March 20,2016
Linda McNamara
Valley sued the Village of Ridgewood claiming an unfair process in the deliberations. Many thousands of dollars was spent by groups opposed to the renewal and for very substantial and convincing reasons. New Jersey requires that we go through a mediation process, it does not require that either party has to accept the results.
Valley’s “compromise” includes a 1700 spot parking garage on the cornet of Linwood and Van Dien! We have spent years discussing an approx. 400 space parking garage on Hudson Street which is not in the middle of a neighborhood, next to a school and on one of the busiest corners in all of Ridgewood.
The planning board is duty bound to protect our village from over development not to appease an entity that has enough money to keep the battle on going. We have a Master Plan and zoning ordinances to protect us. If the Planning Board is wiling to change them in order to allow Valley to go ahead with its plan to almost double its size in the middle of a neighborhood, then we need a new Planning Board that is looking out for the Village of Ridgewood. I say village because many seem to have forgotten that .
We worry about signage that isn’t in keeping with our aesthetics. We tell businesses in town what colors they can use on their store fronts and yet we would consider a massive expansion in the middle of a residential area? Our priorities need an overhaul and there is no time to do it. The Planning Board is holding 5 hearings all within a few days of each other starting at the end of March and ending in early April and before an election in May which will change the council by 3 new members.
One of our current council members Gwen Hauck has stated in public that she is “beholden to Valley”. She should recuse herself from any vote on Valley and we may have the law on our side regarding a conflict of interest.
The concerned residents of Ridgewood should take this current ruling to a higher court….the state supreme court or whatever. Having that huge parking lot on that corner is damaging and dangerous and negligent of Valley Hospital to propose.
It is surprising that a hospital supposedly concerned with health would push for that size building in a residential neighborhood.
Most of the village leaders are all sectioning off their exit agendas and favors owed to different businesses and Organizations at a very high long term price to the citizens of Ridgewood.Business as usual.
Sometimes you need to be realistic. It’s over. Valley will be expanding.
The Concerned Citizens of Ridgewood have lost.
How much did you spend on legal fees?
How soon after you hired your attorney did he explain “Inherently Beneficial Use?”
“Inherently Beneficial Use” I don’t know about you buddy, but let’s get real here . There are several major hospitals in the area.
I and many of my friends for anything serious go to NYC, the major hospitals.
Anyway we are stocked up to the gills with hospitals in Bergen County. There is no need for ANY RENVOATION at Valley, except smaller if they want to private rooms , make that corner hospital smaller.
Inherently beneficial use is just not true due to the fact that there are many nearby hospitals here. Inherently beneficial use to the administrators of Valley
I grew up out of state and the nearest hospital was 10 miles away. I am here to talk about it.
This has to be taken to a federal court, if possible, the supreme court. This is a situation that is newsworthy beyond New Jersey.
If in the rare chance you are correct 8.34 then all the Citizens of Ridgewood have lost so much.not just those who were responsible enough to identify the impacts of both the build out
periods and danger to our school children and citizens.No less property values in this neighborhood.but if you live far enough away or your children and family are insulated I guess you can claim tough luck to your dedicated neighbors as Ridgewood and Valley take the position of Greater good and by the way tough luck.
No matter where you live in Ridegewood. Don’t the majority use Linwood or East Ridgewood to travel.
Making the 1700 parking garage on the corner of North Van Dien is INHERENTLY DAMAGING to the NEIGHBORHOOD. Now I want the Concerned Residents or Ridgewood to find a higher court to continue the fight.
9:32 the settlement proves I am correct. By the way, was the hospital there when you bought your house?
9:48 I haven’t seen the plans, but I would assume the entrance to the parking garage will be interior to the hospital property, just like the other parking garage already there.
Linda – Gwenn’s never had a Valley vote to recuse herself from… Yet
Ridgewood Taxpayer: Why would you want to be in favor of something that you may or not use, increase traffic during and after construction, bring down all of the property values in town, AND increase your taxes ? And by the way, I really hope that when all is said and done you keep paying those taxes.
There is not a garage currently at valley.
Sure there is s garage now….it’s underground…..
1:37 where did I say I was in favor of the expansion?
My comments were just pointing out obvious facts.
Those facts remain whether or not I am in favor of the expansion.
For the record, I don’t object the expansion, but have done nothing to advocate for it.
2:04 it may not be a garage, but it’s some kind of parking deck, and the entrance is interior to the hospital property.
RT. Well now that you are “officially,” in favor, why ?
Americans demand the best medical care available.
Hospitals need to modernize.
For those residents that live in the neighborhood, the hospital has always been there.
11:48 would you want your spouses divorce lawyer sitting in on meetings with you and your accountant and lawyer? Sort of the same thing. She has the ability to hear privy information and give a heads up to Valley at every step of any interaction or negotiations.
RT-As you know, “modernize” does not mean the same thing as “expand.” The hospital, which I believe has been there since1951, has “renewed” before, but never where it took 7 plus years and obviously not to the size it is now asking for. No homeowner in all of Ridgewood ever expected what they are asking, as a matter of fact, so to place blame for living in the neighborhood is a little out there. I’m all for modernizing, just not expanding. They have all the room they need to do whatever in Mahwah, and even Paramus, just not the panache that goes with Ridgewood.
Many of the houses were there before the hospital. The site on which Valley is located is 15 acres in the middle of a community. They wish to expand beyond the existing restrictions that we all live by. You need a permit for a deck, bathrooms, additions both large and small,etc. Valley realizes this and is buying up properties as we speak, They can and will expand but not all of it should take place on the present site. Ridgewood is a wonderful and valuable home address for Valley. They will modernize the present hospital but we must prevent them from destroying a neighborhood to do so.
Ridgewood has been sold down the river by special interest people such as Mr. Fund (Funds Folly ordinance) Gwen who is clueless and should recuse herself and lastly the planning board who was scared out of their pants by Gail Price.
If you really want to stop this expansion, CRR needs money for lawyers. They have successfully stopped this monstrosity for 10 years (yes, this year marks the 10th year of this fight!). Please send your donations to:
CRR, PO Box 150, Ridgewood, NJ 07451.
Consider how much your property value will go down if potential home buyers will need to navigate around a 10 year construction site and the traffic that it will create. This will affect Linwood, Ridgewood Ave and E. Glen Avenues and all the side streets that will become cut through streets as people try to avoid the traffic on the main thoroughfares. Not to mention the lasting presence of a1mm sq ft building and a 200,000+ parking garage in a residential neighborhood in our town!
This can be stopped with your donation. Give as generously as you can!
If you really want to stop this expansion, CRR needs money for lawyers. They have successfully stopped this monstrosity for 10 years (yes, this year marks the 10th year of this fight!). Please send your donations to:
CRR, PO Box 150, Ridgewood, NJ 07451.
Consider how much your property value will go down if potential home buyers will need to navigate around a 10 year construction site and the traffic that it will create. This will affect Linwood, Ridgewood Ave and E. Glen Avenues and all the side streets that will become cut through streets as people try to avoid the traffic on the main thoroughfares. Not to mention the lasting presence of a1mm sq ft building and a 200,000+ parking garage in a residential neighborhood in our town!
This can be stopped with your donation. Give as generously as you can!