The developer of the Ridge Hill development project was a no show at a business meeting in Yonkers Wednesday, the day after a judge?s ruling tossed out the City Council approval needed for the project to go forward.

Developer Bruce Ratner sent a note to Mayor Phil Amicone saying he wasn?t able to make the meeting. Tuesday, a Supreme Court judge ruled that the City Council was required to hold a public hearing before changing a zoning rule. Amicone is confident the decision by the judge will be appealed and the $600 million project will go forward. The project includes retail, residential and an entertainment complex on 80 acres off the New York State Thruway.

Councilman John Murtagh, who was part of the group who brought the lawsuit, thinks Ratner missed an opportunity to get support for Ridge Hill. Councilman Dennis Robertson, who is in favor of the project, says he doesn?t want to see the process delayed in court anymore. Murtagh says he is not completely against the project but wants traffic, taxes and other issues resolved first, which he says is up to the developer.

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