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RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — The Ridgewood Village Council will conduct new studies to help them better understand the impact the development of four high-density apartments could have on the Central Downtown District.
The potential financial impact of the housing proposals is the only factor that hasn’t been studied, Mayor Paul Aronsohn told Daily Voice. It was, however, “recently explored” by Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld.
"Actually, Village officials and Planning Board professionals have already done a good deal of analysis on everything from infrastructure to traffic to even the schools," Aronsohn said. "All of that information has been available to the public on the Village website where there is a repository of the Planning Board's multifamily hearing process."
Hundreds of Ridgewood residents attended Wednesday night's council meeting to implore the board to stop the amendment change. After hours of hearing residents, the board voted to table the vote until more studies can be conducted. Council Member Michael Sedon said he wanted the issue tabled until a more comprehensive study could be undertaken. His motion was quickly seconded by member Susan Knudsen.
“I came away from [last night’s] meeting feeling satisfied,” village resident Chris Sergente told Daily Voice. “We’re at least on a good track and there’s some hope that Council will proceed a little bit more judiciously before reaching a decision that’s going to change character of the village forever.”
The governing body is working with Village Attorney Matthew Rogers to sort out possible and pending legal matters, the mayor said.
Aronsohn said he was not sure how long the studies will take and whether the project will return to the planning board or pick back up with council.
What the mayor is certain of, however, is that "one of the most wonderful things about our Village is that people genuinely and deeply care about our community."
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