Decision on Valley Hospital Expansion Officially Heads Toward Council

In a largely procedural move, the Ridgewood Planning Board approved a resolution of memorialization for an expansion at Valley Hospital—putting the project's fate in Village Council's hands.

With only three eligible voters present, the board approved the 25-page document that describes the Master Plan amendment—which doubles hospital mass to nearly 1.2 million square by the erection (and demolition) of several buildings (including a five-story structure), and increases setbacks along borders—and the procedure leading up to the June 21 vote.

For construction to start, Village Council must approve an ordinance to be in line with the Master Plan. Before consideration can commence, the board must turn over all its documents for council to get up to speed. Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh said that hasn't occurred yet.

In all likelihood, council won't take up the matter until a fifth member is chosen by voters in a special November election to finish late Councilwoman Anne Zusy's term, council members said.

Walsh and Mayor Keith Killion—both new Planning Board members—both agreed it made sense to wait.

"For something as big as this, a fifth person should really be on the council for us to move forward," said Walsh, who has continually voiced opposition to the project throughout her candidacy and subsequent election.

Chairman David Nicholson approved the measure along with members Nancy Bigos and Charles Nalbantian. Following three-year-and-half years of testimony, 36 work sessions and public hearings and two versions, the board amended the Master Plan by a 6-1 vote.

Only those who voted "Yes" could officially memorialize the action. Former Mayor David Pfund and current Deputy Mayor Tom Riche are no longer on the board, and member Anne Ward was absent.

The document itself mostly contains the changes to the Master Plan and outlines the steps that led to its passage. It also outlines the hospital's previous construction history.

However, contrary to what Concerned Residents of Ridgewood spokesman Paul Gould requested, the resolution omits a piece of Valley history. In 1983, the Planning Board approved an expansion project to increase floor area 108,950 square feet, which is included in the document. Although the project eventually was allowed following an appeal by Valley in court, the Village Council initially rejected it. The resolution overlooks council's move.

Additionally, the board reemphasized its position that an environmental impact study is needed, but said that it would have been "premature and speculative" for it to commission the study.

The Planning Board "strongly recommends" that Village Council require "a thorough and extensive [study] as a condition precedent to a major site plan application for the hospital property."

Opposition group the Concerned Residents of Ridgewood have contracted an attorney—of whom it does not wish to name—who will give the group options where it should proceed next, acting spokesperson Lisa Baney said Tuesday. Gould was away on vacation.

"Between the input of the attorney and interactions with the resident community and the actions of the reconstituted council, the months ahead are of great importance to the Concerned Residents," Baney said.

She wouldn't say if the group would offer its own council candidate, but said it would analyze each candidate carefully.

Village Council must eventually decide on an ordinance either approving, rejecting, or rejecting in part the Master Plan amendment. However, there is no set timetable, village attorney Matthew Rogers previously stated.