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Public raises affordable housing and cannabis funding concerns; council defends approach
Summary
During public comment residents urged stronger affordable-housing planning and questioned how cannabis and opioid-related revenues are being used; councilors responded that opioid funds are dedicated to prevention and cannabis revenue was promised to offset tax burden.
Residents at Tuesday’s meeting urged the council to treat affordable housing and cannabis-revenue allocations as ongoing, separate policy issues rather than one-off items.
Ben Guy and other commenters urged a broader needs assessment for housing, arguing the township should plan for workforce and other housing needs. "We need a better needs assessment... how we're gonna grow over the next 10 years," Guy said during public comment, urging more planning and outreach beyond the current process.
Guy and others also raised questions about how opioid settlement money and cannabis tax revenue have been used. A speaker said opioid funds had been used to reduce taxes; councilors pushed back. Mayor Phil Kramer said the opioid settlement money is dedicated to opioid prevention and "is not going to help with taxes. The opioid money is dedicated to opioid prevention." On cannabis revenue, Kramer stated the council had promised voters the cannabis money would be used "to relieving tax burden."
Council members said Franklin’s affordable-housing efforts are regional in scope under state doctrine and praised recent public outreach events hosted by the Central Jersey Housing Resource Center and township staff. A council member noted the municipality has been recognized for its handling of affordable housing and said the Central Jersey Housing Resource Center event drew attendees from other towns because the issue is regional.
Councilors invited further public involvement in future hearings and recommended staff provide regular updates on regional affordable-housing planning and on how cannabis and opioid-related funds are allocated.
