Ridgewood has room for ‘beneficial change’
JANUARY 23, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015, 12:30 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
‘There is room for beneficial change’
To the editor:
For four years now – two as a resident observer and two as a consultant to the Enclave development – I have been following the dialogue around developing luxury residential units in Ridgewood’s downtown. The process will conclude in the next month or so with a vote at the Planning Board on amending the master plan to allow greater density for residential on four underutilized sites including two former car dealerships.
It has been fascinating to see this process unfold in my town after providing services to developers in similar scenarios over the last 30 years. The most common opposition to these plans comes under the umbrella of “Ridgewood is Different.” Yes, we’ve somehow persuaded ourselves to say it with a capital “D” and that is why this process, which should have taken no more than six months and been an exercise in information and logic, instead has dragged in for six years and tangled us in an unnecessarily wrenching dialogue.
The testimony from the developer’s side has been about what you’d expect – perhaps more intense in response to the opposition, but professional and comprehensive. The testimony from the village planner has been conclusive as to the planning issues: there is not better solution for these sites than what has been proposed if benefits are measured against impacts and if professional planning standards are imposed. Truly a masterful job was performed that the village should take pride in.
Where this process has had its breakdowns is not in its structure, which is part of well-established law. The hallmark of this process has been disingenuousness and political messaging – neither of which is appropriate when such critical issues as the village’s strategy to protect the viability of its downtown and its affordable housing obligation are at stake.
Our school populations are falling and even the most dire predictions of added school children have been called a non-issue by the school superintendant. The traffic consultant assures us that impacts from the proposed developments are less than previous uses and less than other options. The planner has worked to prevent additional sites from being subject to unwanted development.
And yet my friends – on the podium and in the audience – who don’t want the development are accusing developers of lying and village professionals of malfeasance. And they also are intimidating my other friends, who would like to move a parent into a nice apartment downtown or move there themselves when their housing needs change – from expressing their opinions by intimating social consequences.
Really people? It’s time to accept that on the edges of our own “Ridgewood is Different” visions and biases – and despite some downright racial prejudices that we very unexpectedly saw emerge – there is room for beneficial, if imperfect, change. When the Planning Board asks for your public comment, try and not use the capital D to Denigrate or Destruct; it should mean Distinguished.
Ron Simoncini
Ridgewood
Mr. Simoncini throws the word “we” around pretty liberally for someone who is only two years a resident and has spent his adult life trying to jam high density housing into temporarily empty commercial lots.
Ridgewood need not take its cue from transient consultants.
Your Mayor hasn’t been in Ridgewood much longer then Mr. Simoncini.
To the poster who said “Mr. Simoncini …….is only two years a resident”, that is very untrue. Make things up much?
Who the hell let this miserable carpet bagger into town?
First of all, I don’t recall any discussion of student population falling.
Second, there is no proposal for “luxury housing” — there is a proposal for increased density so that the developers can develop like Newark or Hackensack. As Blaise said, the devil is in the details, and the details shown so far as for illustrative purposes only. Once the increased density is approved then the developers can go in with plans for whatever they want approved. Of course, the site is presently zoned in a manner that would allow luxury condo’s or townhouses, but not at the profit this sycophant and his master are looking for.
Third, I have heard a couple of the developer’s friends and investors talk about how lovely it would be to have a place in town, but I have heard no groundswell of support for “change.”
Finally, getting back to my original point, who the hell let this jackass into town, and if he feels the way he does, why did he pick Ridgewood to live in? We do feel is a special place. He doesn’t need to agree, but instead of trying to change the town to fit his fancy, he should move his sorry ass somewhere else.
Really?! Yes, Really!! You don’t like the town, Mr. Lapdog, go move somewhere else where you and your master can develop to your heart’s content without having to worry about the democratic process slowing you down.
“Really people? It’s time to accept that on the edges of our own “Ridgewood is Different” visions and biases – and despite some downright racial prejudices that we very unexpectedly saw emerge – there is room for beneficial, if imperfect, change. When the Planning Board asks for your public comment, try and not use the capital D to Denigrate or Destruct; it should mean Distinguished.”
Not for nothing, Mr. Simoncini, but if this is an example of Mr. Aronsohn’s modern-style “civil discourse”, Ridgewood needs to start a counter-revolution, post haste. I can almost hear my brain cells warping and decaying in response to your cotton-candy Rodney King-size “can’t we all just get along” claptrap. If some money changer tables in this village don’t start getting upended in short order we just might go to bed one night and wake up the next morning to find Ridgewood torn down and rebuilt in some narcissistic community organizer’s image.
