20220714 - CBDAC Minutes

Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC)

 Minutes of July 14, 2022 Meeting[1]

Members present:  CBDAC held this meeting at the NOMA multifamily building at the invitation of John Saraceno.  Jordan Kaufman, Pamela Perron, Michael Pickholz, Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke, Philip Davis, Glenn Carlough, Tom Hillmann.  Anastasia Bamberg and Steve Aspero joined remotely.

Guests present: John Saraceno, Paul Vagianos, Kathryn Schmidt, Jeanne Johnson, Joan Groome, Mahmoud Hamza.

Jordan welcomed our newest member, Tom Hillmann.  This is CBDAC’s first in-person meeting since COVID arrived in 2020.  It is also our first hybrid meeting, as some members attended virtually.

Minutes:  Members present approved the minutes of the June 9, 2022 meeting.

Term Termination Date:  Because of the Nov. 2020 referendum, the Village Council election date was moved from May to November.  The Village Manager asked if CBDAC wished to switch their committee term to end on December 31 instead of June 30.  A consensus of the CBDAC members agreed to extend their terms through December 31.  It would make sense to align CBDAC terms with the Council’s terms. 

Village Council Liaison Update: a) Pam advised that the Garage webpage on the Village website is up and running.  b) Council considered buying new garbage cans but decided the cost was prohibitive.  The Village will use black plastic bags to line the existing receptacles rather than clear bags.  c) The Citizen Safety Advisory Committee’s banners are now hanging downtown.  d) On July 19, Heyer Gruel Assoc. will present at the Planning Board regarding the draft Master Plan.  e) Village Council passed an ordinance to facilitate better enforcement of the 15-minute parking spots and extended Grab & Go 15-minute parking spots through September 30, 2022.  f)  Pam distributed copies of an ordinance that Council introduced to require window displays in storefronts that have remained vacant for three months.  The public hearing will be August 10.  g)  Council approved renewal of liquor license for Maple Avenue Liquors for 2022-2023.

A-Frame signs: Council discussed the fact that producer of A-frame signs that comply with Ridgewood Code is no longer making them.  Discussion followed.

Speaker John Saraceno:  John is a Ridgewood resident and Co-founder and Managing Principal of Onyx Equities.  His company developed the new apartment complexes, the Benjamin and NOMA.  John presented results of a poll of Benjamin and NOMA residents that his firm conducted.  Twenty percent of respondents were Ridgewood residents before moving in.  Eighty percent came from Bergen County.  After moving in, 75% of respondents said that they shop and eat in the CBD.  Among resident school aged children, most go to private school.  Some tenants moved here because they are renovating their homes in other towns, so their children continue to attend public school in neighboring towns.  Every retailer wants to be in Bergen County, despite the blue laws; but they prefer to be in a shopping mall.  Summit, Princeton, Red Bank and Morristown do a lot of marketing.  A Q & A followed.

Other business:  Pedestrian Plaza – The Chamber of Commerce suggested that an objective way to evaluate the effect of the Pedestrian Plaza would be to compare parking revenues in July and August 2021 to the same in 2022.  CBDAC members present arrived at a consensus that it would be helpful to include revenues from 2019 and 2020 as well.  A suggestion was made to separate out income generated those months at the Hudson Street Garage.  Pam will ask the Village Manager for these figures.

The Chamber of Commerce Car Show will be Sept. 9.  They would appreciate volunteers to help during the event.

Next meeting:  September 8, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela Perron