Ridgewood Re-Zoning Ordinances Take Center Stage Wednesday

Multi-family housing will be in the spotlight at the Ridgewood Village Council Wednesday when the governing body will vote on rezoning several areas in the Central Business District.

The vote is years in the making as attorneys, experts, developers, and others have testified at numerous meetings and met with officials regarding the proposed changes.

If the changes are approved, housing densities as much as 35 units an acre, down from the original proposal of 50 units, and building heights of 50 feet would be permitted in parts of the CBD.

Related: Second Hearing On Ridgewood Multi-Family Housing Plan Added

The vote was to take place last Wednesday, but officials, at the request of Citizens for a Better Ridgewood (CBR), added a second public hearing and moved to the vote to this week because several Ridgewood schools were hosting back to school events. The grassroots group filed a lawsuit against the village and Planning Board. They alleged that there was conflicts of interest involving members of the Planning Board, among other claims.

The Village Council introduced the ordinances by a 3-2 vote in July.