Engineer Says Valley Expansion Will Have Limited Impact, Neighbors Not So Sure

Neighbors of Valley Hospital remain skeptical that the geotechnical issues of the proposed expansion plan won't impact their homes.

On Monday, May 20, testimony at the planning board continued with Valley geotechnical engineer Moustafa Gouda reiterating that the 'Renewal' project would have "limited impact" to residents surrounding the 15-acre site. He appeared to field questions that could not be answered when he first testified in April.

Gouda testified that rock excavation needs were reduced by 92 percent and soil excavation by 29 percent for Phase I. Needed truck trips has dropped to about 8,300. Originally, it was expected more than 20,000 truck trips would be needed. Gouda also said the village's stormwater system can handle upwards of 300,000 gallons of water per day in dewatering, a number he said was more than sufficient. He testified that injection wells would also be constructed, with water being shot into bedrock 150-300 feet below. He said it would not raise the water table.

According to a northjersey.com report, residents nearby remain unconvinced they would not be greatly impacted by construction.

They were nervous that operations of the hospital would not cease during construction and some maintained the soil will continue to settle. Gouda maintained it wouldn't be a problem, according to the report.

"Settlement from dewatering will not happen because of the effects of lowering the water and the reduction of the water table," he said, per the report. "If the load in the future is less than the load in the past, it does not create a problem. If the load in the future is more than the load in the past, then I have a problem, but that's not the case."

Valley says its expansion needs are driven by an aging population that will require a greater degree of care in the coming years. The hospital intends to increase its bed count from 451 beds to 454 entirely private rooms. The overall plan is cut into two phases, the latter with an undefined timetable.

Phase I includes moving 200 beds out of the aging Phillips building and into a new five story building ("North Tower"), along with construction of a large parking garage. Phase II could be more than a decade away. It would feature the construction of two more buildings ("South" and "West") Two other buildings are also planned, measuring up to 94 feet with rooftop mechanicals. Total hospital floor space would increase to 910,000 square feet, about 70 percent greater than is currently there. Gouda said 46,000 cubic yards of soil would be removed in Phase II.

CRR Chairman Pete McKenna said the group was "encouraged" the hospital has significantly reduced some of the geotechnical impacts compared to its failed effort in 2011.

"Meanwhile, the above-grade square footage of Valley’s buildings would still double that of today, producing huge buildings with huge impacts on the quality of life of Ridgewood taxpayers," McKenna said.

He continued: "As such, CRR remains most concerned about appropriate land use for this property, in a sensitive residential setting, adjacent to a school and serviced by single lane roads. Such issues as traffic, density, light, building heights and setbacks, as well as the sheer enormity of the proposal remain, despite some of the geotechnical issues having been addressed in this revised proposal."

The planning board may vote on the Master Plan amendment this summer. Should it pass the planning board, the council would take up an accompanying ordinance.