20210921 - Planning Board Public Meeting Minutes

 Ridgewood Planning Board

Regular Public Meeting

                                                                                                                             September 21, 2021

 

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of September 21, 2021. Interested parties may request an audio recording of the meeting from the Board Secretary for a fee.

 

Call to Order & Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act: Mr. Joel called the meeting to order at 7:47 p.m.

 

Roll Call – The following members were present: Mayor Knudsen, Chief Van Goor, Councilwoman Reynolds, Richard Joel, Dianne O’Brien, Debbie Patire, Melanie Hooban, Frances Barto, Darlene Johnson, Igor Lyubarskiy and Sergio Alegre. Also present were Stephen Wellinghorst, Esq., Board Attorney; Chris Rutishauser, Village Engineer; Maryann Bucci-Carter, Village Planner and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary.

 

Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board –

 

Nancy Hill, 136 Doremus Avenue, commented on the Shade Tree Department and how it is not as good as it was years ago, and how trees are taken down and not replaced. Ms. Hill asked who would take responsibility to remedy the situation.

 

Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, asked if everyone had been vaccinated and if not they should wear a mask. Mr. Halaby also commented on what a Master Plan is and what it is not, he asked that something be done about governance and about the notion that Ridgewood is a Village.

 

Melinda Pi, 690 Ellington Road, commented on the Village ordinances regarding certain setbacks and that the zoning officer should have discretion on minor variances to help alleviate the Building Department and Zoning Board backlog issues. Ms. Pi also commented that public meetings should have an option for Zoom calls and phoning into meetings so there can be more involvement.

 

Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics – Chief Van Goor commented on a Site Plan Exemption review for T-Mobile to install a rooftop generator at 60 E. Ridgewood Ave., stating that the applicant will need to go to the Board for minor site plan review.

 

Mayor Knudsen reported that the Historic Preservation Commission would start meeting in October.

 

Ms. Barto reported that the Open Space Committee would have their first meeting on September 23.

 

Maureen McTigue, 142 Kenilworth Road, Block 4202, Lot 15 – Adoption of Memorializing Resolution of Approval for Minor Subdivision approval and related variance relief. The resolution was memorialized as drafted.

 

Phase 2 Master Plan – Public Meeting – The Master Plan Committee, Mr. Joel, Ms. Hooban, Mayor Knudsen and Ms. O’Brien welcomed the team from Heyer, Gruel and Associates (HGA) and NV5 as well as the residents attending the meeting.

 

John Barree, from Heyer, Gruel and Assoc., introduced himself and the rest of the team, including McKinley Mertz, also from Heyer, Gruel and Assoc., and Annette Schultz and Rachana Sheth from NV5.

 

A power point presentation was shown explaining the second phase of the Master Plan process, building on the Vision Plan process, drafting the different elements, the time table and the process from drafting the elements through public hearing and adoption.  The website was explained and the team explained to the public where and how they can leave comments and questions.

 

Board members asked about the flood plain, underground springs and flood-prone areas in Ridgewood. Mr. Barree said the need to research that and look at FEMA maps and see if they can see if there is a way to correct some of those issues. Board members commented on the sustainability issue and would like that to be geared towards residents and businesses. Board members asked how a town that is built out like Ridgewood can provide bike trails and routes. Ms. Schultz said they look at policy and infrastructure ideas and create bike lanes. Board members commented on the downtown economic element and brick and mortar stores competing with online shopping. Mr. Rutishauser commented that the Storm water element was just recently updated.

 

Public questions and comments:

 

Nancy Hill, 126 Doremus Avenue, commented on having a community garden in Ridgewood.

 

Yu Sun, 420 Racetrack Road, said he is an Open Space Committee member and mentioned the Open Space page which is on the Village website and commented on the Open Space element of the Master Plan and said there is an urgent need to have more open space facilities in town as people are spending more time in town.

 

Bob Upton, 172 W. Glen Avenue, commented on the Land Conservancy and the Environmental Resource Inventory and asked how that would be incorporated into the sustainability elements and how it might be used. The HGA team responded that those are good inventories and resources in the sustainability elements and developmental impacts.

 

Cynthia Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, asked about aging in place and hoped that issue and assisted living options would be looked at and mentioned that it was difficult to read the writing on the screens in the court room. HGA said that options for aging in place is an issue that is being looked at as it is an issue everywhere.

 

Another resident asked if accessory apartments were something that might be considered as an option that would help older residents be able to stay in their homes.

 

Justin Manger, 90 Cliff Street, commented on permeable surfaces and E-V charging parks.

 

Pamela Perron, 123 Kenilworth Road, asked if water contamination would be addressed. HGA said sites could be identified, but it is not normally a Master Plan project.

 

Melinda Pi, 690 Ellington Road, commented that recycling containers should be placed next to the garbage cans. Ms. Pi also spoke about the ordinance which limits the building within the first 140 feet of the front lot line.

 

John Saraceno, 17 Coventry Court, who also owns commercial property, spoke of the numerous zone districts downtown and the restrictive code as far as the permitted uses and how the process of approving a variety uses easier needs to be considered as the small business owners who operated in Ridgewood don’t have the time or money to go through the process of zoning.

 

Paul Vagianos commented on the restrictive language in the Village Code.

 

Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, commented on the conditions on Franklin Avenue for pedestrians. Mr. Halaby spoke of the improvement of the high density apartments over the car dealerships that were there and how the Village needs to work with change and fight change. HGA said recommendations that can be implemented are the next step and the governing body are the ones that can sign them into laws.

 

Carolyn Jacoby, 160 Godwin Avenue, commented on technological changes and said that she is looking forward to working together with the committee as a member of the Shade Tree Commission.

 

Sheila Brogan, 302 Kensington Drive, Co-Chair of Age-Friendly Ridgewood, commented that housing, affordability, access and equity are issues for many communities and she is looking forward to hearing the options that are out there.

 

There was Board discussion regarding the Storm Water update and they will look into it with HGA.

 

Mayor Knudsen said the Master Plan website would be updated and residents should register on the website to get updates.

 

The next meeting Master Plan public meeting and presentation will be on October 19.

 

The Board voted to go into closed session.

 

The Board returned to the public meeting at 10:12 p.m. and the meeting was adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                      Jane Wondergem

                                                                                      Board Secretary

 

Date Approved:            October 5, 2021