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Public asks planning board to be involved in township's affordable housing obligation; council retains decision authority, planner to present analysis
Summary
A resident urged the Planning Board and elected officials to be involved in shaping Monroe Township's affordable housing obligation to the state. Board counsel and staff said the statute gives the township council authority to adopt the obligation; an affordable-housing planner will present a report to the council.
During the meeting's public portion a resident urged the planning board and elected officials to participate in decisions about Monroe Township's affordable housing obligation under state law.
Michelle Arminio of 9 Nathaniel Street asked whether the planning board would be involved in recommending the town’s affordable housing obligation and who will make the decision. Arminio said she was concerned that "a very limited number of unelected officials are making future plans" and asked that elected officials be "in the loop" when the township submits the plan to the state.
Board counsel and staff responded that, "by statute" the decision to adopt the affordable housing obligation is in the purview of the township council. A staff speaker identified Council President Miriam Cohen as a council member who would be part of that council discussion and noted the council will discuss and adopt the obligation at a council meeting next Wednesday (recorded in the meeting as "the 29th"). The board was told the affordable-housing planner will give a presentation to the council the night the council considers the resolution and that the planner's report will be attached to the council resolution and provided to the public.
A township staff speaker (recorded in the minutes as Mr. McGowan) said the council has been provided the calculation and memorandum prepared under the statute and that the council is the body that will decide the number the Department of Community Affairs has calculated for the township. The speaker explained that if the council accepts the Department of Community Affairs number it will then be the council's task to decide how to implement that obligation; the planning board would play a role in implementation after the council sets the obligation or a mechanism for the obligation.
Arminio referenced a 43-page state document and a tentative number included there for Monroe's obligation; she said the figure was tentative and urged the board and council to protect residents from unchecked development while ensuring affordable units reach the populations intended, including veterans. The public comment concluded and the board closed the public portion.
Why it matters: The exchange clarifies the division of authority between the planning board and the township council on setting the township's affordable housing obligation under state statute. Residents raised concerns about development scale and transparency in who makes the decision and how implementation will affect infrastructure and services.
