file photo by Boyd Loving
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
AGENDA
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Village Hall Court Room – 7:30 P.M.
Call to order
Pledge of Allegiance
Statement required by the Open Public Meeting Act “Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by a posting on the bulletin board in the Village Hall, by mail to the Ridgewood News, The Record and by submission to all persons entitled to same as provided by law of a schedule including date and time of this meeting”.
Please note: A curfew of 11:00 PM is strictly adhered to by the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Village of Ridgewood. No new matter involving an Applicant will be started after 10:30 PM. At 10:00 PM the Chairman will make a determination and advise Applicants as to whether they will be heard. If an Applicant cannot be heard because of the lateness of the hour, the matter will be carried over to a future meeting to be determined by the Board at 10:00 PM.
Roll call
Minutes:
Non-agenda items:
Board member comments
Members of the public comments
Public hearings
Old Business:
PATRICK LEONARD & CLAIRE HALLOWELL – An application to permit the construction of one-story and two-story additions and porches which would result in a side yard setbacks of 24.4 feet and 19.6 feet, where 27.3 feet is required; coverage by above grade structures of 20.9%, where 20% is permitted; coverage by above grade structures within 140 feet of front lot line of 22.9%, where 20% is permitted at 65 Park Slope, Block 2110, Lot 15, in an R-1 Zone. (Continued from August 22, 2023; Carried to November 14, 2023 without further notice)
WALEED MIQBEL – An application to permit an addition which would result in gross building area within 140 feet of the front lot line of 34%, where 20% is permitted at 665 Terhune Road, Block 4707, Lot 28, in an R-1 Zone. (Continued from August 22, 2023 without further notice)
New Business:
PATRICIA REYNOSO – An application to permit the construction of one-story and two-story additions which would result in a front yard setback of 39.5 feet, where 40 feet is required; side yard setbacks of 8.3 feet and 13.2 feet, where 15 feet is required; combined side yard setback of 21.5 feet, where 32.5 feet is required; rear yard setback of 29 feet, where 30 feet is required at 976 Andover Terrace, Block 1101, Lot 2, in an R-1 Zone.
MICHAEL & TIFFANY HERKLOTS – An application to permit the construction of a cantilever addition which would result in a side yard setback of 14.34 feet, where 19.55 feet is required, and coverage by improvements within 140 feet of the front lot line of 47.1%, where 45% is permitted at 117 Avondale Road, Block 1401, Lot 17, in an R-1 Zone.
AGENDA – CONTINUATION September 26, 2023
CMD HOMES NJ, LLC – An application to permit the construction of a two story addition which would result in a front yard setback of 36 feet, where 45 feet is required and coverage by above grade structures of 22%, where 20% is permitted at 482 Northern Parkway, Block 3105, Lot 2, in an R-2 Zone.
Discussion: Planning Board referral of amendments to various sections of Chapter 190 of the Village of Ridgewood, Land Use and Development and a section of Chapter 145, Enumeration of Fees
Adjournment
thanks for posting
its always helpful to see what the neighbors are trying to sneak in since only property owners within a certain close distance get official notifications
exemptions affect all property owners, not just abutters
Oh wow, these variance requests are getting out of hand. I hope neighbors show up and contest.
The Outfront Media billboard application for variances isn’t on the agenda, however residents are concerned. his is highly unethical and so much collusion is involved. The mayor lent $47k mortgage to Gail Price and her husband, Richard Brooks. Gail Price, Paul’s friend from Seton Hall Law school, Gail lives in Ridgewood with her husband, Richard Brooks, has not been able to avoid a whole lot of controversy over the years. She likely brought the billboard project to Paul or he brought it to her, a win for both of them and who knows if corruption is involved like kickbacks, etc. Paul obviously benefits as a businessman, restaurant owner and with lots of investments all over the village of Ridgewood so he has a great deal to gain via having a large electric billboard to advertise on. Is it a coincidence that Outfront Media, a multi billion dollar company picked Gail Price’s law firm where she is a partner? So shameful on so many levels. Residents want to know what will this Zoning Board and their Board attorney do to course correct?
https://theridgewoodblog.net/mayor-paul-vagianos-lent-47k-to-attorney-whose-firm-represents-a-zoning-board-of-adjustment-applicant/
Brooks needs to separate himself from this political mess and coaching our kids in lax and soccer at rhs
Soon we will see a gogo establishment. In town.
