portrayed favorably was squelched by the newspaper…….and this was due to the mayor himself interfering.

I wish the Mayor would man-up and address all the issues that have been controversial and have not been resolved. For example……what ever happened to the Graydon Ramp? For example…….what is the resolution on the Christie fundraiser (even The Record wrote an editorial blasting the council’s attendance at this event). For example…..why was a personnel matter (Mr. Riche) discussed in open session when there is a strict policy that individuals are to be discussed in closed session? Lines of people jumped up to protest his actions on this, yet no apology or explanation ever came from him. I am betting that the Hope Street poles will be the same thing, never any official follow-up from him because the outcome is not good.

He sweeps controversy under the carpet and we never get a final report on these matters. The Mayor’s Column in the newspaper enables him to continue to do this, by painting a rosy picture with absolutely no space allocated to controversies and problems.

END THE MAYOR’s MONTHLY COLUMN.

Posted on January 13, 2013April 9, 2020 by James — 3 Comments

Downtown Development guidelines the “big picture”

Downtown Development guidelines the “big picture”
January 13, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ Looks like the Ridgewood News has brought their A game to Village Central Business District development debate by proposing the planning board consider the big picture ,not only the impact to the CBD but the impact to the whole town , the schools,services ,infrastructure and commuting in their latest Ridgewood News editorial: Developing guidelines ( https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/186420401_Ridgewood_News_editorial__Developing_guidelines.html )

According to the News , “Ridgewood officials are considering the potential impact on the village. A draft ordinance is being drawn up that contains specifications each developer must follow, such as floor area ratio, setbacks, sign usage and minimum parking. That’s an important first step, but we believe much more must be considered.

Then the good stuff ,”In addition, the impact on traffic downtown – already a concern for many, especially regarding pedestrian safety – must be an important factor for Ridgewood’s planning board. The draft ordinance will guide officials in decisions such as units per acre and appropriate maximum building height. But we hope Ridgewood officials will consider the “big picture” and the impact of so much potential housing in one small geographic area.( https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/186420401_Ridgewood_News_editorial__Developing_guidelines.html )

What is the “big picture”, the “big picture” is the is the overall impact on the community as a whole , the schools, Village services, ,parking, infrastructure, commuting , medical , traffic, EMS , fire, safety and of course the over all viability.of Ridgewood’s downtown .With Urbanization comes added costs to the whole Village as well as quality of life issues that are very hard to put a price tag on .

If the Ridgewood Station project , the Dayton, Chestnut Village and the Enclave it will add over 300 new housing units within five blocks of each other forever changing the Village and the nature of the Village itself.

Posted on November 15, 2012August 14, 2021 by James — 1 Comment

Urbanization: Ridgewood Planning Board mulls land use ordinance

Urbanization: Ridgewood Planning Board mulls land use ordinance
Thursday November 15, 2012, 4:24 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

On the recommendation of the Village Council, the Ridgewood Planning Board has reviewed and will consider changes to an ordinance that, once approved by both bodies, will better manage the way institutions, including houses of worship and schools, use their property.

Village Planner Blais Brancheau will attempt to file the revised ordinance to board members by next Tuesday’s Planning Board meeting, though his crunched schedule might create a delay, he said.

In the meantime, council members are expected to continue a public hearing later this month on a previously introduced ordinance on the same matter, but action on that draft ultimately depends on the pending changes. If Brancheau’s revision is significant, the planner said the council will likely defeat the original ordinance and re-introduce the revised version.

Changes to the Village Code’s Land Use and Development chapter are needed, Brancheau said last month’, to conform to the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Congress passed the legislation in 2000.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/179550801_Ridgewood_Planning_Board_mulls_land_use_ordinance.html

Posted on July 27, 2012June 27, 2021 by James — 2 Comments

Long-vacant “Town Garage” back on in the news again

As previously reported in reader commentary : Urbanization of Downtown Ridgewood is coming

Massive development set to take place in the Central Business District

https://theridgewoodblog.net/reader-urbanization-of-downtown-ridgewood-is-coming/

Long-vacant “Town Garage” back on in the news again

THURSDAY JULY 26, 2012, 1:49 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Village Council members are expected next month to resurrect a discussion initiated by the Ridgewood Planning Board, which has asked the governing body to review the stipulations and intentions of the North Walnut Street Redevelopment Area and Redevelopment Plan.

The Village Council will reopen discussions next month on what to do with the Town Garage property.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/163887616_Long-vacant_lot_in_Ridgewood_is_back_on_table_for_discussion.html

Posted on July 22, 2012August 14, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Urban homogeneity

Urban homogeneity
July 21,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Springing up all over town, a clock, brick work at the crosswalks , vintage street lights and turf fields, some of the things that make the Village unique?

Not so fast towns all across the state from Hoboken to Woodridge all share some of the same features of Village ,why Hoboken even has two clocks .

So why all the sameness ,what happen to home rule and the unique experience that was the Village of Ridgewood ? Is the uniformity mandated from the state ?What about town character and who is making all the money ? We are not fans of urban homogeneity .

Other things spreading like turf fields are down town parking garages , didn’t get a picture of that yet in Ridgewood .

Posted on December 24, 2008January 24, 2022 by admin — Leave a comment

and the Ghetto-ization of the Village continues

>The Village Council will forever change the aesthetics of the Village of Ridgewood. Within the past year the following decisions have been made and approved by VC:

Change in the Zoning Laws to increase the heights of buildings to accomodate “McMansions” (Spring 2008)Just look around the town and see all of the oversize houses including the one across from Willard School.

Allowing several variance in order to construction a storage facility within the Village (Spring 2008)

Plans to construct a garage, housing units and retail facility during the worst economic crisis to hit USA since World War II.

Plans to construct an 80 unit housing facility on leased property on South Broad Street.

Purchase of the Habernickal farm for $7million and failing to convert the property into something useful to the Village

Proposed change to the Village Master Plan in order to accomodate the over height construction at Valley Hospital

The Village of Ridgewood has a terribly tract record in constructing building within a budget and with a building and engineering department who are not up to the task. The Village Hall cost overruns to construct an excessive structure were in the range of 7 million dollars.

It’s time to vote out the remaining Board Members who have allowed this to occur. They are David Pfund and Pat Mancuso.

All of this activity has the Village Manager saying he is not up to the job and needs to have an assistant in order to get the work done.

Maybe we need to get rid of the Village Manager and hire one who can oversee the Village affairs in a competent manner. We need to have the street plowed, the roads paved, the current zoning laws enforced.

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