I just re-read Mr. Simoncinci’s racial prejudice comment and am thoroughly disgusted.
Is he suggesting that only if we have high density housing will diverse people move into town?? Really?? Why? Is it because that is all they can afford? Because they won’t be comfortable living in houses? Or maybe “luxury” is the ultimate racist code word and he’s trying to say, don’t worry, only wealthy white folks will move into these apartments.
I am really not sure what this miscreant is trying to say, However, I have heard people say that we need density in housing to attract diversity in population and such talk exhibits a reverse prejudice that I really find disturbing. Believe it or not, folks of all colors, religions, sexual preferences, etc., like nice houses in nice neighborhoods. Our role as citizens is to be welcoming, and we have no place in Ridgewood for those who condemn others. But the sweeping generalization that diversity is only achieved through housing density is really, trully disgusting. And to make such an argument in support of pursuing a commercial goal is beyond the lowest level of depravity.
I realize he has to make a buck serving his master, but, at long last, after four years, has Mr. Simoncini no shame?
First Mr. Simoncinci’s , 4 years in town doesn’t exactly give your comments more weight than those who have been here for decades. But we’ll put that aside and look at your comments from the standpoint most beneficial to you.
Second, being a consultant for the Enclave makes your comments less than objective, but again, we’ll put that aside and look at your comments from the standpoint most beneficial to you.
You state that ” the village planner has been conclusive as to the planning issues: there is not better solution for these sites than what has been proposed. ” That’s like saying it’s “we’re the smartest kid in the dumb group”. It doesn’t mean that this is a good proposal – it simply means that we haven’t heard a better one -YET ! So don’t expect the residents to quickly accept this plan.
You next state that “The traffic consultant assures us that impacts from the proposed developments are less than previous uses and less than other options.” How does he “assure” us of this. If he’s wrong what does the Village do – what recourse do we have? The answer is none! The consultant (just like you, Mr Simoncinci) has gotten his money, and moves on. Further, with regard to traffic consultants and their projections, show me one traffic projection put forth for any new construction in the past 20 years, in Ridgewood, that can be proven to be accurate. Just look at the parking situation in the CBD and you’ll find (and see) the answer.
Lastly, there are those who do belive that Ridgewood is different. Unlike other communities our size we do not have high density dwellings in its CBD (with the exception of a building put up 60 years ago before the Master Plan was in effect). There are many within the Viallge that would like to keep it that way. That doesn;t mean their opinions are disingenuous – simply that they have a different opinion.
You close by saying “there is room for beneficial, if imperfect, change”. Well long time residents, who are objective, don’t see this as beneficial. More importantly, just like you, they see this as imperfect. SInce we all seem to agree that the proposal is “imperfect” why should residents be willing to accept an imperfect plan. You seem to have an alliterative affec tion for capital D’s, so here are my capital D’s:
Deadline: There is none, so why rush to approve an imperfect plan. You say it should take 6 months, but it’s taken 6 years. GREAT! Congratulations to the Village and it’s residents. They’re willing to wait and work to get it right.
Do better: There’s no deadline for development, so it may be worth it to wait for the right plan.
Debate: There should be debates between residents and developers. The developers do their work (which can be very beneficial to a town), collect their money, and move o. Residents are here for the longer term and (when, or if, it occurs) must live with the developers mistakes. This doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be intense focus by both sides to find common ground. Simply that towns and residents shouldn’t accept as gospel everything a developer puts forth.
poster at 10:04 am said “Mr. Simoncini …….is only two years a resident”.
“Tim Grip” said “Mr. Simoncinci’s , 4 years in town”
Which is it? Oh, that’s right, neither is true.
Although I am on the same side of the argument, against high density development, making up things doesn’t help the credibility of our position.
BOO! Move away NOW.
If they alter the Master Plan for this one-sided farce, NOBODY IS GOING TO MOVE THERE. Period.
The Simoncini’s have lived in Ridgewood for about 15 years. Three kids through Travell, BF and RHS. Last one graduates from RHS in June. I wonder what attracted the Simoncini family to Ridgewood . . . and what has changed since.
“The Simoncini’s have lived in Ridgewood for about 15 years. Three kids through Travell, BF and RHS. Last one graduates from RHS in June.”
Watching to see if the typical pattern is followed and the family casa is listed for sale after the graduation party is over.