Hopatcong planners race to finalize housing element as June deadline nears

The Hopatcong Planning Board discussed the borough's housing element and fair share plan on May 6, with staff saying a draft must be ready for the council before a June filing deadline and that the borough is seeking clarity on its required affordable-housing obligation.

Board members and staff said the borough has not received a final judicial ruling on its fair-share number and is preparing a draft using the borough's reduced figure. "We're working on draft," a Planner told the board, adding, "We still have yet to get a decision." The Planner said the borough is preparing the draft "based on that" reduced number and that there is "a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time."

The discussion focused on timing and next steps. A board member asked whether the housing element must come before the planning board before it is sent to the council; the Planner said the board should review it. The Planner also said staff is "having discussions with our attorney regarding" a request for an extension because the borough has not yet received a judge's decision. The Planner stated the borough's working number is 244 and noted another cited number of 305.

Board members agreed staff should produce a polished draft for public review and suggested scheduling either the second meeting in June or a special meeting late in the month to meet filing deadlines. "Get a professional to work back from that deadline to have it adopted or have the draft presented," a board member said.

No formal motion or vote on the housing element was recorded at the meeting; the board directed staff to continue drafting and to bring a public-hearing-ready document back to the board and the council for final action.

Board members said they would use the next two meetings for further review and that staff would work with the borough attorney on any necessary extension requests.