Ridgewood must fight back — hire the best lawyers, bring in experts, and stand up for our village against Kensington’s lawsuit.

The residents of Ridgewood are directly impacted by Kensington Senior Development’s lawsuit against our Village after the rejection of Ordinance 4052. This lawsuit threatens to override local decisions and force oversized development that would increase traffic, strain infrastructure, alter the small-town character of our downtown, and reduce the livability for families and children who call Ridgewood home. Kensington has shown no good-faith effort to work with residents — they never provided a revised plan, only mailed a last-minute letter to a handful of households, and then immediately filed a lawsuit.

This case is not just about one building. It has broad implications for Ridgewood’s ability to control its own zoning and set limits on inappropriate development. If we fail to mount the strongest possible defense, Ridgewood could set a dangerous precedent: ceding zoning authority to large developers and weakening every town’s right to self-determination. Our small-village charm, quality of life, and even property values are at stake.

***The time to act is now!***
Ridgewood cannot afford to take a passive approach. To fight Kensington’s lawsuit effectively, the Village Council MUST:

Hire a top land-use litigator with proven experience fighting large developers and the Fair Share Housing Center. A general municipal attorney will not have the depth of expertise needed for a case of this magnitude.
Bring in outside experts — traffic engineers, environmental specialists, and planning professionals — to provide objective testimony that can withstand courtroom scrutiny and demonstrate the true impact of overdevelopment.
Coordinate with other New Jersey municipalities and organizations such as the New Jersey League of Municipalities, which have faced similar lawsuits, to share resources, strategy, and political support.
Seek backing from state legislators and the Attorney General’s office, ensuring that Ridgewood’s fight is reinforced at the state level.
Document and amplify resident opposition by continuing to provide opportunities for residents to voice concerns and making sure those concerns become part of Ridgewood’s legal record.

WE must show Ridgewood will NOT be bullied into approving oversized, inappropriate development. We call on the Village Council to use every available tool to defend our community against this unfair lawsuit. The future character and livability of Ridgewood depend on it.