>With all due respect 1:52, the “urgency” of these palans, as you refer to it, is clear. Valley’s plans are the result of prudent long-range planning on the part of the hospital’s management team and board. They are doing what any good business or institution does to anticipate the level of service and type of service that will be required of them in 10, 20 or 30 years…not just today.
Frankly, this is where the Valley opposition’s argument begins to fall apart. No business manager, board member or trustee of any institution would undertake an improvement project of this scope and financial commitment without being absolutely sure that they will be able to see the project to fruition without risk of being stopped (for whatever reason) after investing tens of $millions 5 or 10 years from now. They MUST address all these issues now.
All you have to do is look at Pascack or any number of failed healthcare providers in recent years to understand how critical Valley’s initiative is. But, before you start drawing unrealistic comparisons between Valley and Pascack, understand that Pacack did not have the stellar management team and board, with a proven record of fiscal responsibility and management efficiency, which has been recognized on a national level. You are all looking the proverbial “gift horse” in the mouth.
But, where your agument loses all credibility is regarding the zoning. While it is true that much of the surrounding homes existed 56 years ago, the neighboprhood HAS developed around them since 1951. More importantly, the zoning restriction have become much more RESTRICTIVE during that that time. However, the zoning restriction are focused on RESIDENTIAL issues, without regard for the operational requirement that Valley faces. IOt is simply UNREALISTIC and IMPRACTICAL and UNREASONABLE to reqiuire Valley to mantain its level of excellence 30 years into the future while treating them like a residence. It is that simple. This an isse that has been been exacerbated by the Village’s zoning restrictions, many of which did not exist in the 1950’s or 1960’s. And it is a problem for the Village and its residents, as much as it is for Valley.
By the way, I don’t know what statistics your are referencing. But, we are seeing the greatest increase in aging populations, particularly here, in over 100 years. Have you heard about something called the “aging Baby Boomer generation”? Nonetheless, it is not simply the number of patients that Valley will serve, but HOW they will need to be serves. This is really the driving issue. The business of healthcare service is changing and how service providers are equipped to deal with those changes is at the heeart of this issue.
One final note, you stated that “remember this is the same hospital that wanted our children to play on top of a parking garage”, as if Valley somehow acted irresponsibly. If you speak with any Village official or BOE member, they will tell you that residents failure to approve Valley’s proposal to build an underground garage below BF field and provide a brand new turf field above it, at ground level, may have been the greatest SCREW UP (my words) in the Ridgewood in the last decade. It would have been a huge positive for the BOE and our youth sports teams. It would have provided the BOE with $millions for needed improvements and/or avoided the need for tax increases. It would also have eliminated the need for much of what Valley is now forced to propose in their current plan. How ironic is that???
If those incredibly shortsighted people responsible for voting the BF proposal down had approved it, Valley might actually have been able to accomplish their current plan without requiring new (more appropriate) zoning. I am sure that those people are largely the same people who are opposing Valley’s plan today. Too bad we can’t hold YOU accountable today.
It is you who do not deserve the our trust or faith. For you have not acted in the best interest of our children and our families. Valley act in good faith then and is doing so now. They may not be perfect. But, we are lucky to have them 5 minutes from our homes. Maybe the Valley opposition should get off its self-righteous NIMBY soapbox for a minute and consider how they can act to correct a situation that they made inevitable when they voted the BF proposal
>ONce again you need to get some facts straight- you have some good arguments( i do not agree)- that could be seen as one sided, as we all do on both sides. You should see your own leaders (Audrey Meyers) quote, that this is not based on an aging population- so throw your baby boomer need out the window- she said it herself- get the facts straight. Also how does allowing a parking deck on BF allleviate the need for an additonal buildings- they still would wnat to build on the parking decks now which reach to the boaundaries they are asking for – do not skirt the issues- enough crap on better healtcare- we get that with technology not buildings. thy can make it work here and at Pascack and have all the extra space they need for the next 40 years.
PLease do not be fooled by the zoning and Master plan changes they want they are not what is on the artist rendering, it could be scrapped for something else- lets not give away the store- why have codes and statutes
>Once the Master Plan is changed Valley is free to make any changes that they want to the plan that was presented. Their stellar management team will be free to come up with something bigger and even better. As the writer explained it, it is all about Valley.
I can’t believe that the town was ever asked to give up land for the Valley dream. If BF ever needs to “Renew”, where would they build?
