April Council Meeting
April 19, 2023
Hello Ringwood!
Happy spring! On Tuesday, April 18th, 2023 we had our council meeting and we are here to set the facts straight and to keep the community updated as best we can. We apologize in advance for this being so lengthy.
The meeting started at 6:30pm and the council went right into executive session for an hour to discuss litigation regarding Fair Share Housing. Once the executive session was complete, our attorney, Mark Semeraro from Decottis, Fitzpatrick, Cole and Giblin, LLP law firm debriefed the public on some facts about Fair Share Housing.
Mr. Semeraro stated that, “The Borough historically, at least for the past several years, had two main goals. The first was to reach the best possible affordable housing settlement it could and the second was to revitalize the [Fieldstone] shopping center.” In regards to negotiating the number of affordable units, Mr. Semeraro explained that, “The Borough had vigorously fought and defended the Borough from an unnecessary burden of affordable housing. I believe that the initial estimates were 215 affordable housing units, with a market rate component that would balance out to over 1,075 units. And as everyone is aware there was negotiation to resolve this matter with fair share at a substantial reduction from that. The municipality was very successful in reducing the affordable obligation from 215 down to 24, I believe.”
As our Fieldstone Shopping Center, which is owned by Azarian, is deteriorating, Mr. Semeraro stated that, “… for various reasons the Borough is now looking at other sites for the affordable housing obligation.”
One location being the old vacant Franciscan Sisters Convent that was bought by the American Addiction Center on Sloatsburg Road. Mr. Semeraro continued stating, “At the same time the Borough is still interested in attempting to revitalize the shopping center and bring it to an asset that the Borough would be happy with. That it would [be] a robust commerce center and a place where members of the community could be employed. So, with that in mind, the opportunity to incentivize the desired development for the Borough is present.”
There is no greater frustration than hearing misinformation being spread around town in regards to this topic. The people spreading it can say whatever they want with no accountability to their words. Yet the councilmembers are bound by the rules of ongoing litigation which prohibits us from providing many details. We put Ringwood first and protected the environmentally sensitive wooded area between the shopping center and the medical building from a major housing development as well as significantly took down our court mandated affordable housing obligation. We also protected the town against a builder’s remedy which is when a judge intervenes and determines a town has not done enough to plan for and/or meet their affordable housing obligation and approves a development in court without the consent of the town. Look no further than Franklin Lakes and their settling out of fear because very few, if any, towns win affordable housing cases.
The fact remains we have been in litigation for six years protecting our community and the litigation is ongoing. When circumstances change, we have to be objective and consider other options. We believe over the past few months that this is the crossroad that we are at. We are glad that we hired Mark Semeraro to look at all alternatives to minimize the impact of our affordable housing mandate.
Ordinances:
Final read through of entitled business rental insurance registration
Final flood maps and floodplain management was adopted. This is a regulation from the state.
Final read through of violations of 10 ton weight limit on Skyline Drive. 1st offense: $400, 2nd offense: $700, 3rd offense: $1,000
Consent Agenda:
Continuation of phase II, soil remediation by water tank off of Skyline Drive.
The Borough has partnered with Rebuilding Together, a non-profit that helps low income homeowners fix up their homes with volunteers. Ringwood Borough will be donating $50,000 to Rebuilding Together. This money does not come from the taxpayer, but instead from our Ford Settlement. This funding will be utilized for the rehabilitation of homes throughout the community. Many, but not all that have already been rehabilitated are located within Upper Ringwood. Much like with our local food bank, these non-profit organizations are able to make monetary contributions go extremely far. All funds will be overseen by the Borough to ensure that they are utilized properly. All home repairs and accessibility modifications shall be credited where applicable to Ringwood’s affordable housing rehabilitation obligation.
We are also very excited to report that Ringwood received a $63,000 grant from the NJ Department of Community Affairs’ for a local recreation improvement grant after a very competitive application process. This money will be utilized for a new and improved playground area in Upper Ringwood. The Borough will then fund the remaining balance with monies from the Ford settlement.
