Ridgewood developer’s request to put distribution lines underground denied
MARCH 18, 2014, 12:00 AM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014, 11:03 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
After former village resident Dean Cerf’s recent housing development experience, one fact has been illuminated: PSE&G will not bury distribution lines underground in many cases, even if an individual is willing to pay.
After Cerf embarked on a plan to build three homes on Farview Street in Ridgewood, he was told by the village to have PSE&G bury the distribution lines underground.
But, to the frustration of Cerf and the Planning Board, which required the underground utilities, he learned PSE&G will not do it.
“We said [to PSE&G], ‘You have to, because it’s in our plans, and the town’s requiring it,'” Cerf said. “We tried to discuss it every which way we can. They wouldn’t discuss it. They said ‘no.'”
Cerf, the director of the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital, noted that he was happy to comply with the village’s request, and planned to pay any cost to put the wires underground for the sake of the village’s aesthetics and safety.
This is absurd. “I will pay to bury my lines for the sake of the village’s aesthetics and safety”…. PSE&G’s reply: “No sorry, you can’t. End of discussion.”
All the lines should have been buried decades ago, as is standard in Europe. We’re just told to keep buying batteries and wind-up radios. And when a 100-year-old tree falls, duck. But make sure to sign up for email emergency notification to learn what to do when your electricity is out.
2 houses were knocked down and replaced in Ho-ho-kus on Edgewood Drive (just off of the Franklin Tpk / Race Track road split). I noticed that these two houses have underground wires from the poles.
Doesn’t make sense why it’s OK in one place yet not another (less than 2 miles away)…
ask the mayor