Past Events
Town Hall · December 17, 2025 · 7:00 PM
On December 17, 2025, the Ridgewood Village Council hosted a special public meeting focused on affordable housing obligations and the proposed Kensington assisted living facility at North Maple / Franklin / Marshall, within the context of Ridgewood’s Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. The meeting was convened primarily to explain the legal status and urgency surrounding ongoing litigation and court-mandated settlement discussions related to affordable housing.
Video Recording TBD
Meeting Minutes TBD
Key points from the meeting
This meeting marked a clear turning point in how the issue has been framed and understood by both village officials and residents:
This was the first time the council clearly said that the decision isn’t just about one building anymore. What’s at stake now is whether Ridgewood keeps control over its zoning rules across the entire town.
Residents heard, often for the first time, that the court is already involved and actively shaping the outcome, and that there may be very little room left for the village to simply say no without serious consequences.
The meeting made it clear that if Ridgewood loses zoning immunity, developers could challenge existing limits everywhere, not just at the Kensington site. That possibility helped explain why officials kept returning to the same warning throughout the night.
Many residents expressed frustration that this urgency wasn’t communicated earlier, leaving the community feeling rushed into understanding complex legal and planning issues with little time to respond.
The repeated statement that public opposition does not count legally was difficult for many residents to hear, especially those who have organized, attended meetings, and raised safety and quality-of-life concerns for months.
The meeting shifted expectations: while residents may still push for stronger conditions, safety improvements, and accountability, it became clear that the larger legal framework—not local preference—may ultimately determine whether the project moves forward.
Kensington Public Meeting · December 15, 2025 · 7:30 PM
On December 15, 2025, Kensington hosted a public meeting where the revised proposal for the assisted living facility at North Maple/ Franklin/Marshall was presented and discussed. The development team reviewed changes to the building’s design, height, setbacks, parking, traffic circulation, and stormwater management, and explained how the project would comply with zoning standards. The project engineer stated that the facility would generate relatively low traffic, improve stormwater control compared to existing conditions, and could support future intersection safety upgrades. During public comment, residents raised concerns about flooding, traffic congestion during peak hours, emergency access on narrow streets, building scale, lack of ground-level green space, and impacts on neighborhood character. Kensington representatives responded by noting ongoing studies and conceptual mitigation measures, but no binding commitments were finalized at the meeting.
Key points from the meeting
Kensington presented a revised design for the proposed assisted living facility at North Maple Avenue, Franklin Avenue, and Marshall Street, including changes to building height, roof form, and setbacks. This was the first time the public has seen conceptualized visuals of the building.
The project would continue to pursue approval under the S-1 Senior Overlay Zone, which allows assisted living use on the site.
Traffic consultants stated the facility would generate approximately “1–2 cars per minute” (or 150–200 vehicle trips per day), with peak activity during staff shift changes, visiting hours, deliveries, and school dismissal periods.
Vehicle access is proposed from Franklin Avenue and Marshall Street, with no driveway on North Maple Avenue.
The Maple–Franklin intersection was described as operating on an older fixed-cycle traffic signal, and potential safety improvements were discussed but not committed to. Given the existing limitations, it would be expensive and challenging to update.
Engineers outlined proposed stormwater detention systems intended to better control runoff compared to existing site conditions.
Residents raised concerns regarding flooding history, emergency access, traffic safety, pedestrian risk, building scale, limited ground-level green space, and neighborhood character.
Several mitigation measures discussed by the developer, including traffic controls and operational adjustments, were described as conceptual and subject to further study, rather than finalized commitments.
Mediation - Private Village Council Work Session · December 3, 2025
This was a closed session the public could not attend. Kensington Senior Development is actively pursuing legal action to push forward their proposed assisted-living development. The village council met with Kensington in a mediation at the Bergen County courts.
We have requested the information to be shared with the public. Check back for an update once we have more information.
Town Hall · August 13, 2025 · 7:30 PM
On August 13, 2025, the Ridgewood Village Council voted to defeat Ordinance #4052, which would have created the S-1 Senior Overlay to allow a Kensington assisted-living facility at North Maple/Marshall/Franklin. The ordinance was rejected after resident pushback and concerns about scale, traffic safety near schools, and neighborhood fit. The project remains active: Kensington will present a scaled-down plan [presumably in] September.
Town Hall · August 6, 2025 · 7:30 PM
On August 13, 2025, the Ridgewood Village Council discussed several local issues on village governance, upcoming council actions, and community concerns. A central topic of the session was Ordinance #4052 and how the proposal is tied to Ridgewood’s affordable housing obligations.
Town Hall · July 15, 2025 · 7:30 PM
At its July 15, 2025 meeting, the Ridgewood Planning Board reviewed Ordinance #4052, which would create a new S-1 Senior Overlay Zone at North Maple, Franklin, and Marshall to allow a 125-bed assisted living facility, with at least 10% of beds reserved for affordable housing. The Board’s task was only to assess consistency with the Village’s Master Plan and Housing Plan, not to approve the project. While the Planner said the ordinance supports housing goals, Board members and many residents raised strong concerns about the building’s height, traffic, parking, flooding, safety, and neighborhood character. The Board concluded the ordinance was “not inconsistent” with the Master Plan but agreed to forward resident concerns to the Village Council for consideration in its final decision later this year.
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