file photo by Boyd Loving
Some confusion has been building the past few days surrounding the upcoming June 21st special referendum vote for local bond ordinance 3521, and I want to take this opportunity to unequivocally state my opinion.
I will be voting no in Tuesday’s special election.
In order for the new council to move forward with a comprehensive parking plan for the Central Business District, which includes a reasonable parking structure, it is imperative that we can do so without having our hands tied by the outgoing council majority.
A no vote will not defeat a parking structure. It will allow us, the new council, to incorporate such a structure into the fabric of our CBD along with other solutions that have been mentioned in the past by some of my other colleagues and myself.
I would like to explore the option of creating one way streets on Chestnut, Oak, North Walnut streets and Cottage Place to add angled parking on both sides. This could potentially increase parking by 60 to 80 spots on the street right in front of where customers are trying to go. A side benefit could also be increased pedestrian safety, as visitors to our CBD would only have to look one way for oncoming traffic.
A comprehensive plan could also include the purchase or leasing of private lots throughout the CBD and an expansion of technology to aid in the parking solution.
A true parking committee should be formed that includes residents, property and business owners along with Village officials to further explore any other ideas that could improve our situation.
The mayor’s previous parking committee did not include residents, and in my opinion resulted in information that appeared filtered and then potentially misrepresented when it reached the wider public.
This outgoing council majority has proven over and over that they cannot be trusted, and I for one will not give them any more trust by supporting what has become a monument to deceit and manipulation.
The new council is willing and excited to work with the public and bring all interested residents along in a process that we can be proud of as a community.
Residents spoke loud and clear in the May 10th Village Council election with the landslide victory of three bright, intelligent and independent candidates, who I am greatly looking forward to calling my colleagues very soon.
Please send that message one more time with a no vote on Tuesday and let the new council finish this important work for the benefit of all of Ridgewood.
Sincerely,
Michael Sedon
