>Valley Hospital is seeking to change the Village’s Master Plan and the H-Zone ordinances to allow them to increase the size of the structures on their 15.4 acre Ridgewood campus.
The two stage, multi-year, $750 million proposal is to increase the total Gross Floor area by 71%; reduce the building setbacks to 40 feet on all four sides of the property (from the present effective 144 ft); increase on-site parking by 400 spaces and to increase building heights to 80 feet (56 ft + 24 ft of mechanicals).
After examining the proposal, over 400 residents formed a group called the Concerned Residents of Ridgewood to fight the proposal. They have a website www.stopvalley.com. The group believes in quality healthcare, but not at the expense of the village. They believe that, if the proposal is allowed to pass without amendment, the unique character of Village will be destroyed and Ridgewood will become just another “hospital town”.
A major concern is the permanent nature of the proposed changes to the Master Plan and Ordinances. If the H-Zone ordinance changes are allowed to pass, the hospital will be able to continue building beyond their current proposal without the needing to gain variance approval at the public Board Meetings – only site plan approval.
If the Master Plan changes are approved, any future variance changes beyond what is requested by the Hospital today will be harder to oppose as the proposed changes to the Master Plan will render the Village “Hospital expansion friendly”.
The specific issues are:
Proposed changes to the Master Plan and H-Zone ordinances that will change the Character of the Village
The number of licensed beds will increase by 3, but the size of the hospital will be 374,333 sq feet at a cost of $750 million – will the health insurance companies pay the resulting higher fees?
-There will be more buildings and less open space.
-A reduction in house values of the surrounding neighborhoods
-Possible road widening creating safety and traffic issues
-Ben Franklin Middle School is right next to the hospital, Travell Elementary School only one block away and students transverse Van Dien to RHS. There are significant safety and quality of -life issues for those students during the 3+ years of proposed construction.
>heres an interesting thought. “IF” the state/town/county would abolish the ‘right’ of a non-profit to be tax-exempt, it could change things dramatically. The churches would have to pay, as would a large building such as valley. Despite the whining from the churches, if one can afford 35m and a slate roof, they can afford a tax bill. if valley was valued on a per square foot basis along with other commercial structures, the cash-inflow to the village would probably have enough of an effect to LOWER property taxes in town. it may make them reconsider. its a thought.
>9:20- 1- if valley was able to “attract some of the finest Dr’s in the area” as IT IS then why the he$% do they need to expand?????
And by the way one of valley’s “finest” OB/GYN’s nearly KILLED me with a SEVERE medical error- the finest -eh? My new Ob whom I ADORE and Deserves the title of the “finest” has decided to STOP using Valley for deliveries because of all the BS they give and has moved deliveries to another nearby hospital- guess what- I ‘d follow him to the moon and Valley can kiss my backside all the way there!!!!!
>Oh brother. And what do you think that would do to medical costs, if hospitals suddenly had to pay taxes? It would come right out of your pocket. And as for churches, if a church can fundraise money to pay for the kind of roof it wants, that’s their business… if they tried to get those same funds to pay taxes, it wouldn’t happen. That’s just the way people give…
>well since i dont go to valley on a regular basis ( if one family member visits once every 3 years thats about it) they can figure a way to eat/bury/pass along the added costs. same for a church. they take up real estate. let them pay. THAT would be the way to solve the NJ tax problem by forcing these non-profits to pay their ‘fair share’ (verbage that seems to be throw around when i am writing the check for other things!)
>Does anyone know Valley Hospital’s budget for advertising? It has to be astronomical inasmuch as they advertise in NJ, PA, CT, and NY.
>Not only does Death Valley advertise in several states, they use television, radio, magazines, newspapers … have I left out anything?
>There are doctors who make errors and doctors you can adore everywhere. Glad you found a doctor you love, 8:04, but your comment is irrelevant.
