Village of Ridgewood
April 7, 2026
This community meeting provided an update on the Schedler Property Soil Remediation Project. Village Manager Keith Casmark introduced representatives from Matrix New World Engineering and North Star Environmental Services, who detailed the scope of work, which includes removing contaminated soil, flat areas, and debris from the property. The presentation covered the necessary state approvals received from the NJDEP and SHPO, setting a tentative project start date for late April or early May 2026, with an estimated duration of six to eight weeks. The meeting also addressed community concerns regarding traffic and air quality. The Ridgewood Police Department outlined a comprehensive traffic plan designed to minimize disruption from truck movements, including rerouting access points and utilizing offsite staging areas. A detailed air quality monitoring plan was presented, explaining the thresholds for public health risk, public notification, and on-site response actions to control dust. Five air monitoring stations will be deployed, and the plan will be made publicly available. Finally, the presentation covered site protection measures, including fencing off an archeologically sensitive area and the process for obtaining permits to remediate identified wetlands. Residents were encouraged to sign up for notifications via a QR code, although the likelihood of needing to issue public health alerts was deemed very low due to the robust monitoring and mitigation strategies. The meeting concluded with an open Q&A session, beginning with a resident's question about the placement of air quality monitors.
Schedler Property Soil Remediation
This was the primary topic of the meeting, focusing on the plan to remove contaminated soil from the Schedler property. The presentation covered the scope of work, necessary approvals, project timeline, traffic management, and air quality monitoring.
Traffic Management during Remediation
A detailed plan was presented by the Police Department to mitigate the impact of truck traffic on the neighborhood, including rerouting entrances/exits and offsite staging areas.
Air Quality Monitoring and Dust Control
The plan for monitoring air quality and controlling dust during the remediation process was explained, including specific levels that trigger different responses. A resident inquired about the placement of the monitors.
Site Protection (Archaeological and Wetlands)
Measures to protect sensitive areas on the property, including an archeological site and wetlands, were discussed, along with the permitting process for remediating the wetlands.
Schedler Property Soil Remediation Project Overview
The village manager introduced the project, outlining the long process of testing soils brought to the site and the upcoming remediation. Representatives from the environmental firm (Matrix New World Engineering), the contracting firm (North Star Environmental Services), and the Ridgewood Police Department were introduced.
Scope of Work for Soil Remediation
The presentation detailed the areas requiring remediation, including sections of the berm that exceeded contaminant standards, the flat area of the property, and any solid waste debris on the surface. Protected areas, such as the archeologically sensitive site core and wetlands, were also discussed, with plans for fencing off the archeological site and seeking permits for wetland remediation.
Required Approvals and Project Timeline
The project received approval from the NJDEP Bureau of Solid Waste and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The tentative start date was set for the week of April 27th or May 4th, with an estimated project duration of six to eight weeks. Work hours were set for 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Traffic Plan
The Ridgewood Police Department presented a traffic plan to minimize truck traffic impact. The entrance and exit for trucks were moved to just south of Kingsbridge, significantly reducing their time on West Saddle River Road. Trucks will not stage on West Saddle River Road; instead, they will queue at a commercial property offsite. A police officer will be present daily to manage traffic and ensure safety, and it was confirmed that bus stops would not need to be changed.
Air Quality Monitoring Plan
The air quality monitoring plan was explained, including public health risk levels, public notification levels (half the risk level), and response levels. Response Level 1 (150 micrograms per cubic meter) triggers on-site actions like spraying water or stopping work to control dust. Five air monitoring stations will be used, with four mobile units moved around the site. The perimeter air monitoring plan will be posted online.
Site Protection and Protected Areas
The presentation reiterated the protection of the archeologically sensitive area, which will be fenced off. The NJDEP-identified wetlands area requires a permit for remediation, and the village is awaiting approval. Residents are encouraged to sign up for notifications via a QR code, though it's noted that the notification system is unlikely to be needed due to the high thresholds for public health risk.
N. asked about the placement of air quality monitors and their distance radius from the actual work being done, expressing concern as they live right next to Shedler.
Join the conversation
Have a question or perspective about this meeting? Residents and community members are welcome.