Village Purchases Parcel Next to Schedler

The purchase of a small plot of land adjacent to the Schedler property won't necessarily accelerate hearings to determine its development, according to village officials.

Ridgewood's village council authorized a $90,000 payment to purchase a .35 acre parcel adjacent to the Schedler property on W. Saddle River Road, which provides the town all contiguous properties surrounding the 2.7 acre site it purchase in 2007 for $2.7 million. The small parcel, owned by Shotmeyer Bros. Fuel Company (headed by Wyckoff Township Committeeman Kevin Rooney), was assessed at $54,000.

Ridgewood sports groups last fall endorsed a plan by the Open Space Committee to construct a 90-foot baseball diamond with an overlaying multipurpose field. Residents in the northeast side of town opposed the project, expressing fears over traffic, noise and a decline in property values. Others wanted to preserve the historic 1830 house and use the land for less intensive recreational purposes.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn on Tuesday said there have been "informal conversations" regarding the property, but nothing has reached the council to this point. Talks on the potential development may be renewed this fall, according to the mayor.

"There's nothing imminent right now," he said.