Flood Study And Schedler Land: Ridgewood Village Manager Sums Up Year

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Ridgewood faced several big challenges this year, including heavy flooding during rainstorms and a discovery of contamination at the Schedler historic property.

Village Manager Keith Kazmak, who was hired in mid-2023, recently released a 9-page rundown of city initiatives and actions for the year, and also posted a flooding update on social media.

Flooding Update

A little over a week ago, he posted this flooding "big news": "The Village is pleased to announce that the United States Congress has approved and authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the needed flood study of both the Saddle River and the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. This is a huge first step in addressing long-term flooding here in Ridgewood."

In December of 2023, Village Hall and many private properties were underwater after a rainstorm (see story and photos here). And then, in January 2024, 10 roads were closed after another storm.

What To Put On Historic Property?

City officials and the public also continued a years-long debate over whether and how to add recreation fields to a property with a 199-year-old historic house, the Schedler property.

The town completed a purchase of the property, including an 1825 Dutch home once owned by the farming Zabriskie family, in 2009. But historic preservation experts, neighbors, environmentalists, and sparred over whether the house should be moved, and what kind of fields or recreational paths and park amenities should be placed on the property. In June, to complicate matters, experts found contamination.

Kazmak updated where the town stands regarding planning, soil testing, and a archeological study.

"Submitted a revised plan for the Schedler property to the State Historic Preservation Office including a full-sized, multipurpose athletic field, playground, walking paths and parking area," he noted. "Authorized and began a Phase II Archeological Study. Retained Matrix New World Engineering to conduct the required soil testing and develop a comprehensive remediation plan."

(See a link to residents' petition here.)

See Kazmak's full 9-page "Year End Memo" recapping the year here.