Latest News Nov 30, 2011
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Nov 24 2011 - On Tuesday 11/22 the Village Council voted 5 – 0 to reject the Planning Board’s ordinance in support of Valley’s massive expansion.
This was a great day for Ridgewood, and a testament to the support you have provided our efforts over the past five years. Think back on all the quotes you heard about our chances of succeeding over this time, e.g. “the train has left the station”, “they always get their way”, “this is a done deal”. There were times we started to doubt it ourselves, but we persevered and we now stand victorious at this crucial moment. While this is certainly a major victory for us as “David”, we cannot lower our guard just yet as they are still “Goliath” and we still need your support. (Full text)
Nov 2 2011 - Comparison of Brand New State of the Art Hospital to the proposed Valley Renewal
Your Presence is Needed
A chart has been created comparing the Orange Regional Medical Center, a new state of the art facility to the Proposed Valley Renewal. It causes serious questions to be raised why 1.2 mil+ sq ft facility is needed. (Comparison chart)
Sept 15 2011 - Concerned Residents of Ridgewood – Newsletter
Your Presence is Needed
On Tuesday 9/13, the Village Council held the first of seven scheduled meetings on the fate of Valley Hospital’s attempt to double in size at its Ridgewood campus. I will try to recap the meeting below for those that couldn’t attend, but it is important that as many people attend the upcoming meetings as possible. The Council is being asked to decide one of the most divisive issues in Ridgewood history and we need to show that we care about the outcome. I know many of you are at back to school functions, commuting, shuttling to activities, etc. and that it may be more convenient to watch on TV or the computer, but the Council needs to see you at as many of these meetings as you can attend. The next meeting is this Monday 9/19 at 7 p.m. in the campus center at Ridgewood HS. The doors open at 6:30 and the parking and seating are not as big a concern as had been feared by many.
Meeting Recap
John J. Lamb, esq. of Beattie Padovano, LLC. represented CRR well. He was given ten minutes to summarize our points and his preparation for the hearing was evident as he raised and framed the most critical issues. As an experienced land-use attorney he provided the Village Council with numerous land-use arguments on why Renewal is wrong for Ridgewood. (Full Text)
Sept 10 2011 - Concerned Residents of Ridgewood – Newsletter
It’s Decision Time, “Renewal” is Wrong for Ridgewood.
The good news is we are closer to the end of this odyssey than we’ve ever been. The bad news is you need to read this entire newsletter to know what to expect.
First, on Tuesday September 13th at 7 p.m. The Village Council will begin its hearings at the Campus Center at Ridgewood High School to decide how to proceed with Valley’s massive expansion. It is very important that every member of the community who is against this expansion attends as a show of force. Second, we continue to spend money in support of our position. Please support us as much as you can so that we can continue to advocate for you.
To Donate: http://www.stopvalley.com/Donate.html
Valley calls those in opposition NIMBYs or a vocal minority and many in the community and even the Planning Board believe this “spin”. We need the Village Council and Valley itself to see that we are a majority of Ridgewood’s residents and deeply, genuinely concerned about this Village’s well-being and quality of life. Valley is strongly “encouraging” its employees and auxiliaries to attend, we need to counter their efforts. (Full Text)
Sept 10 2011 - Village Council hearings to start on Tuesday Sept. 13.
The Village Council hearings to decide the fate of the H-Zone and Valley's expansion will be held at the campus center at Ridgewood High School and broadcast on Cablevision ch. 77. Please make every effort to attend to help dispel the hospital's "spin" that we are only NIMBYs and a vocal minority. The meetings will start at 7 p.m. and doors will open at 6:30.
Tuesday September 13th
Monday September 19th
Thursday October 13th
Monday October 24th
Thursday November 3rd
Tuesday November 22nd
Tuesday November 29th
Apr 7 2011 - CRR Endorses Christina Krauss for the BOE election next Wednesday April 27th, please vote.
“Christina Krauss has led her candidacy with a focus on increasing the openness and transparency of the Board of Education, as well as greater fiscal responsibility and accountability to taxpayers. She has also demonstrated her commitment to a safe and healthy learning environment for Ridgewood’s students,” said Pete McKenna, president of the CRR. Full Text
Each candidate has their supporters, so please consider a single vote for the candidate of your choice on Wednesday April 27th.
Apr 5 2011 - H-Zone Ordinance sent to Council
After 3 ½ years the Ridgewood Planning Board has sent the draft ordinance to the Village Council for review. Ordinance Text
Jan 11 2011 - CRR GAINS NEW PRESIDENT
Pete McKenna Elected As New CRR President, as Paul Gould Moves to Texas in Career Relocation. Full Story Record
Action has started in the Court!
After several months of active work by the CRR’s Steering Committee, volunteers and our hired legal counsel, on Thursday Jan 6th the preliminary review of the case occurred before Judge Menelaos W. Toskos of the Superior Court of New Jersey (Courthouse is in Hackensack). The exact date for the trial will be decided within the next few weeks, but will probably occur in the May – Oct 2011.