>Lets not lose track of the request here: To change the Zoning Code so that Valley DOES NOT have to come forward for approvals in the future… the same 10, 20, or 30 years that you reference. Personally, I dont doubt Valley’s need to expand and upgrade. I just want them to have to go through the proper review, just like every other BUSINESS and RESIDENCE in Ridgewood. Why give them the exemption? Because they are well-connected with all the right people in Ridgewood? The powerful and beautiful people can get in all the photo-ops they want at the Valley Ball. Doesnt mean we should be changing local codes FOREVER.
BTW… I supported the BF proposal, as it was a GREAT way to upgrade the fields and parking at BF. Why not visit this idea again, given the heavy resistance from homeowners? I’d rather get something out of this deal (BF upgrades) and I’d certainly like to remove parking decks and expansion along the already crowded roadways.
Valley… Go offer this alternative to the BOE and our Village. Trust me, it will be well-received.
>True. It does take “long range planning” to screw over the taxpayer.
>WOW PJ,
This reader has so much information… one can only assume that the best offense is defense… imagine i should feel bad for the last expansion failure… not that it was bad for the school, town and people…. but bad for valley… another spinner (insider) with to much info…. valley should not expand…
>This post reminds me somewhat of Dr. Porter’s argument FOR selling some of the land at BF to Valley. “If we don’t, Valley could close then they’ll move in a Wal-mart. Do you want that?” Gotta love the scare tactics! LOL! I’m not for or against, I think this whole debate is a joke. The zoning board will do what it wants and the town council will do what it wants. Exactly like the BOE has done and continues to do…
>I hate how some of you anti-valleyites are so suspicious of anybody who seems to have actual factual information. What is this, the Dark Ages? Some of us do our homework, look at research, and STILL have a different opinion than you. Wow, what evil, sinister thing can that mean? We MUST be witches! Or Valley “insiders!” Sheesh.
>The post pretty much crystalizes the diverging viewpoints. To those of us who don’t want to give VH zoning carte blanche, having VH depart is not a doomsday scenario. The site supports a highly profitable business. I doubt it is going anywhere but if it did I hardly regard it as the end of the world. The market would take care of the demand for hospital services in short order if Valley were to leave (conversely, the day VH has a more profitable and strategically advantaged alternative, I have no doubt it will be adios Ridgewood).
The point is well made that VH is a business (although nominally nonprofit, its stakeholders profit enormously). The continued operation of this business needs to be balanced against the overall needs of the community and the residential character of the neighborhood.
Three of my children were born at VH. We have visted the ER on a number of occasions in the last 23 years (though the ER does not appear to be a particular priority for spending by VH). I have no ill-feeling toward the hospital–it is a decent institution. If it has outgrown the sleepy confines of our little Village and aspires to be a larger regional healthcare provider, so be it. I am not alarmed that other healthcare options will not quickly fill the gap.
By the way, I do not live near the hospital so this is not a knee-jerk NIMBY reaction.
>Let Valley dig up BF field and also have an underground access road to the hospital coming off of Glen. This would ease, quite significantly the traffic coming down Linwood and Van Dien. Ambulance access would only be allowed from Glen. Parking access would also be accessible from Glen also. Valley would put in a state of the art athletic facility for all the sports played there and the phys ed usage of BF. They would maintain this in perpetuity. I don’t think the residents of Valleau would mind very much.
>Too bad those of you who would like Valley to revisit their BF offer didn’t think about the repercussions of your actions before you slammed the door in their face the first time. I remember the hostility toward Valley back then. You Valley opposers really are an arogant bunch.
And to answer 10:15’s question, the BF plan would have provided more parking than the current plans will. Thus, Valley would now have much more flexibility to design new buildings within their existing footprint, without having to also provide room for parking. Most people who took the time to consider their BF plan realized that the Village didn’t give anything up (functionally) and the BOE got piles of cash along with a brand new athletic facility. But, more importantly, it was obvious that being able to expand their parking underground adjacent to their current site gave them many more options to work with the desires to the neighbors. I have news for you…they knew that they needed to expand several years ago. The BF proposal was their first attempt to accomplish the current renewal/expansion.
If the Valley opposition would be so willing to revisit Valley’s BF proposal, perhaps they should officially offer that as a potential compromise. It would be the ONLY constructive efforts from that group to date. But, don’t expect to get the same deal you would have had the first time. Negatiations don’t usually work that way.
>Tell you what: How about Valley offers MORE than they did the first time??? Now that they see that the neighbors are organized… we’ll want MORE, as stated in the above posts. Valley has a choice: Work WITH the neighbors or go head to head with them.
