Tag: Village of Ridgewood

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OUR VILLAGE, OUR FUTURE: VISIONING FOR RIDGEWOOD’S NEXT MASTER PLAN Frequently-Asked Questions

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Frequently-Asked Questions

last updated October 14, 2018

1. What is Our Village, Our Future?

The Village of Ridgewood, NJ is working towards preparing its next Master Plan. One of the first steps is to engage the community to think about and share its vision for current and future generations to love and appreciate. Our Village, Our Future is the name given to this visioning process.

2. What are the goals of Our Village, Our Future?

The primary goal of Our Village, Our Future is to implement a community visioning process that reaches out to a broad range of Village residents and other stakeholders (e.g., businesses, institutions, etc.) and encourages them to think about and discuss the values, principles, goals, and priorities that should shape the future of the Village. This community visioning process represents the one of the first steps toward creating a new Master Plan for the Village.

3. What will be the final outcome or product of Our Village, Our Future? When will the Master Plan be prepared?

The final outcome/product of this visioning process will be a Vision Plan. This document will summarize the community engagement process and synthesize the results of this process in terms of identifying and explaining the values, principles, goals, and priorities that should shape the Village’s next Master Plan. The process of creating the next Master Plan will start after the visioning process is complete.

4. What is a Master Plan and how is it relevant to my life in the Village?

A Master Plan, sometimes referred to as a Comprehensive Plan, is a guidance document that sets goals, policies, and priorities for investing in the physical, economic, environmental, and social future of a community. A master plan can address a wide range of topics and/or geographic areas of importance to residents and other stakeholders. It can provide an overall vision for a place and identify key priorities and strategies toward achieving the vision. It can provide direction in terms of investing in transportation improvements and public facilities, changing zoning regulations, protecting ecologically-sensitive areas, or becoming more environmentally sustainable. Concept plans and other visuals within a master plan can demonstrate ideas and hoped-for outcomes.

The master plan is also the basis for a municipality’s zoning regulations. In New Jersey, all municipalities are required to have a master plan and to “reexamine” it at least every 10 years. The reexamination process can represent a stepping stone for updating or creating a new master plan. However, the resulting Reexamination Report itself does not constitute the actual updated or new master plan.

5. Why does the Village need to prepare a new Master Plan? Has the Village “reexamined” its Master Plan yet?

Although there are certain parts of the Village’s Master Plan that have been updated more recently (for example, the section pertaining to housing, which was updated in 2016), the core sections of the Master Plan date back to 1983. A lot has changed since that time. The Village did “reexamine” its master plan in 2016, and the resulting Master Plan Reexamination Report can be downloaded and viewed from the Plans & Studies page.

6. Will the Our Village, Our Future process involve the whole Village, geographically speaking?

Yes, the whole Village is the subject of this visioning process. It is not limited to a specific part or aspect of the Village; we expect and welcome feedback on any part or aspect of the Village.

7. How can I stay informed about this process? How will I be able to contribute my vision for the future of Ridgewood?

First, visit www.visionridgewood.org. This website will be the central public portal of information for this initiative. Next, make sure to sign up to receive updates when a new post is added to the page. Look for the phrase “Receive E-mail Updates” on the site and follow the instructions.

Press releases will be drafted and distributed so that local newsletters and newspapers can publish timely information for their readers during the course of the initiative. We anticipate utilizing various methods to get input from residents and other stakeholders. These might include surveys, workshops, focus groups, etc.

The Village’s website and social media outlets (Facebook and Twitter) will also feature important dates and milestones in the visioning process, providing links to more details at this website.

8. What if I have questions or already have input about my vision for Ridgewood?

An online form is available on the Contact page at www.visionridgewood.org for residents and other interested members of the community to ask additional questions about or offer suggestions for this visioning process. If you have already been thinking about your vision for Ridgewood and would like to share it with us, visit the Your Vision page.  As the visioning process moves ahead, there will be more formal opportunities to participate in the visioning process through workshops, surveys, and other methods.

9. What if I or one of my neighbors is unable to access information or provide input through online means?

You or your neighbor can provide input in writing and mail or drop it off in a sealed envelope to Master Plan Subcommittee, Planning Board of the Village of Ridgewood, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Furthermore, any important announcements will be posted in the main lobby of Village Hall.

10. Is there anything I can do to help with this process?

Yes! We can always use help getting the word out to people in the Village. If you are or know the point-person responsible for sending e-mail communications for a church, school, civic association, or other type of community-based organization, please include a link to the Our Village, Our Future website. We may have other opportunities for volunteers, which can include high school students (with parents’ permission), to assist in promoting Our Village, Our Future. We will post these opportunities to this website when they arise.

