Ridgewood residents accuse council of reopening Kensington housing plan; council says process followed state and court steps

At the Sept. 10 Village Council meeting, residents pressed the council over its handling of a contested Kensington development and the town’s affordable‑housing plan. “You put them back into our plan after the court already said no,” resident Kalyn Tomaszewski told Mayor Baglanos and the council, saying the council’s actions exposed Ridgewood to renewed litigation and legal expenses.

Tomaszewski urged elected officials to explain why Kensington was included in the municipality’s housing element and fair‑share plan after, she said, the Superior Court denied Kensington’s motion to intervene. “We, the residents, are the ones paying the price now in legal fees, in uncertainty, in erosion of trust,” she said.

Village Manager Keith Casmark and council members replied that the process is more complex. Casmark said the court initially denied intervention but Kensington subsequently re‑intervened and filed new litigation after the council voted down the developer’s ordinance on Aug. 13. “There is nothing before this council other than the litigation,” Casmark said, adding that the council had defeated the ordinance prior to tonight’s meeting in response to public concerns.

Council members emphasized deadlines tied to state requirements for the fourth round of affordable housing obligations. Council member [White] (first on the dais) and others said the council and staff have been working with planners and the town attorney to produce a defensible plan and to avoid losing immunity to ‘builder’s remedy’ lawsuits that can arise when a plan fails judicial review.

Multiple residents who spoke urged clearer public communication and asked for a town‑wide visioning process so people can see planned changes in the central business district and other parts of town. Council members and the manager invited residents to consult the ordinances posted in full on the village website and to engage with the planning staff or, if they prefer, to open dialogue with Kensington directly.

The council did not vote on any ordinance related to Kensington at the Sept. 10 meeting; the manager said pending deadlines require the body to continue reviewing zoning and related ordinances in the weeks ahead.

What’s next: The council noted other ordinances tied to the town’s affordable‑housing plan will be considered in coming meetings to meet state deadlines; residents were told the full ordinance texts are available on the village website.