20220719 - Planning Board Public Meeting Minutes

 Ridgewood Planning Board

Regular Public Meeting

 

July 19, 2022

The following minutes are a summary of the Planning Board meeting of July 19, 2022. 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: Mayor Knudsen called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.

 

Reorganization:

 

Administration of Oaths of Office to New Members and/or Reappointments – Mr. Wellinghorst administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Knudsen, Class IV Member. Mayor Knudsen administered the Oath of Office to John Young, Class II Member; Councilwoman Lorraine Reynolds, Class III Member; James Van Goor, Class IV Member; Richard Joel, Class IV Member; and Melanie Hooban, Class IV Member. Their terms were extended from June 30, 2022 through December 31, 2022.

 

Roll Call – The following members were present: Mayor Knudsen, John Young, Councilwoman Reynolds, Richard Joel, Melanie Hooban, James Van Goor, Frances Barto and Darlene Johnson. Also present were Stephen Wellinghorst, Board Attorney; Chris Rutishauser, Village Engineer; John Barree, Village Planner, and Jane Wondergem, Board Secretary. Dianne O’Brien, Igor Lyubarskiy and Sergio Alegre were absent.

 

Election of Officers

 

Chairman – Richard Joel was nominated and elected as Chairman.

 

Vice Chairman – Dianne O’Brien was nominated and elected as Vice Chairman.

 

Board Attorney – Appointment and Resolution of Stephen Wellinghorst, Esq., from June 30, 2022 through December 31, 2022 was adopted.

 

Planner – Appointment and resolution of John Barree and Heyer Gruel & Associates as Planners for the Planning Board from June 30, 2022 through December 31, 2023 was adopted.

 

Conflict Planner – Appointment and resolution of Elizabeth McManus of Kyle + McManus Associates, as Conflict Planner for the Planning Board June 30, 2022 through December 31, 2022 was adopted.

 

All Committee appointments will remain the same through December 31, 2022.

 

Resolution re: Compliance with the Requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act. The resolution was adopted.

 

Reorganization portion of the meeting was closed. Regular Meeting was called to order.

 

Public Comments on Topics not Pending Before the Board:

 

Denise Lima, 319 E. Glen Avenue, commented regarding the work being done at 315 E. Glen Avenue and compliance with the resolution and easement agreements.

 

Pamela Perron, 123 Kenilworth Road, commented on the size of the Master Plan document and asked that the document be put on the Village Website. Ms. Perron asked that the public hearing on the Master Plan be held in late September to accommodate the residents.

 

Mr. Wellinghorst reminded the public that this is a time to comment on issues that are not before the Board at this time.

 

Lillian Blood, 250 North Maple Avenue, asked that the Board talk to and include the audience and to speak up.

 

Russell Forenza, 228 Emmett Place, commented that the Board makes decisions that last a life time and asked that they use common sense.

 

Committee/Commission/Professional Updates for Non Agenda Topics – There were none at this time.

 

Discussion re: The Valley Hospital / Affordable Housing Redevelopment Plan – Beth McManus was present to through the draft document. Ms. McManus explained the draft, went over the objectives and explained in detail the changes that were made since the last discussion.

 

Board members asked about the section that discussed townhouses and the permitted height, suggesting that a maximum height of 45 feet in a residential area seemed too high. Ms. McManus stated that the height is needed to accommodate affordable housing, but the setback requirement for taller buildings could be increased.

 

Board members asked if single family homes would be permitted along Van Dien Avenue. Ms. McManus said they would be, but with no curb cuts, as the only site access would be the existing access. 

 

There was Board discussion regarding the fact that Valley Hospital is not selling or redeveloping at this time.

 

Questions from the public:

 

Russell Forenza, 228 Emmett Place, asked for confirmation that Valley Hospital has no intentions to leave at this time. Mr. Forenza asked if Valley Hospital intends to occupy the whole site after the hospital in Paramus is open. Ms. McManus said she didn’t have that information. Mr. Forenza suggested that the hospital should be an infectious disease hospital and the State and Village should fund that.

 

Pamela Perron, 123 Kenilworth Road, asked why cul-de-sacs are discouraged. Ms. McManus said a more grid-like setting works better for circulation and walkability.

 

Greg Brown, 444 Linwood Avenue, asked if the adoption of this redevelopment plan would satisfy the affordable housing requirement under the Fair Housing settlement, or only if it is built. Ms. McManus said if this redevelopment plan is adopted the Village will have fulfilled the settlement agreement for this term.

 

The Board voted to recommend approval of the draft with the changes discussed to the Council.

Review of Master Plan draft – John Barree was present to review the Master Plan draft. Mr. Barree said the draft will be available on the website when a few corrections have been made. Mr. Barree described the layout and the different sections and elements that will be included.

 

Board members asked Mr. Barree to give an overview of the visioning process and how the visioning plan was developed and became the foundation for the Master Plan. Mr. Barree said he wasn’t part of the visioning process, but was involved in reviewing the vision plan and the responses and developing the final product which is meant to reflect all of the responses. Mr. Barree spoke of the weekly poll questions put out through the website and social media, and the Planning Board meetings where the public could be involved and voice their concerns and questions.

 

Mayor Knudsen said that at this point the Board is reviewing the draft for typos and placement of photos and charts.

 

Nancy Brennan Hill, 136 Doremus Avenue, asked when the public will see the document. Mayor Knudsen said they are cleaning up the draft waiting on the final draft of the Historic Element.

 

Kathryn Schmidt, 123 S. Irving Street, asked if they could highlight any specific areas of the Master Plan which would show how the Village is taking a different direction. Mr. Barree said the recommendations in the Sustainability Element and the part of the Land Use Element that talks about climate change and tougher standards about what can be built where. The Circulation Element that focuses on pedestrian safety and mobility of all types.

 

Mr. Barree said that the final draft should be on the website soon and those who subscribed will know that it was posted.

 

There was discussion regarding the public hearing date, and it was decided it should be on September 20, 2022.

 

Cynthia Dwyer, 301 Hamilton Road, suggested putting hard copies at the library so people could check them out.

 

Adoption of Minutes:   The minutes from May 3, 2022 were adopted.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                      Jane Wondergem

                                                                                      Board Secretary

 

Date Approved:               September 20, 2022