Email the Council and Planning Board
Recent zoning discussions have raised important concerns for many Ridgewood residents. While some aspects of the process are legally constrained, the Village Council still has discretion over ordinance language, safeguards, and future planning.
Emailing the Council right now does matter.
What to Ask For
Focus on specific, constructive requests. If you live nearby, including a brief personal example can help illustrate why these issues matter:
Transparency
Ask for clear explanations of what is legally required, what is discretionary, and where the Council has flexibility to strengthen safeguards.Neighbor Protections
Request strong, enforceable standards for privacy buffers, height and massing transitions near homes, lighting and noise controls, and limits on outdoor activity areas. If applicable, briefly note how your home or block could be affected.Meaningful Site Plan Review
Ask for a commitment that resident concerns raised now will be carried forward into site plan review and addressed through enforceable conditions.Better Future Planning
Encourage proactive zoning and planning approaches that avoid reactive, site-specific overlays in the future, and reflect lessons learned from this process.
Village Council
Mayor Paul Vagianos
Deputy Mayor Pamela Perron
pperron@ridgewoodnj.net
Council Member Frank Mortimer
fmortimer@ridgewoodnj.net
Council Member Evan Weitz
eweitz@ridgewoodnj.net
Council Member Siobhan Winograd
swinograd@ridgewoodnj.net
Village Planning Board
Pamela Perron, Council Representative and Member pperron@ridgewoodnj.net
Joseph Mecca – Board Atty
Christopher Martin – Board Atty
cmartin@jlmeccalaw.com
Beth McManus – Affordable Housing Planner
bmcmanus@kylemcmanus.com
John Barree – Village Planner
john@mjplanningllp.com
Zoning Board
Bruce Whitaker – Board Atty
mcwhitlaw@optonline.net
John Barree – Village Planner
Sample Email (Optional)
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I am writing regarding the recent zoning discussions. While I understand there are legal constraints, I ask that the Council prioritize the strongest possible protections for neighboring residents, including clear standards for privacy, buffering, height transitions, lighting, noise, and outdoor activity areas.
I live near the proposed site and am concerned about how the current zoning could affect privacy and daily life for nearby homes. Based on proximity and height, upper floors could have direct views into neighboring yards. This is why strong, enforceable privacy buffers and clear transition standards are important.
I ask the Council to prioritize these protections within legal limits and to ensure that resident concerns are meaningfully addressed during future site plan review.
Contact
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