the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood, NJ – Over the last two decades, the Village of Ridgewood has undergone significant changes — and not all for the better, according to concerned residents. Once celebrated for its small-town charm, historic architecture, and community traditions, Ridgewood is now facing a wave of overdevelopment that critics say threatens its very identity.
At the center of the latest controversy is Ordinance 4052, which would allow the construction of a five-story luxury, high-density assisted living facility on North Maple Avenue, between Franklin Avenue and Marshall Street. The location sits squarely in a residential neighborhood, sparking fears of a precedent that could reshape Ridgewood into a dense urban landscape.
Historic Character at Risk
For decades, Ridgewood’s Zoning Board and Village Council maintained the town’s historic appeal through strict building ordinances that preserved the vision of the village’s founders. Opponents of Ordinance 4052 warn that approving such a project would pave the way for more towering, modern buildings — replacing the signature three-story architecture with what some describe as “canyon streets.”
Community Voices Concern Over Rapid Development
Critics argue that the rapid pace at which Ordinance 4052 is moving through the approval process leaves little room for public discussion. Many feel that residents have already lost influence over the local public school system and fear that similar erosion of public input is now hitting urban planning decisions.
“The voters have chosen, and they have chosen poorly,” said one longtime resident, voicing frustration at recent development trends.
Key Meeting for Residents to Speak Out
The Village Council will meet to discuss and potentially vote on Wednesday, August 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Village Hall. Community members concerned about Ridgewood’s future are encouraged to attend and make their voices heard.
Whether Ridgewood remains a historic suburban village or evolves into a more urbanized city may hinge on decisions made in the coming weeks.
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Terrible place for assisted living facility! You know where you put ALFs? Close to bustling downtown areas where residents can mill about, see some entertainment, get much needed exercise, etc. What the heck are these people going to do in Ridgewood’s downtown, go for daily haircuts? Plus it’ll be a roll of the dice if one of the village’s illustrious A-1 drivers doesn’t jump the curb and plow them over, so forget about trying to cross the street with your walker. Just dumb. Also it’s a slap in the face to residents who don’t want to be reminded of their own irreversible decline into death and what happens when you don’t have anyone to care of you.
RIDGEWOOD’s gonna look like Morristown soon – traffic lights, congestion, etc etc all day every day
Where’s the value add?
Plus, think water. Water resources are already stretched thin. Every other day is a boil advisory or some such. Think of all the water we’ll waste on all those sponge baths for the residents. It’s unsustainable.
But this is what Peewee wants. More traffic into his bodega,
thumbs downers must live on Heights Rd nd think this will never effect them. you probably get your food delivered to right???? you dont even go to into town. well you just wait and see. oh yes you will see and you will not have to wait long! keep it up and keep voting for these ass clowns and youll get it in the back eventually oh yes.
Ridgewood is on a slippery slope downward – thanks to the mayor and deputy mayor. What a shame a once lovely town is going to trash.
Ridgewood is on a slippery slope downward – thanks to the mayor and deputy mayor. What a shame a once lovely town is going to trash.
They can’t ignore you if they can’t hear you!
And don’t let them drag it out until it gets late and everybody leaves……………………
This is accurate. Ridgewood has been taken over by empty promises and self serving politicians, both at the BOE and in Village Hall.
The “tradition” is gone. It’s been replaced by corrupt and selfish hacks who are pursuing their own agenda.
We left for a much better town, oh yeah.
Vagianos and his merry band of puppets have the village in an stronghold. He’s a developer, friends are realtors and other building owners. He is probably getting something in return for this deal. He’s a dirty bird. Voting has consequences.
Post of the day!
Well, the vote put these folks in a position to make your life better or worse. So far, it seems there is little interest in keeping the development bug cornered as more of this town evolves into a larger and less pleasant pleasant place to live. “We” hired these people so it is again up to us to provide direction and wisdom to the decision makers, each possessing a sell by date. See you there!
