Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 23, 2012 Ridgewood Route 17 HC zone may be contested on June 13 by John Koster Potential objectors to the proposed new highway commercial zone on Route 17 were told they would have the chance to voice their opinions at the June 13 public meeting of the Ridgewood Village Council. The new zone was proposed to allow uses that would be compatible with the frontage on Route 17 between Paramus Road and Linwood Avenue, while recognizing that the new zone would adjoin residential areas where residents have right to enjoy their own properties. The ordinance would orient access to highway-front buildings away from residential streets. A number of high-volume retail uses would be permitted, but a number of others, including industrial and manufacturing sites, filling stations, automobile sales lots, contractor storage buildings, and anything involving the display or keeping of animals would be excluded. The minimum lot area would be 75,000 square feet and minimum lot frontage would be 300 feet on the access street. The maximum height of the buildings would be two stories, or 35 feet. Driveway access would be limited to Route 17, except for emergency access not to be used by customers on shopping trips. The original draft of the ordinance had included selfstorage warehouses, but Mayor Keith Killion and the council opposed that use, because the operations, which could have customers entering and leaving at all hours of the night, could be disturbing to residents. At the May 9 public meeting, the council, by prior agreement, conducted a brief hearing in which they defeated the ordinance as written. The revised ordinance was then introduced for a possible adoption hearing on June 13. Several residents said at the May 9 meeting that they would prefer no commercial development of the land because they had learned to deal with the proximity of Route 17, but preferred a view that included trees and open space. Council members took note of this, but said landowners also have the right to make use of the land that they own and pay taxes on as long as the rights of the neighbors are not impacted. The tacit concern is that Ridgewood, whose tax base was severely impacted by the banking and stock market crisis, needs commercial ratables to take some of the tax burden off the taxpayers as a whole, yet wants to preserve the quality of life for individual residents as much as possible. Interested residents were urged to come to the June 13 council meeting, present their case, and be heard with an open mind by the Ridgewood Village Council. The Ridgewood Police Department is investigating the theft of two sets of tires and wheels from two cars parked at the Mayflower Apartments on East Ridgewood Avenue. A Honda and an Infiniti were stripped their tires and wheels and had their trunk lids stolen and the contents rifled. “It’s bizarre,” said Detective Chris McDowell, who investigated the thefts. “I told the people who owned the cars that I’d never seen anything like this. I put in a call to the state and they said they’d never heard of anything like Police investigate theft of wheels this either. It’s one of a kind.” Police learned of these incidents on May 10, when a resident of the Mayflower Apartments reported one of the two cases. The driver’s side window on that resident’s car was also smashed and the vehicle was ransacked. Experienced auto mechanics estimated that that stripping all four wheels from one car would have taken about 15 minutes with portable equipment. The Ridgewood Detective Bureau is investigating. J. KOSTER Washington Elm VFW Post 192, which serves Ho-HoKus and Ridgewood, will sponsor its solemn Memorial Day Parade and observance in Ho-Ho-Kus on Monday, May 28. Veterans and military personnel will march in uniform. U.S. Memorial Flags will be given to all veterans and military personnel who attend. The parade will form up at Ardmore and Sheridan avenues at 10 a.m. and the parade will step off at 10:30 a.m., proceed south on Sheridan Avenue to the Town Memorial Day Parade & observance set Green on Sycamore Avenue. A solemn observance ceremony to honor service men and women who paid the ultimate price in all military actions to date and to honor troops serving around the globe, will be conducted at the Town Green. Special music and speakers are scheduled for the ceremony. The public is invited to attend. For more information contact Stanley A. Kober, parade chairman, at (201) 445-1121 or Don Alverson, parade cochair, at (201) 445-5314. hudson city loyal 3x10.5