11. What is the timeline for completing this process?

We anticipate that the visioning process will take approximately seven months to complete.

12. Who is leading this initiative?

This initiative is being guided by the Master Plan Subcommittee of the Planning Board, with support from the Village Council. Through a request for proposals and interview process, the Master Plan Subcommittee and the Planning Board recommended the firm NV5, Inc., based in Parsippany, NJ, to lead this process and develop the resulting vision plan. The Village Council subsequently approved the recommendation. NV5’s Community Planning & Urban Design group has experience throughout the Northeast and in New Jersey with projects like Our Village, Our Future.

Composition of the Master Plan Subcommittee:

  • Richard Joel, Planning Board Chair
  • Joel Torielli, Planning Board Vice Chair
  • Susan Knudsen, Deputy Mayor
  • Melanie McWilliams

NV5, Inc.:

  • Neil Desai, AICP PP, Project Manager
  • Annette Schultz, AICP PP
  • Rachana Sheth
  • Chris Lucas, AICP LEED ND
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FREE FIREWOOD AVAILABLE TO RIDGEWOOD RESIDENTS

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog


Ridgewood NJ, The Village’s Parks Department employees are cutting up the trees which they take down into logs, andoffering them to Ridgewood residents for free at the Recycling Center, on a first come, first served basis.  We ask that you be please becourteous to fellow residents by leaving some for their use.

This saves the Village money, because we don’t have to pay to dispose of the trees which are cut down, and it also provides residents with freefirewood for their homes.  You may pick up the logs at the Recycling Center, during their regular business hours.

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Village of Ridgewood Snow removal and Garbage Pick Up

Snow Blizzard of 2016 Ridgewood CBD

file photo by Boyd Loving 

the staff of the Ridgewood blog 

Ridgewood NJ , its that time of the year again and we have already had one serious snow storm ,so the Village sent out a reminder on garbage pickup and snow removal. 

REMINDER ABOUT GARBAGE PICKUP DURING SNOW AND ICE EVENTS
We have already experienced our first snow and ice event. As a reminder, if it is snowing when you leave your home in the morning or if it is icy, please place your garbage cans at the end of your driveway for collection. The Village will resume rear yard garbage collection as quickly as possible after the snowstorm, but please continue to put your garbage cans at the end of your driveway until you have a clear path to them.  We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our Village employees safe.


REMINDERS ABOUT SNOW REMOVAL
If it is snowing or going to snow overnight, please do not park your vehicles on the streets, in order to allow our plows to do their work in clearing the snow.  All sidewalks in residential districts must be cleared within 24 hours of the snow falling. Please do not place snow into the street; instead, place it back onto your own property.  In addition, if you have a fire hydrant on your property, please clear it of any snow accumulation.

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Reader says , “Rome is Burning “

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Rome is Burning and we are writing story books about a leantoo shed close to not having any heat nor light , a filthy facility that the NJ Transit should rebuild in brick and
offer some protection from the elements ; that can be cleaned ,then locked at night like a real town.We need to check the water in this town..it’s getting a bit to wobbly intellect
wise. They keep shifting the happy together talk to avoid dealing with the real issues that are hard to address manage and take intelligent approach to.Happy Holidays Ridgewood a town worth fighting for …2019 needs a more realistic plan on cost containment and cancelation of massive Hudson st garage plans in order to cut our longer term losses .

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The Village of Ridgewood Needs a “VIP” List

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, after the recent flap at the Winterfest  over cutting in line by “VIP’s “, the Ridgewood blog suggests the Village of Ridgewood set up a database and establish a list of Ridgewood  “VIP’s ” .

Since the Village seems to be the home for so many “VIP’s” , the list could contain the names and the reasons for the VIP status .  After all most of the public is often  unaware as to the importance of many of the so called “VIP’s ” and a documented with explanation with foot notes would be extremely helpful .

The list could be called the ” Village of Ridgewood :Legend in your own mind ” , a commission could be convened to create the list and those that make the cut could be given a letter of recommendation signed by the Village Council and a medal or crown  to wear so as not to confuse the common folk.

This would entitle the “VIP’s” to cut in line ,drive 50 mph over the speed limit ,get in  car accidents and not have their picture taken ,  make money off of taxpayer grants, get below market rents for high density housing , hang out with the 3 Amigos ,philander, be a bigot,  and get to call other residents derogatory names from the dais .

The public would also be asked to defend the VIP’s no matter how rude , stupid or abusive their behavior maybe. The public would also be called on to make excessive excuses for the VIP’s who the rules no longer apply to.

