Improving Downtown Parking Is A Priority For Ridgewood Officials

Ridgewood officials are considering multiple plans for improving parking in downtown Ridgewood.

One idea is installing an automated parking deck on Hudson Street where a municipal parking lot already exists, said Roberta Sonenfeld, Village manager. Officials are looking at installing an automated system that would automatically park drivers’ vehicles. The vehicles would go into individual parking bays via an elevator.

The design would theoretically allow more vehicles to fit in the lot because of the precision of the automated system versus if people parked their own vehicles.

Another proposal is installing a parking lot as part of the North Walnut Street redevelopment project.

Officials want to “do everything necessary” to begin building a parking garage by 2016.

A public hearing on the budget will be held at the May 27 council meeting will be held before officials vote to approve it.

Ridgewood officials introduced the village’s $47.1 million budget Wednesday.

The budget includes a $31.3 million tax levy. The average homeowner’s municipal taxes are slated to increase nearly $47 when the Village Council approves the budget next month.