I supported the Valley proposal at BF.. since it would give us an upgraded field, basketball courts, and a re-worked BF parking lot (Does anyone really think that the “BF Small” field has any value?). Dont now scold us and threaten that we’ll get “less than the first time.”
Valley has hit a wall. NO WAY this Village will allow them to rewrite the Zoning Code to favor them now, in 10 years, in 20 years, and so on.
Valley, ball is in your court!
>In negotiations, one needs leverage. The only leverage VH has is that it might leave Ridgewood. That is not particularly compelling leverage: it is unlikely they will abandon Ridgewood if they are turned down and if they did, there are quite a few residents who who not be terribly upset.
VH expansion has a long history–they have been peppering the Planning Board with applications for decades. They have simply upped the ante now by insisting on a Master Plan change.
VH, as a business, has always been about maximizing operating square footage and revenue per square foot. The market will not allow them to offer sub-standard (or for that matter, less than superior)health care or health care facilities. They will need to figure out what stays and what goes in order to achieve their business model. Twenty years ago VH closed their regional cerebral palsy facility–it was simply not as profitable as expanding their cardiac surgery facilties. That decision shattered any illusions I had about VH being anything other than a strictly bottom-line business.
I dont begrudge VH making money. They will continue to offer those services that maximize their return on investment. Just dont wrap yourselves up in the flag of a “community resource” or feel some right to co-opt real community resources like our school recreational fields. That’s arrogant and insulting.
>As an earlier blogger wrote, you people really are an AROGANT group. You expect Valley and everyone else to bend to your every whim AND give MORE, just because you say so. Thanks to you, this village has already lost more than we know. We can never expect to have good and honest relations with Valley…you won’t allow it.
NEGOTIATION 101: Both sides must feel like they are getting a good deal…
What exactly are you proposing that would make Valley feel that they got a good deal or were even treated fairly????
>7:48 what you forget is that This is not about Valley or a hospital
It is about ridgewood- and that is the job of our board and council-
not a technology issue or an issue to help valley – it is to protect the residential cahracter of the village
>It is amazing that so many people who call themselves educated can fail to miss the point, over and over again!
Valley Hospital has simply run out of space. Continued expansion will suffocate our quality of life in Ridgewood, choke our roadways, pour pollution into our air and into our childrens’ lungs. Property values will plummet…Since we are ALL desiring of the need for top-notch heathcare, it is essential that off-site development be thoroughly explored by Valley. “Stealing” land from our people and from our schools is not an option.
>9:28…
You are the ultimate NIMBY, claiming “yes I want top notch health care. But, I want it located in another town.”
Please explain/justify your claims and what you mean by “stealing land from under our people and schools.”
>I think it goes without saying that we all want good medical care. This is a bit of a no-brainer, don’t you agree? Personally speaking, I would love to have a state-of-the-art medical facility across the street from my house, PROVIDED that that facility had sufficient acreage. Valley does not.
And the fact that Valley has to request an actual change in town regulations in order to expand, should make this all self-evident.
We all live in Ridgewood with the expectation of living near trees, having yards, seeing sky (not skyscrapers), of being free from constant noise and pollution, and being assured of the safety of our children. These are reasonable expectations given the contents of the Master Plan–a set of regulations that protect us and our Village. The Master Plan was written by and for our residents.
But Valley wants to run right over it, essentially obliterating all of the above–taking away what is rightfully ours (clean air, safety, property value, a Village as opposed to a burgeoning city, etc.).
In a perfect world, yes, Valley could go ahead and expand on site. But, VALLEY HAS RUN OUT OF LAND!!!!! And the only way Valley can expand on-site is through the breaking of rules, and by squeezing the life out of our neighborhoods and roadways (for the sake of eliminating the “inconvenience” of valet parking?). These points make it clear that it is time for Valley to look at other options—satellite facilities, for example.
By the way, I never said I want Valley to be located in another town.
>Excellent meeting last night (11/5) at BF re: Valley’s Plan to complete its takeover of Ridgewood. The speakers were 4 to 1 against the proposal. Valley has run out of friends and employees to send to the microphone.
One astute speaker noted that BF is Valley’s largest neighbor, but the BoE has stood absolutely silent on the issues facing 50% of Ridgewood’s students for at least the next ten years. The BoE needs to take a stand on this and make sure the safety of our children is guaranteed when Valley gets what it wants.
Perhaps Valley is expecting that they can make life at BF so horrible that the Village will need to move the school (by expanding the Glen School perhaps), thus giving them some more acreage to swallow.