Sayreville council adopts resolution urging state reform of affordable-housing rules

Sayreville's Borough Council adopted a resolution formally expressing frustration with New Jersey's current affordable-housing program and urging state legislators to revise the framework, the council announced at a special meeting.

Council members said the resolution is intended to signal to state lawmakers that the current system produces outcomes municipalities find unsustainable. "We're done with this," one councilmember said during debate, adding the issues are statewide and should be addressed by legislators rather than left solely to towns.

Nut graf: The nonbinding resolution asks state-level officials to revisit the affordable-housing rules that govern realistic development potential, crediting and subsidy calculations. Council members and public speakers described the program as creating high volumes of market-rate housing tied to affordable set-asides that municipalities cannot control at the local level.

Several council members who voted for the resolution said they support affordable housing in principle but not the current mechanism. "We support affordable housing within the township. But as the plan is created right now ... we disagree with this program," one councilmember said. Another described the municipality's role as constrained by state law and court orders and urged coordinated state action.

The resolution passed by roll call near the end of the meeting; the council directed the clerk and council leadership to finalize the text and forward it to state legislators.

Ending: Council members said the resolution will not change the borough's current obligations but is intended as a policy signal to state lawmakers and as a step toward building a coalition of municipalities seeking legislative change.