Hillsborough adopts binding resolution setting Round 4 affordable-housing obligation at 270 units

The Hillsborough Township Committee on Jan. 28 adopted a binding resolution establishing the township's Round 4 affordable-housing obligation at 270 units rather than the 565-unit prospective need calculated under the state DCA formula passed in October 2024.

Mayor Ciccarelli said the township prepared the resolution "based on the state's DCA legislation that was passed in October 2024" and explained the local calculation: the committee chose to review and adjust the state's formula with township planning staff and consultants and set the obligation at 270 units.

The mayor described why the action was necessary and time-sensitive: "The legislation then required that by January 31, which is 3 days from now, townships had to adopt a resolution out now outlining the decision to either do one of three things," he said, summarizing options that include accepting the DCA number, doing nothing (and losing immunity), or submitting a recalculation. The committee selected the third option and passed the binding resolution as part of the consent agenda.

Why it matters: the DCA formula initially assigned Hillsborough a prospective need of 565 units for the 10-year period from 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2035; the committee's binding resolution sets an interim obligation of 270 units while further analyses continue. The mayor said that if there are no challenges to the calculation by Feb. 28, the obligation becomes established on March 1; if challenged, the dispute-resolution timeline extends into March/April, and the township must adopt a housing element and fair-share plan, including draft zoning, by June 30, 2025.

Committee discussion: Committeewoman Hand noted the legal obligation to provide affordable housing under New Jersey law and emphasized balancing the need for affordable units with preserving community character. Committeeman Lapani said he supports affordable housing in principle but objected to state mandates and said the committee must seek solutions "sensible for this community" that consider schools, streets and sewer capacity.

Next steps and limits: Mayor Ciccarelli said the binding resolution meets the Jan. 31 deadline and does not prevent the township from refining the number through a vacant-land analysis as the housing element and fair-share plan are developed. He provided a planning timeline to the public: challenge period through Feb. 28, establishment on March 1 if uncontested, housing element and fair-share plan due June 30, 2025, and a later window (Aug. 31, 2025) for interested-party responses to plan elements.

The resolution passed as part of the consent agenda and was approved by roll call vote: Ben Breeding, Committeewoman Hand, Committeeman Lapani, Deputy Mayor Payne and Mayor Ciccarelli voted yes (5-0). The committee did not provide a mover or seconder name on the published consent-motion transcript; the item appeared with other consent items and was adopted by roll call.

Clarifying details from the meeting record: the mayor cited the DCA's initial prospective need (565 units) and the township's recalculated figure (270 units); the 10-year period referenced is 07/01/2025to06/30/2035. The mayor described the Jan. 31 deadline for passing a binding resolution and the Feb. 28 challenge window; if no challenge, the obligation becomes established on March 1. The planning department and the township's affordable-housing consultant will continue data-driven analysis to refine the final obligation during the housing-element process.

Ending: The planning department will prepare the housing-element and fair-share plan drafts for public review ahead of the June 30 deadline; the committee's recalculation now becomes the baseline for that next phase unless successfully challenged.