Clark Township planner alerts board to new fourth‑round affordable‑housing obligations and June deadline

The Clark Township planner told the Planning Board on Feb. 6 that changes to the Fair Housing Act and an allocation issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) create a new fourth‑round affordable‑housing obligation the township must address.

The planner said the allocation sets Clark Township’s prospective need and rehabilitation obligation and that the board will be responsible for preparing a housing element and fair‑share plan, which must be adopted by the Planning Board and endorsed by the Township Council by June 30, 2025. He described the presentation as an update only; “no action is scheduled for tonight, and none is expected,” he said.

Why it matters: The housing element and fair‑share plan is an element of the master plan and is the formal mechanism municipalities use to demonstrate how they will meet state affordable‑housing obligations. The planner said Clark has limited vacant land and that the board will examine redevelopment opportunities and other planning tools to meet the prospective need.

Details from the presentation: The planner said the DCA’s allocation used three factors — changes in assessed valuation of nonresidential properties, an income factor compared with neighboring municipalities, and land capacity — and that the township planner reviewed and found the DCA calculations to be correct. He said the DCA’s allocation produced two components for Clark: 71 units for present need or rehabilitation and 166 units for prospective need or new construction, as presented to the board.

The planner told members that the Township Council has already acted at the municipal level: on Jan. 29, 2025, the council adopted a resolution accepting the DCA allocation and instructed the township clerk, planner and attorney to notify the judiciary of the decision. He also said the council retained attorney Jeffrey Saranian on Feb. 3 to serve as special affordable‑housing counsel and to guide the township through the next steps.

Next steps and public process: The planner said the next phase is preparation of the housing element and fair‑share plan, which will require a public hearing before the Planning Board — likely in May or early June — and subsequent endorsement by the Township Council by the end of June. The planner said the township will evaluate whether redevelopment sites or other planning tools are available to meet the obligation and that he and the council’s retained counsel will guide the board through the process.

The planner invited board questions; none were raised and the meeting proceeded to other agenda items.