Landis - Kerr Statement on Rehabilitation of Shopping Centers

May 1

May 1, 2023

Dear Ringwood Residents,

There is so much misinformation and rumors being distributed to the public, so we wanted to set the record straight. Keep in mind that this housing lawsuit started almost 8 years ago resulting in a potential settlement with Fair Share Housing which has never been approved by the court.

This case has spanned five different borough councils with many council members having come and gone since then. Michelle Kerr started her term over a year ago and therefore was not on council when the potential settlement was offered. We take our responsibilities seriously, so we have been looking at the settlement and the options available to us objectively. We are also bound by the rules of the court mandated mediation which make communication difficult.

With the RISK of a developer getting a builder’s remedy to approve 1,075 new units of housing in order for 215 low-income units to get built, the previous borough council had to act. Keep in mind that at the time, Jaime Landis and the rest of the borough council back then, contemplated a settlement with Fair Share Housing to drastically lower the number of units to be built by almost 89%; a minimal amount of residential units at the shopping center sites seemed to make sense as part of a complete revitalization of our shopping centers back then. No one can deny that the shopping centers needed to be re-developed; and this court case delayed any improvements at the shopping centers. The town also needed some growth to offset the cost of municipal functions and growing school costs. We also had a state-mandated affordable housing obligation, so this appeared to be a way to solve several problems at once.

Many things have changed over the past 8 years. While this case has labored on, many difficulties associated with residential building at the shopping centers have come to light. Some of these difficulties include spending municipal funds required by a potential court settlement to explore the adequate sewage for the redevelopment, the growing costs to build and maintain a sewer system, as well as compliance with all the new regulations associated with that sewer system. These costs would ultimately be borne by the end users which would make the project very unlikely to ever get built.

Based upon thorough review of the potential settlement, the costs associated with the required studies, the current economic circumstances, as well as the public input that we have received, we collectively believe that it would serve Ringwood residents better to have the affordable housing obligations located elsewhere in the borough and not at the shopping centers on Skyline Drive. However, we still want to pursue the rehabilitation of the shopping centers to entirely a commercial/retail use.

We have looked at alternative sites, including the former Franciscan Sister’s property that is currently abandoned and has an existing sewer system that can service the housing. The reason why this was not considered previously was there was an approved development on this site which was in the process of being built, but then the company fell on difficult times and ultimately filed for bankruptcy.

It is important for the public to know that we do hear you and as circumstances change, we as council members will revisit decisions that have been made years ago and do what is best for you and our community.

Absent housing, we still believe we can accomplish a rehabilitation of the shopping centers. As was stated at the last council meeting, our borough manager has been working hard meeting with the leadership of the Highlands Council, Passaic County Economic Development, and other public and private entities to see this through.

We hope this makes our position very clear. We invite all residents, including the ones that are spreading misinformation, to work with us for the betterment of our great community!

As this process moves forward, we will continue to update you.

Warm regards,

Jaime Matteo-Landis & Michelle Kerr