Ridgewood Planning Board Rejects Proposal That Would Double Size Of Valley Hospital
CBS News
June 17, 2014 11:23 PM
RIDGEWOOD, NJ(CBSNewYork) — A proposal to expand a New Jersey hospital has been voted down.
Ridgewood residents cheered as a planning board voted against Valley Hospital’s proposal to nearly double in size, CBS 2 reported.
Resident called the planning board process ‘one sided,’ NJ.com reported.
The project would have included building demolitions, the construction of a 94-foot-tall building, and a large parking garage, the report said.
The hospital has been pushing for years to expand, saying that it needs to keep current in a competitive environment.
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/17/ridgewood-planning-board-rejects-proposal-that-would-double-size-of-valley-hospital/
Interim victory, the hospital will come back of course.
If you’re truly sick you don’t spend any time at Valley. You’re going to Hackensack or NYC.
Nalbantian and Bigos should resign. Follow the money.
Maybe Audrey should’ve purchased Pascack Valley when she had the chance….
I hope that this is the end, but I fear that it is not. A lawsuit would erase any goodwill between the village and the hospital.
If they come back with another plan they should do it the right way – start with a planning committee that includes residents from Ridgewood. If a legitimate committee (thar includes people from Stop Valley) the next attempt should be much better
Valley is a nice hospital. Don’t ruin it by making it a regional competitor.
I’m worried that 1200 E. Ridgewood Ave. is included in their next proposal . . . start buying up adjacent properties and expand there.
I’ve been a critic of the mayor, but I give credit when due and he did the right thing in saying no to Valley last night. Thank you, mayor, and thank you to the other planning board members who voted against Valley’s massive expansion.
I’m far less concerned about the Valley expansion than I am about overdeveloping the CBD which, when you think about it, will have far greater long term impact on Ridgewood.
#1: “If you’re truly sick you don’t spend any time at Valley”. Yeah I wonder why that is? Could it be because they are not allowed to invest in it? Product management 101, sport.
#1, Valley is an excellent hospital…but no hospital is great at everything. #2, if you want a seat at the table, get elected or appointed to a governing body….that’s how it works. This ruling will go down on appeal.
#5 If you really cared about the overall direction of the town you would care equally about both. And by the way, Valley could have “invested” in it in several different ways over the years, but somehow, they let the greedy part take over.
Product management 102…Use your head.
#2 – Valley abandoned all efforts at goodwill years ago. Did you listen to their attorney? Valley has nothing but disdain for our town.
Unfortunately the damage is permanent so yes, they will probably sue because they have nothing to lose on the community relations front. Let’s just hope that the town has enough smarts to get rid of Gail Price. What a disgrace her performance was through this whole thing.
Exactly right #7. Valley Hospital had (and still has) plenty of opportunities to invest in itself without a massive expansion in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Valley thought that, with a little help from people like Gwen Hauck, it could force a massive expansion down our throats. But despite its faults, Ridgewood is a great community and there are still plenty of people in town who recognize and cherish what we have here — and will never stop fighting to keep it.
#5, you probably should not anger the people who fought Valley and won. They did a great job fighting for our town. We need them and their spirit to help fight the overdevelopment of the CBD. These people care about Ridgewood as a whole.
#8, nothing is permanent. Ridgewood was once proud of Valley and it could be again. Valley needs to admit it was wrong and seek to rebuild relations with our town. Valley needs new leaders and new lawyers because the bad will generated by them will be an impediment to any chance at a new, positive chapter.
But you are definitely right that Gail Price is a disgrace. We stopped Valley DESPITE her. We need someone who is honorable but who can also fight fire with fire if that is the tactic that Valley (or the next bully) decides to take.
Re GP, her body language last night appeared to indicate discomfort (due to bias? – hard to say – maybe she was just having a Maalox moment).
Would be curious to know what instructions she gave the planning board in the closed door session prior to the vote. Have heard rumors but cannot confirm.
Also, could be wrong but I heard her bid for the renewal of her Ridgewood job was extremely “reasonable” compared to the other applicants. Since when has an attorney been known to be reasonable? Why does she want to keep it so badly?
Just Google her name + Ridgewood and other posts come up that lay out more specifics.
I would urge the town to consider motivations before resigning her and make sure they are consistent with “doing the right thing”.
Thanks to those that voted the will of the people last night.
At some point in this process, the PB knew that this proposal was going to be denied. In any deliberative process, at that point you try to protect the record in the event of appeal by leaning over backwards to the losing side on procedural issues so that on appeal you limit the issues they can complain about. The PB attorney was undoubtedly aware of this. I cannot say what was in anybody’s head or heart but by limiting the procedural grounds for appeal by VH, she was doing her job. Was that her sole motivation? I don’t know, but something to consider.
#12 — understand where you are coming from, but having seen her in action, no, I think she is pompous, venial, self-centered and enthralled with the notion that Hospital and developer attorneys are more important than her fellow citizens. There is probably more than a trace of dumb there as well.
I think this is a bad move. valley can close the doors and put a fence around the place and let the weeds grow 10feet high. and no one can say boo. you don,t like the fence, ok build a wall. people never say never.
Let’s follow that stupid statement with something more feasible. Hackensack buys Valley facility for a nice penny, modernizes the existing structure and operates it as a split campus,gladly pays taxes to Ridgewood and everyone lives happily after.
The Duck Pond office can expand for outpatient day surgery.