Unfortunately, even those that did actually vote for these idiots are now sorry as was evident from Wednesday night’s council meeting. They have been jolted into reality now and they see Vagianos for who he really is, someone who will sell them our to enhance the CBD. The ordinance is just the begiining tgen build, build, build.
People don’t even vote, don’t even get upset because they’re going to do whatever they want. Look up Paramus they destroyed the town look at Fairlawn, it looks like Hackensack. They are going to build build build they don’t care.
Even Hackensack doesn’t look like Hackensack anymore!
What’s wrong with Morristown
Show up and be heard at the meeting on 8/13 at 7:30pm! Don’t allow greedy village officials to destroy the Village by changing zoning to benefit Kensington development plans.
Always pushing through big changes in the height of summer. Classic Ridgewood.
Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous…Soooo many concerned residents? Or are they? What a joke. If you have something to say, put your name on it, OWN IT!
Thanks anonymous
You are not following your own advice. Stick to the topic and stop trying to divert focus from the clown show that is our current village council meetings. Guessing that maybe you are one of very few supporters who are still hanging on to Vagianos’ trail of empty promises and generally anyone who supports him and his puppet brigade are people who haave a vested interest to gain something whether it is the sports orgs getting a new field or back room deals with developers. His rein will come to an end and he will be left with a pathetically sad legacy that people will remember for a long time because he will gut this town like a fish once he lets these ordinances and pilots get launched. Just wait and see. He will steal whatever joy is left in Ridgewood with his shady schemes.
Welcome to reality. I’m a newbie myself. Didn’t take long to get acquainted, just had to listen, observe and apply commonsense.
Village Hall and BOE are benefitting only themselves. They’ll even turn against those who voted for them knowing that voters don’t want to admit they were wrong.
Ridgewood NJ is beginning to resemble its “sister city” — Ridgewood, Queens/Brooklyn, NY.
Traffic on North Maple this afternoon around 1pm, heading north, was literally backed up to Mavis.
For no reason other than volume.
Have these idiots completed a single traffic study yet on the implications of doing this?
Just another reason to avoid going to or spending money in downtown Ridgewood.
No, they actually had their paid consultant “Urban planner” check out traffic for 15 minutes a few times and she said it seemed fine. Well that all is well and good Paul vagianos POV cause he wants this. whatever deal she and Kazshark are cutting on behalf of Ridgewood has probably been a long time in the making and like all of the other hired hands that Ridgewood pays lofty sums of our tax dollars to for their services, she’ll happily cash our checks and go home to her house, which I’d be willing to bet, is not next door to an assisted living facility.
Why not add a level to Care One and do 2x/ week bus trips to food store or library. Residents and homeowners are paying for a wonderful town. Are the taxes going to go down for this? Yes people are getting older-there are plenty of ALF’s in Bergen County. Don’t destroy a lovely, train accessible town. There will be a mass exodus from the Village of Ridgewood-we move there for a reason!!!
Because kensington I sent affiliated with Care one and they want $$$$ targeting upscale places like Ridgewood. But good idea
Why not add a level to Care One and do 2x/ week bus trips to food store or library. Residents and homeowners are paying for a wonderful town. Are the taxes going to go down for this? Yes people are getting older-there are plenty of ALF’s in Bergen County. Don’t destroy a lovely, train accessible town. There will be a mass exodus from the Village of Ridgewood-we move there for a reason!!!
I grew up in Ridgewood on Crest Rd. We left for Houston in 1965, I was 14. I cherish the architecture, the walkable community, the care and commitment it took to stick to the great standards that created Ridgewood (I became a building designer because and I have always been inspired by our village). It hurts me to the bone to see that folks redeveloping areas of our town don’t have the same commitment. It can’t be about the money, it’s the community that drew us all there to begin with. That’s what makes this project viable but at the same time destroys the very thing that makes it possible.
