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We were able to successfully lower our overall obligation with one of the largest reductions statewide from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (NJDCA) recommended unit count. Earlier this year, I briefed our residents that the Township reached a fair and reasonable settlement with Fair Share Housing Center, agreeing on a prospective need of 460 affordable units. This is substantially below the NJDCA’s 751 recommendation, and the 1,133 units ordered in Round Three (2015-2025).
The Township put forth a plan in June to meet its obligation, utilizing all available tools under state law. We were deliberate and focused on limiting new residential development as much as possible, while meeting our constitutional obligation. Fair Share Housing Center agreed with the Township on most aspects of our plan but challenged the Township in August on counting certain existing units in town.
Under the oversight of a state appointed affordable housing judge, the Township has settled with Fair Share Housing Center to permit 689 total units (both affordable and market rate). While we strived aggressively to keep that number even lower, as I shared with you in June, this settlement achieves a much lower and more reasonable number when compared to more than 4,300 court ordered units in the prior round. We have also taken steps to require more senior units among future housing to further limit impact on our schools.
As you may remember, the 2024 affordable housing legislation established the framework for all municipalities to calculate their Round Four affordable housing obligations (2025-2035). Nearly 400 municipalities engaged in this same process.
The Township’s settlement with Fair Share Housing Center satisfies our Round Four obligation by:
- Utilizing statutory bonus credits to bring our obligation from 460 to 354
- Counting 180 existing affordable units that could not be counted in prior rounds
- Requiring an inclusionary project to provide 30% affordable housing units to limit the number of market rate units (65 affordable housing units and 158 market rate units)
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Requiring an inclusionary senior project to provide 30% affordable housing units (20 senior affordable housing units and 47 senior market rate units)
- Agreeing to a development on our border with Manalapan, to limit traffic impact in Monroe (22 affordable housing units and 78 market rate units)
- Agreeing to permit development on the “bald eagle” site after our appellate victories, in a much less dense and impactful way than was litigated (37 affordable housing units and 149 market rate units)
- Planning to construct a100% municipally sponsored affordable housing project, similar to Veterans Housing, to further reduce potential market rate units (30 affordable units)
We are also required to partner with non-profit organizations to facilitate 83 affordable units prior to 2035. Our legal obligation is to put the necessary zoning in place to allow the opportunity for inclusionary developments to be built. As we’ve seen in past rounds, however, actual construction is market-driven and often takes much longer than the timeframes of any Round.
Speaking of previous rounds – as a reminder – my professionals and I have successfully negotiated to reduce the number of market rate residential units from Round 3 by 479 units, and convert another 350 units into senior only, without impacting our affordable housing obligation.
And in further good news, the Township came to an agreement regarding the property at the corner of Butcher Road and North Disbrow Hill Road that prevents the construction of a warehouse, allows for a public park, provides significant preserved open space and re-zones the parcel for residential development to help satisfy our Round 4 affordable housing obligation.
I take our affordable housing obligation very seriously and I confidently stand behind this settlement that effectively fulfills our constitutional obligation with as little impact as possible on our schools and infrastructure.
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