Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Ridgewood council adopts zoning overlays tied to affordable‑housing obligations amid strong public protest
Summary
After more than two hours of public comment, the Ridgewood Village Council voted to adopt a package of overlay zoning ordinances (4071–4075) that officials say preserves the village's legal immunity from developer suits; residents and legal experts warned the measures depart from the master plan and risk litigation.
The Ridgewood Village Council voted Feb. 11 to adopt a set of zoning ordinances including Ordinance 4071, a site‑specific overlay connected to a proposed Kensington senior‑housing project, after extended public comment and heated exchanges with residents.
Residents from across Ridgewood told the council they support affordable housing in principle but argued the ordinances were drafted to favor developers, lacked neighborhood protections and were advanced without adequate, meaningful public deliberation. "I support affordable housing. What I do not support is developer‑driven zoning pushed through diminished neighborhood protections in a process that appears to be coordinated and out of public view," said resident Kalyn Tomaszewski during the public comment period.
Attorne…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
