VILLAGE BUSTED!
September 18,2014
Boyd A. Loving
9:54 AM
Ridgewood NJ, During Wednesday evening’s Ridgewood Village Council Work Session, Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld made an extremely surprising announcement –
Land acquired by the Village using Green Acres funds was subsequently sold in 1982, yes 32 years ago, for purposes of creating a low/moderate income housing development. The sale of property acquired with the assistance of Green Acres funds is prohibited by law, with few exceptions, and without the prior approval of State of NJ Department of Environmental (NJDEP) officials.
The property in question is located on the west side of South Broad Street, between Edwards Street and Highwood Avenue. Prior to its sale, it served as a public park – there was playground equipment and a partially covered pavilion on the property. A long time South Broad Street property owner recalls the park being closed at the request of neighbors because it had become a magnet for drug activity in the area.
The partially covered pavilion was dismantled and placed into storage; it was subsequently reconstructed at Graydon Pool near the snack bar and patio area and is still in place there. The playground equipment, swings and seesaws, was likely discarded after being dismantled.
NJDEP officials recently contacted the Village after an audit revealed a disconnect between the Village’s inventory of open space and the State of NJ’s open space records. Restitution for the unlawful disposition of Green Acres acquired property is now expected in the form of purchasing additional open space – in a 5 to 1 ratio – that is, 5 times more open space must be acquired than was sold. Additionally, the new property must be outfitted with essentially the same amenities – it has to be a playground with a partially covered sitting area.
Ms. Sonenfeld indicated that Village officials are currently negotiating the purchase of property in connection with the State’s mandate to make restitution. In all likelihood, two (2) parcels will be purchased to meet the “5 to 1 ratio” requirement. No information was publicly provided at the Council Work Session as to the location of parcels targeted for purchase.
