Ridgewood Looks to Charge Developers for Traffic Upgrades

The Ridgewood Planning Board is moving forward with a plan to have prospective developers pay into a fund set aside for traffic improvements.

Essentially, a transportation improvement district (TID) is set up for developers to pay infrastructure improvements that will be needed over time. It could mean the construction of new sidewalks, traffic lights and road improvements. 

A comprehensive traffic study is required before the village is to embark on establishing the TID, Mayor Paul Aronsohn told Patch. A Master Plan amendment would also be required, so planning board and council officials would have to sign off on it.

Ridgewood's hired traffic consultant, John Jahr, said his firm would be able to complete a full study for about $20,000, according to a report in The Ridgewood News. The study area has not been determined yet.

Fees village officials would charge for a TID could be based on dwelling units, square footage or just traffic impact, according to the report. Developers can appeal the fees or ask for an exemption altogether, according the report quoted Jahr as saying.

There are four multi-family housing developments proposed in the Ridgewood downtown, totaling about 330 units. The planning board is expected to vote on allowing a new zone to permit the developments in the fall. The village council would need to sign off on an accompanying ordinance for approval.