the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Schedler neighbors rally around efforts to preserve their neighborhood :
Hello Schedler Friends,
We hope this email finds you well. We wanted to provide you with a crucial update regarding the ongoing efforts to protect our beloved neighborhood. While there have been some recent developments, our fight is far from over, and your continued support remains instrumental. The Council must still submit the new sports complex plan to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and there’s a possibility of rejection.
Below, you will find important information to keep you informed and actionable steps you can take to help advance our cause.
News:
- Concerns about artificial turf: We encourage you to read the letter from Mt. Sinai regarding their concerns about the proposed artificial turf at Schedler. Your understanding of the potential implications is essential. You can access the letter here.
- Health: Residents have recently engaged with the New Jersey Department of Health regarding possible illegal soil dumping at Schedler. We are working to contact the NJDEP Department of Solid and Hazardous Waste to gather the necessary environmental data needed for the NJ Department of Health to initiate an active investigation. We will provide further updates on this matter soon.
- Press: Our efforts are gaining local news attention. Media outlets are covering our campaign against the large artificial turf field at Schedler, which could harm our environment and neighbors on private wells. Despite the news cycle’s focus on turf, we continue advocating for a smaller grass field and practical preservation. To learn more about these news stories, please visit CBS News New York, NJ Star Ledger, Politico New Jersey, News 12. More is coming!
- Big Tree Registry: We are pleased to share that the Schedler Sugar Maple Tree has been officially recognized and added to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Big Tree Registry. This majestic Sugar Maple, standing at approximately 259 years old, is the largest Sugar Maple in Bergen County. To learn more about this remarkable tree. To learn more click here.
Actions to consider:
- How you can help: Encourage five people, whether they be friends, family members, or coworkers, to sign our petition. The petition PDF is at the bottom and you can take a photo with your signature and address, and email it back to us.
- Write an email to SHPO saying you object to the Schedler plans: Send an email to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) expressing your objection to the Schedler plans. You can contact the following:
Jennifer.leynes@dep.nj.gov;
kate.marcopul@dep.nj.gov;
Meghan.Baratta@dep.nj.gov
(It’s vital that your voice is heard and recorded in their file on Schedler)- Lawn signs: Support our cause by displaying “Develop Don’t Destroy” lawn signs. These signs are available for a suggested donation of $10. Please email us, and we will arrange a drop-off at your doorstep.
Mark your calendar
- Save the date for the next Village Council meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, September 27 at 7:30 pm. Your attendance and participation are greatly appreciated.
We want to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication to preserving our community. Together, we can continue to make a difference. Let’s remain steadfast in our commitment to protect our neighborhood and its natural beauty.Thank you for being an essential part of this important endeavor.
Brooks loves turf….
Apparently, he will do or say whatever Mayor Paul Vagianos says for a $47,000.00 “loan”.
https://theridgewoodblog.net/mayor-paul-vagianos-loans-47k-to-long-time-chairman-of-ridgewoods-parks-rec/
Maybe there is more money to be had by pushing for turf than anyone realizes? Hmmm, perhaps another payoff.
West Saddle River Road is extremely narrow. I believe the council said they would put parking spots on one side of the street and there is parking planned for the property but it is going to be very hard to navigate that narrow stretch if hundreds of cars are showing up to drop people off to play sports, or to try to park to watch games. This has not been thought out in an intelligent manner.
Hundreds of cars? Is that in a season or a year?
sell it all to a developer and get some taxes out of the deal
$47K buys a lot of goodwill.
West Saddle River Road is so narrow that it cannot legally even have a stripe down the middle to divide it into two sections. When cars park on it the road virtually becomes one way as it is impossible for two cars to pass if a car is parked on the side. Come see for yourself when all the lawn trucks start parking! Also, cars come off of RT 17N at a good rate of speed and will not be anticipating either cars parked or double parked to drop off people. The other major problem is when there is an accident on Rt 17N and West Saddle River Road becomes the only escape route. Cars have literally been backed up to Hollywood Ave. and the basic congestion is horrendous. See the various Police reports of accidents on West Saddle River Road itself. also, a truck came through the sound barrier so what is to prevent one from coming through that measly berm?
The RBSA guy who spoke at the meeting said there would be 3 cars for each player 25 players times 2 teams and then some, so he estimated 150 cars because “no one carpools, it is way too exciting to go to games” and no stress testing has been conducted.
2 kids have already been hit by cars in that neighborhood, not safe!
Put in a light
cars come speeding off of route 17, a light ain’t gonna help this situation.
A friend told me that the RBSA is going to name the field after Pee Wee once the dust settles.
Haha, PeeWee is in enough hot water right now with the exposure of his loan to the Chair of Parks and Recreation and Conservation Boards and his wife who is a partner at the law firm responsible for Outfront Media’s giant billboard application to the zoning board, where the illustrious Mayor can re-appoint members. Might have to step down from the bright lights of this small village and might be a while before there is a PeeWee park, more like a PeeWee parking lot named after him.
There is going to be quite a lot of dust to sweep under that carpet so it may be awhile. He is in deep doo doo and everyone in Ridgewood is talking about it. He will try to look like a big hero for trying to provide a financial life line to his friends, but it is highly unethical and normal people know this, so good luck!
Then they will call it “King of Con Park” and gyros will cost $47K with 10% interest at the concession stand.
Rbsa guy is full of crap
They have been pushing for this since Albano was RBSA president
I find it inexplicable that Health section doesn’t stress enough the damage to air quality and noise to the whole town especially in the light of “global warming” or climate change. The artificial turf is not a strong enough health reason . They should actually approach of the NJ senators because they’re are big on zeroing carbon emissions so they have no choice but to support keeping the park.
Just one big historical tree won’t save the park.
Not a good strategy.
This would have been a great location for high density housing. The lot is the perfect commuter location. Taxable and some low income units could be there.
It would have been built by now. Is it too late to sell?
I agree. Awesome location for more than 100 low income apartments. We need to play our part in accommodating the illegals coming from the south. And in the meantime the whole town becomes more diverse and inclusive.
Typical NIMBY response
this is all NIMBY.