BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — The results of studies on how zoning to allow high-density, multifamily housing downtown would affect the village will be presented to the public Wednesday night at Ridgewood High School.
The four studies, commissioned by the Village Council in mid-January, will explore the possible impacts of five introduced zoning ordinances on local schools, traffic, community services, infrastructure and finances.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld said Saturday three firms were contracted to do the work: Ross Haber & Associates to look at the schools, the RBA Group to review traffic, and BFJ Planning, in partnership with Urbanomics, to study local infrastructure and financial impacts.
Experts from those companies will present their findings to the public Wednesday night at the Ridgewood High School Campus Center. The public will be able to comment on the reports afterwards, and a final public hearing and possible votes of adoption are slated for March 23.
The ordinances, approved by the Planning Board by majority votes last June and introduced by the council a month later, would increase the allowable number of housing units per acre from 12 to 30 or 35 in three zones in the central business district. Proponents of the master plan amendments say the resulting housing complexes would provide homes for young professionals and empty-nesters; opponents claim they would strain local infrastructure and forever change the character of the village’s quaint downtown.
All of this high density housing will greatly over burden village resources which are already spread thin and also change the entire character of the village. If this housing is built it should be scaled down and for senior housing only.
Massive parking garage accomplished… CHECK
Next up massive High Density Housing
Parking is sorely needed. Referendum aside.
Apartments in the CBD provide for a healthy mix of uses and are a good thing.
How about some more analysis paralysis?
Yes 1:26 and after that Schedler 60X90 baseball field. Their job is complete. Thanks to all the voters who support the Council Majority in the election.
build it big.
Truly if I wanted to live in Montclair I would have moved there. Nothing wrong with that town but it wasn’t what we were looking for when looking at towns.
I never thought the studies would do anything but support the majority POV….don’t believe your lying eye…we have no traffic in town and schools are so empty they are begging for students.
Only hope is to elect a new council and repeal whatever damaging ordinances are passed.