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Residents press council over Schedler cleanup as officials cite DEP and SHPO holds
Summary
At the Feb. 5 Ridgewood Village Council workshop residents renewed concerns about contamination, delays and costs at the Schedler property. Council members said New Jersey DEP remediation requirements and State Historic Preservation Office review block further work until tests and approvals are complete.
Ridgewood — Residents pressed the Ridgewood Village Council on Feb. 5 about delays and soil contamination at the Schedler property, while council members said state environmental and historic-review processes have constrained the village’s ability to move forward.
"The facts matter," said Ellie Gruber, a Ridgewood resident, during public comment, describing the berm at Schedler, the site’s listing on the historic places register and the difficulty of moving the existing house. "A mover would look at it and say, 'no. It cannot be moved.'"
Council members and staff responded that a primary reason for the delay is that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has required soil remediation and testing. The village also must secure clearance from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) because the property and the Schoolhouse Museum are listed as historic. Those two parallel processes, officials said, prevent the village from making decisions about trees, grading or reuse until both agencies sign off.
Village officials said testing and related work have been expensive and ongoing. The council reported about $500,000 spent on testing since its current members took office; the village also hired a historical consultant whose contract for work on the house was described as $250,000 and another consultant, Peter Primavera, for under $50,000. One council member noted a $3,100 energy bill for the vacant house in 2024 and said the village has recorded $2,600,000 in spending tied to the house project to date.
Cynthia O’Keefe, another resident, asked whether Ridgewood Water spoil piles and other fill placed at Schedler contributed to the contamination and why a wetlands Letter of Intent (LOI) had stated there were "no hazards." Officials replied that the LOI and subcontractor timing may explain apparent inconsistencies: some filings were completed before the village or its consultants had full information. The council said Matrix (the village’s environmental consultant) and Suburban Engineering provided material to SHPO and to other reviewers and that the village has since started involving a licensed site remediation professional (LSRP) in testing and disposal decisions.
Council members emphasized the distinction between public comment and formal action. They said the village is posting residents’ questions and answers online, continues to run tests, is engaging consultants and has paused work that would require SHPO approval until remediation is complete and SHPO can issue guidance. One council member urged more public engagement and said the council is trying to open the Schedler house to community groups where feasible, but acknowledged the house needs cleaning and repair before it can be used.
No formal council action on Schedler remediation, the house’s future use or changes to the berm was recorded in the workshop minutes on Feb. 5. Officials said they are continuing testing, posting answers to resident questions on the village website, and will await DEP and SHPO decisions before authorizing further work.
