Reader says The Valley expansion and the Downtown Projects are going to strangle Village life
I am a Westsider seemingly immune to the new Projects and the Valley expansion. I could live out the rest of my life never having to drive by either one.
But, I care for the Village and so won’t stick my head in the sand. The Valley expansion and the Downtown Projects are going to strangle Village life. I do have a self-interest i suppose — my million dollar home won’t be worth as much as it is now when the values of the town start dropping across the board as traffic increases, schools go further down in quality, etc.
By the way, there’s another planning board meeting tonight on the Downtown Projects. Tuesday the 5th I would urge people concerned with the prospect of another 400 to 500 families being packed into the middle of town to come out and speak their minds.
Well put. I’ve spoken to a handful of other Westsiders that feel the same way and was happy to see them at the last meeting. I think it’s important to show up at the meetings because the developers, the Planning Board and our Council seem to want to “fast track” all of these projects before any opposition gets a chance to mobilize. Unless there’s an outcry from residents from both sides of town, I think that the bulldozers will roll soon.
Yes, I agree with the above. Ridgewood can not handle the proposed developments and remain the charming Vlillage it is. We all pay very high taxes for its charm. A change of this magnitude to the Village’s Master Plan should be a special referendum item for vote by all the taxpayers in town. I do not believe the PB alone should be able to make these changes — only recommendations. The process is moving much too quickly. If the PB does allow this development and enough people are opposed, there is a legal remedy – Complaint in Lieu of Prerogative Writ; used when a PB acts contrary to the wishes/interests of its constituency.
How did hearing go.