>Heads up to all of you who oppose Valley’s renewal. No I don’t live within a few blocks Valley. I chose NOT to purchase a house that close to a hospital when I moved to town. However, your poor decision is no reason for the rest of us to suffer with a hospital that cannot keep pace with the latest in medical care, because you don’t want to live through the construction.
Why don’t you replace all your yellow “STOP Valley signs” with for sale signs and leave town. Valley is a far more responsible and welcome neighbor in town than you.
>For all of you who purchased houses near Valley, don’t let idiotic comments from those like 4:33 discourage you. Keep up the fight. I leave on the Westside and have no problem with keeping Valley in check. When I need the best in medical care on a non-emergency basis, I go to NYC. It is a shame that some people are so lazy that such a short trip seems like a problem.
>4:33 This was a residential neighborhood way before Valley showed up in the 50’s. Despite a turnover in who lives here – knowing valley was here, we had no issue with the way the hospital looks now, hence why we purchased. Calling our home purchase a poor decision shows your arrogance and ignorance for fellow citizens of the same town you call home. Maybe it is you who gives this beautiful Village the negative rap from others. Go get your own for sale sign. Maybe when you or your friends children visit BF to play on our fields- yours and mine- yes we all live in the same town- you will enjoy the big city feel of a 350 ft long building runnning along the playgrounds and feilds of BF. Do not think we do not wnat a quality hospital. We do. Is there any problem now with the care? NOPE
>Listen, to all you raging nuts on here who think if you have a heart attack on the west side of town it would make a difference whether you go to Valley or Hackensack or Holy Name. It is the repsonse time of an ambulance and what is done inside it that will make a difference. You do not get saved at a hospital. wake and show some intelligence and preserve this village. We have bigger problems in our town than worrying about a hospital that you use once every 2-3 years for a stich. Ever look downtown at the rif raf trolling our streets selling drugs to our youth.
>These are some of the most ridiculous and selfish comments I have read on this blog. I am continually amazed by the arrogance and selfishness of people in Ridgewood, who tout the character of our town and demand the highest standards of service and resources, yet are unwilling to pay for them. Whether a it is a new field, a new service or a new building, how many times have we heard something like, “it wasn’t like that in the 1950’s, so we don’t need it now”. That is an absurd rationale and illustrates a fundamental lack of understanding and appreciation of civic planning, municipal management and community responsibility.
Any rational and thoughtful Ridgewood resident wants a local hospital that can offer the best medical care possible. There may be situations that require patients to seek specialists in NYC or elsewhere. But, that shouldn’t mean we force Valley to make due with antiquated and inappropriate zoning and require all Ridgewood residents to live with the consequences of long-term declining services. I hope my family never needs Valley’s services. But, I want to know that it is there if we need it and I certainly don’t want to “have to go” to Hackensack or NYC to get the best care, if my family has a medical emergency.
I live near RHS and the campus buildings, which overshadow our homes (and from some views have a very “institutional” look) have not diminished our neighborhood. Nor will Valley’s plans diminish the neighborhoods around the hospital compared to today’s appearance. It will certainly not diminish the view from BF field. The eye sore there is the back side of the school, BF’s parking lot, dumpsters and broken fences, not Valley Hospital. In fact, the trees that shield the field from Valley Hospital may be the most attractive view from the field.
Like our school system, Valley Hospital is a valuable asset that enhances the quality of life in the community and distinguishes Ridgewood from less desirable neighboring communities. Also like our school system, it requires periodic improvements and upgrades and deserves our support for well planned fiscally responsible change.
>ok 12:58—-
WHAT’S YOUR CONNECTION TO VALLEY? CA– USE YOU ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT YOUR VILLAGE? AND DO NOT COMPARE A COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO A HOSPITAL. COME ON, WHAT IS YOUR HIDDEN AGENDA?
>The long drawn-out postings are definitely from those connected in some way to Valley Hospital….or maybe just a hypochondriac who has all the Valley doctors on speed dial.
>PJ i just saw that the Stopvalley.com website posted a link to questions they gave to the hospital on the Home page when you sroll down. Lets see what the PR machine answers will be 🙂