Trial date to be decided Jan 6th 2011
The date that the court will begin hearing CRR's law suit against the Planning Board and Valley Hospital over the H-Zone Master Plan Amendment will likely begin discussions on January 5th 2011. Remember June 21, 2010 as it will go down in infamy as the day the Village's Planning Board betraying the people. The law suit gives the residents the chance to reverse the Planning Board decision. The Record of June 8 2010 (public meeting at BF before the vote at GW)
A new bid to reopen PVH
CRR would welcome a reopening of a full service PVH. It is far better to have local beds available to the people of the 19 communities that the former PVH served, rather than force them travel the extra distance to Ridgewood. Valley Hospital was profitable before PVH closed in 2007, but has been gaining over $8 million a year in extra profits after PVH closed. The reopening of PVH would again call into question the need for Valley to do such a large expansion in Ridgewood. Record
The Tale of Two Communities: Hackensack and Ridgewood
In a recently released essay, CRR again explains why it is so important to reverse the recent change to the Village Master Plan, concerning the H-Zone, and why Valley Hospital needs to compromise.
The tale of two communities Hackensack and Ridgewood
Nov 2 - Stephen Wellinghorst Wins!
Stephen Wellinhorst's landslide win proves again that Ridgewood Residents do NOT want a large hospital expansion. It is time for Valley to directly talk to CRR and finally be prepared negotiate. Ridgewood News, Patch
Oct 30 - Stephen Wellinghorst again states his position on Valley
"I believe that the project should be called a "major expansion" as opposed to a "renewal." I am opposed to any disproportionate and unreasonable changes to the village master plan or ordinances that would adversely compromise and irreparable impact the character, integrity and essence of Ridgewood." Read the entire article in the Ridgewood News**
Oct 22 - Council Elections - CRR endorses Stephen Wellinghorst
Over the last month CRR has reviewed each candidate’s, platform, statements made by the candidates in the media, witnessed their performance at the debate, and most importantly, interviewed each candidate personally. The personal interviews covered a wide range of topics including; revitalizing downtown, the current fiscal crisis, parking, Graydon Pool, Valley, safety, and the candidate’s vision for Ridgewood.
“We are looking for a candidate that fulfills the following criteria”, said Paul Gould, spokesperson for the group. “Credibility, aligned with our platform on a broad range of critical Village issues, electability, and the candidate’s ability to work with the existing Council. We feel that Stephen Wellinghorst scores best on all these measures and so he has received CRR’s endorsement for Nov 2nd."
Sept 22 - Valley meets with The Federated HSA - what it really means
Under the guise of asking for public input, the meeting was an attempt by Valley and expansion supporters to recapture the agenda. This is evidenced by the fact that; (1) the meeting was 60mins of Valley presentation and only 30mins of questions, (2) the fact that a BOE member was so vocal and public in her support for the meeting (a meeting that was not even hers) and, (3)the fact that Audrey Meyers made a public appearance after being absent from the debate for almost 2 years. Obviously Valley saw this meeting as strategically important in its attempts to influence the Village Council. Patch
Sept 14 2010 - Residents continue to clearly articulate their opposition
CRR not Small CRR Alternative Plan Valley has offered no compromise Referendum needed
Sept 7 2010 - Planning Board continues to show contempt
The Ridgewood Planning Board continues to show its contempt for it's Village's residents by pushing ahead with a revised H-Zone ordinance draft for council, despite the law suit.
Aug 30 2010 - CRR Files Suit To Challenge The Master Plan Amendment
CRR’s attorney John J. Lamb, of the respected firm, Beattie Padovano, LLC has filed a challenge to the Planning Board’s adoption of the H-Zone Master Plan Amendment, asking the court to reverse the decision. Read more: Record1, Record2 Ridgewood News
Aug 3 2010 - Planning Board "Memorializes the H-Zone Ammendment
The Planning Board has "Memorialized" the change to Master Plan concerning the H-Zone. A copy of the document is available from the Resources link. Council is planning to review any Ordinance changes after the November election.
Minutes of the meeting that Voted 1/6 for Valley
June 21 - Vote as 6/1 in favor - Paul Gould comments
This vote by the Planning Board is NOT a vindication of the “Renewal”. The vote is a direct result of the polished web of influence that Valley has spun throughout the region and the fact that the Planning Board so severely limited its scope of investigation to “how do we make it happen”. CRR acknowledges Board member Morgan Hurley for being brave enough to say the truth, “it’s just too big and construction is too long – I vote No!”
The fact still remains that Valley said (on the record) it needed 30 acres to achieve its plans and the H-Zone is only 15.4 acres. The decision to amend the Village Master plan to allow massive buildings to be squeezed onto this small space still doesn’t make sense.
The fight is not over so keep up the pressure. The will of the people WILL ultimately prevail and the fight now moves on to the Village Council.
Why the Planning Board should vote NO!
Flier for June 21 meeting
Press: Record - Vote expected tonight ,Response to Valley's Letter to the Editor last week,
June 19 - Private rooms are a wish not required
The real story behind the "Renewal" - the Record All the images of the proposal
It is expected that the Planning Board will answer remaining questions put to their professionals at the Monday meeting. Coverage of the June 14 meeting: The Record , The Patch
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