Parsippany council adopts resolution committing to fourth‑round affordable‑housing obligation; creates Mount Laurel subcommittee

The Parsippany (Troy Hills) Township Council voted Wednesday to adopt a resolution committing the township to the fourth‑round affordable‑housing obligation calculated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and created a Mount Laurel subcommittee to assist in preparing the township’s compliance plan.

Township attorney Mr. Glass told the public that state statute requires municipalities to act on affordable‑housing obligations and that DCA’s most recent calculations were prepared in October. “There is a statute that requires municipalities throughout the state to take action, committing to the affordable‑housing obligations,” Mr. Glass said. He said DCA’s numbers include 38 present‑need rehabilitation units and 553 prospective‑need new‑construction units for the township’s fourth round.

The township’s planner and outside consultant reviewed DCA’s factors and produced a modified obligation. A representative from Burgess Associates identified in the meeting as Nikas confirmed the township would use Highlands Council data for a vacant‑land adjustment and would follow DCA’s statutory methodology for other factors. Using that analysis, the council adopted a modified prospective obligation of 496 units — the number the governing body recorded as its obligation to the state.

Why it matters: municipalities must transmit a resolution accepting or contesting DCA’s fourth‑round numbers by an early February deadline and must adopt a housing element and fair‑share plan by June 30. That plan will set how the township addresses credits, rehabilitated units, and prospective obligations over the next 10‑year round.

The council created a Mount Laurel subcommittee by resolution to assist with affordable‑housing planning. Mayor James Barberio said the subcommittee will include two planning‑board members named in the resolution and that staff and the township’s affordable‑housing consultant will work with the group as the township prepares its June 30 submission.

The council voted by roll call to adopt the resolution committing to the modified obligation; the vote was recorded as unanimous in favor. No formal amendments were offered during the public meeting, and the governing body indicated further work on the township’s housing element and fair‑share plan will continue in the months before the June 30 deadline.

The council’s administration said the revised obligation is a policy filing with DCA and does not itself authorize construction or change zoning; later adoption of a housing element and fair‑share plan will include specific measures and any regulatory changes.

Details recorded at the meeting show the township plans to use Highlands Council data where appropriate for vacant‑land adjustments and to rely on the township planner’s analysis when contesting specific statutory calculations in DCA’s model. The administration identified two planning staff members (referred to in the meeting as Ed and Dustin) who will continue the technical work with the consultant and the subcommittee.

The council’s resolution and the planner’s report will be transmitted to DCA as required. The council noted that additional public briefings and documentation will be prepared as the housing element and fair‑share plan are drafted for public review and eventual adoption.