If the public does not comply the VIP’s can act belligerent and attack anyone the calls out their bad behavior .

 

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Reader says , “People used to feel privileged in a humble sort of way. They respected the Village and were thankful to live here”

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People used to feel privileged in a humble sort of way. They respected the Village and were thankful to live here. Sadly, to many residents feel they are owed something rather than the other way around.

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Reader says , “No one should ever ever let someone else step on them “

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No one should ever ever let someone else step on them. Dehumanize them even in a small way like going in front of them in a line.
We’ve had enough of dehumanization in America with racism, with women non equality in many ways including pay scale, the #Me Too Movement, with religion and with rich folks stepping on and crushing the poor. It is vital to not let anyone else treat you unjustly and it is MANDATORY that it be reported in places like this wonderful BLOG. That is the AMERICAN WAY

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Reader says ,”when I was a child we did not like people who butted and bullied their way in front of lines and acted more important than everyone else”

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“How is this the town I have lived in for 35 years? It’s unspeakable, the way we are treating each other and it has to stop.” –

I have news for you. I have lived here much longer than 35 years. And way back when I was a child we did not like people who butted and bullied their way in front of lines and acted more important than everyone else. This behavior was not tolerated then and it should not be tolerated now and I agree with everyone who has expressed disgust with the self-appointed VIP’s.

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The Ridgewood Health Department : Managing Holiday Stress

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The Ridgewood Health Department

Ridgewood NJ, In Great Britain the word “holiday” has the same meaning as vacation. Many Americans would find this comparison laughable. For most of us, the holidays come with our own “to-do” lists. The Ridgewood Health Department and The Cleveland Clinic offer these helpful tips.

Too often we take holiday stress for granted. What’s worse, we often have higher expectations for this season than for any other time of the year. Planning for the holidays can leave us feeling impatient, cranky, and — in some cases — depressed. When the realities of day-to-day life conflict with our efforts to make the holiday season perfect, stress results.

Continue reading The Ridgewood Health Department : Managing Holiday Stress

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Readers think It’s a Little late for “VISIONING “

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This is bullshit and too little too late. They should have reached out to us before they started the digging all around CBD. The destiny for RW is on the wall regardless our feedback in this phony “survey”. They have their own image in mind, all of them including this and past VCs and they will implement that. I hate this hypocrisy. They know it is too late, many people have given up fighting and the majority of residents does not care (only 400 people responded). It just makes them feel better……

Continue reading Readers think It’s a Little late for “VISIONING “

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A Tree Grows in Ridgewood

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photo courtesy of Village Shade Tree

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, its planting season and according to Councilman Sedon the Village of Ridgewood is in the process of planting 140 street trees throughout the Village.

The Shade Tree Division is responsible for the maintenance and care of approximately 15, 000 Village owned street trees on 100 miles of public ways, as well as additional trees and shrubs in parks and on other public grounds. This includes all aspects, such as removal, planting, and pruning. The Shade Tree Division does a tree planting for Arbor Day, which is usually the last Friday in April. The division currently offers a memorial tree/bench program to honor the memory of a friend or family member.

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OUR VILLAGE, OUR FUTURE: VISIONING FOR RIDGEWOOD’S NEXT MASTER PLAN

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, do not forget to add your voice and vision to the future of the Village of Ridgewood at: www.visionridgewood.org

Many local organizations and special interests have been attempting to push their agenda and influence the planning process . Last night Deputy Mayor Knudsen asked residents , ” to use their own common sense , take the survey, don’t be influenced by any special interest groups ,this is a plan for the future of the Village of Ridgewood , its really important that we don’t allow any process to be tainted ”

What should the Village be like in 5, 10, or 20 years? What trends do you think might have a significant impact on the Village in the future? What is your vision for the future of the Village?

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Raising Rates Call Into Question Village Debt

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file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood families are going to have to start making choices between food on the table, gasoline and property taxes.

Here’s the data from the recently adopted 2018 Municipal budget: (https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/images/User_Friendly_Budget_2018.pdf )

Village net debt is now $50.1 mm BEFORE the garage and further property investment. Interest costs are rising, so that will act as a further drag on spending as more of the budget goes towards interest expenses on our debt going forward.

Continue reading Raising Rates Call Into Question Village Debt

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the fly asks was someone in the Village Hall was using the website to mine Cryptocurrency earlier in the year?

fly on wall theridgewoodblog.net

the fly asks ,”Is it true that someone in the Village Hall was using the Village website to mine Cryptocurrency earlier in the year?” ,we all remember the story of “coin boy” ,who pilfered the meter money , but the fly has heard and even more salacious tale of  “crypto mining”  on the tax payers dime with Village computing power .