Pease Library is under utilized (no parking) would be ripe for tasteful redevelopment (I used to walk down the side stairs as a little boy to hear stories read by kind librarians).
If you want to see Ridgewood’s future, take a trip to Houston. There is very little to be saved here, no zoning and heck email me, I’ll show you around. Protect what you can and redevelop the rest. No tear downs. Jamesvanp@gmail.com I would work for free for Ridgewood!
Planning Board is and always has been a “Click”. Doesn’t matter what the resident feel would better the Village
When questioned, Ridgewiod’s hired suburban planner stated that the zoning overlay eoukd prohit cars coming and going which woukd have an impact on both Franklin and Marshall ages. Her answer, nope. This is the same person who looked at traffic patterns a few times for about fifteen minutes
Halabooby loves to call in to talk about emperor Augustus. But then stated, he wouldn’t say the same thing about paul!!@ WRF?
Is he’s finally losing his marbles, or is this consistent With what people have thought all along which is that he tanked years ago and is just part of a weekend at bernie’s marathon
is there a petition to sign?
I hope everyone who voted for this bunch of losers has now realized who they really are. Surprise! You all thought Vagianos was this great guy but now you see that he was willing to sell out so that his plan to really develop Ridgewood into more housing (thus ordinance 4052 allows for this kind of expansion) He got the whole council to run on his platform, and they will do and say anything he wants, even if it hurts the community. When the kensington deal timeline comes to light and it will, all of paul’s lies will be evident.
This is what ordinance 4052 is folks:
In New Jersey, an A-S1 zoning overlay is a type of zoning district that expands upon existing zoning regulations to address specific needs or goals within a designated area. It essentially creates a secondary layer of zoning on top of the underlying zoning district, allowing for additional permitted uses or different development standards.
Here’s a breakdown of what that means:
Underlying Zoning Still Applies: Properties within an A-S1 overlay zone are still subject to the regulations of the original zoning district (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial).
Expansion of Uses or Standards: The overlay zone then introduces specific provisions that either allow for new uses that weren’t originally permitted, or modifies the regulations for existing uses.
Addressing Specific Needs: Overlay zones are often created to address particular community needs or goals. Examples include:
Affordable Housing: Many A-S1 overlays are specifically designated as Affordable Housing Overlay Zones. These overlays aim to incentivize or require the development of affordable housing units within certain areas by allowing for increased density or other concessions.
Environmental Protection: Overlay zones can be used to protect natural features like wetlands or shorelines by restricting certain types of development or promoting specific construction practices.
Economic Development: Overlays may be used to foster specific types of economic development, such as promoting mixed-use buildings along transit corridors or creating special districts for certain industries.
In essence, an A-S1 zoning overlay in New Jersey offers flexibility and customization within the existing zoning framework, allowing municipalities to achieve specific land use and development goals in targeted areas without completely overhauling their underlying zoning ordinances.
Hawthorne recently joined the coalition for responsible planning to fight Trenton. Where’s Ridgewood?
Are Ridgewood residents allowed to VOTE on this? What are town council members thinking? Will their legacy be they destroyed the beautiful ambiance of Ridgewood? Wake up!
they did by voting for the current council
Its up to planning board and then council. They were gonna give it the green light til residents started freaking out then all of a sudden Vag and the puppet show became a caring group of neighbors who are concerned and yet they’ll vote it thru if the AS comes thru with a modified plan. Sad
Oh Paul. I think they are finally figuring this out. Couple of highlights from the meeting that were quite special. Were that you are disingenuous?
That your approach is insulting to residents because you were asking leaving questions which other residents have pointed out in the past. And that you and some of the other men, I believe, specifically matt rogers and evan, notably or bullying women from behind you, dark wood panels, which run resident thought was despicable behavior by elected officials and one resident actually said you can be recalled, which probably would make a number of people happy, especially now, that you’ve lost so much favor in the village with this proposal where you would directly benefit.