Maybe a tatoo parlor. By the way, if Outfront Media, the giant billboard company, gets their variances passed, it gives them the right to put up additional billboards throughout the village. That means anyone with property could lease out their building wall, rooftop, etc. This was brought up at the last zoning board meeting where the planner for Outfront compared the Gilsenan building artwork on the side of the building to their billboards!
Girls’ gotta’ earn.
Interesting that Outfront Media, the company that applied for the variance went to Schedler to take pictures and offered to put up giant trees on the berm once the application is approved but only for that property, not any other property on Route 17 including ones where people actually live that will face the billboard…. If you connect the dots, Gail Price lives in Ridgewood and is very good friends with Mayor Vagianos and is a named partner of Price, Meese Shulman & D’arminio who are legally representing Outfront Media so that they can get variances passed through the Zoning Board. The Mayor, Paul Vagianos just lent Gail Price $47K to pay her mortgage/taxes which are in arrears, and they are longtime friends from Seton Hall Law School. This scheme seems a very unethical. Who brought the billboard to Ridgewood and to Price, Meese? Vagianos also has power over approval for re-electing zoning board members (several are up for re-election)…so what does all of this mean and is it an act of outright corruption, a highly unethical situation or a coincidence?
This whole situation stinks!
I just don’t get it, how is a lawyer who is also a partner in a law firm not able to pay her taxes?! Usually $47000 is spare change for a regular lawyer. It just doesn’t make sense.
For 2 years…!
What the lawyer should do and he seems like a very straight shooter, is to dismiss the application until such time that Outfront can come before them with a new legal council. Whether Gail Price brought Outfront to the Village that she lives in and is friends with the Mayor who just lent her a lot of money, or trick dicky Paulie Vagianos got wind of it and threw it over the fence to Gail as a zoning law pro, either way, it is impropriety. He benefits drawing business to Ridgewood’s CBD where he owns a restaurant, building that have restaurants, etc, etc. the list goes on and on. For these purposes of zoning we can forget that Richard Brooks is Parks and Recreation Chair and pushed for all of the things Paul wanted at Shedler and through his wife who’s firm represents Outfront Media, probably tipped them off to sweetening the pot and give Ridgewood a little offering over on the berm , heck, Vagianos might have even requested this as part of a deal. Anything is possible with this crew. They are all in this together and it doesn’t look good.
Meant the zoning board lawyer, Bruce Whitaker.
Bruce is above board as far as I know. His office is in Ramsey. Not sure how we wound up with this assignment.
Is Matt Rogers involved in any of these messes..?
Matt is the Village attorney, so he is involved in anyting the council does. His signature was also on the lawsuit that the Village has between Ridgewood water and the defendents, things like that. Not sure how it extends to zoning.
As Mayor, Vagianos has the power to elect and re-elect Zoning Board of Adjustment Members, he needs to recuse himself of this responsibility this term.
Jonathan Papietro (12/31/2023)
Michael Pickholtz (12/31/2023)
Jason Curreri (12/31/2023)
Harold Maxwell (Alternate #1, 12/31/2023)
Several members are up for re-election. In light of this apparent scandal and where he has a vested interest, should 100% recuse himself from any and all matters having to do with alleged impropriety and where the billboard is concerned. He should not be able to appoint anyone to zoning board this term as there is a conflict of interest and alleged unethical behavior with the $47 k loan from Mayor Vagianos to Gail Price/Richard Brooks, also, Outfront Media should have to start over again with new legal counsel and the application process should be vacated until such time.
Not re-election, re-appointment. That re-appointment is made by the Mayor and Council.
People can you say loop holes.
Forget about it. This is going nowhere.
This town is a disaster.
so – did anyone go the meeting last night and provide public comments?