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Northvale council approves consent agenda, settles suit with New Jersey Builders Association at 105-unit figure
Summary
The Northvale Mayor and Council approved a multi-item consent agenda that included grant applications, routine financial actions and a settlement with the New Jersey Builders Association resolving a Department of Community Affairs housing obligation at 105 units.
The Northvale Mayor and Council on Tuesday approved a consent agenda that included grant applications, routine financial housekeeping and a settlement resolving the borough—s disputed affordable-housing obligation in the state Department of Community Affairs— (DCA) fourth round.
The council voted to authorize submission of an Open Space Trust Fund grant application for Veterans Park, endorse a community development support letter for an HVAC request at a group-housing site on Hugh Street, approve cooperative contracting with Riverside Co-op for this year—s growth-improvement program, and return $846 to escrow for a finished project. The consent agenda also authorized temporary financing for a county-mandated property revaluation, approved cancellation of taxes for a totally disabled veteran, allowed the police department to sell surplus equipment online, and established a beautification trust fund to accept donations. The council also approved the routine payment of bills.
The package included a settlement with the New Jersey Builders Association over the borough—s DCA fourth-round affordable-housing obligation. The borough had initially rejected a DCA calculation that would have set the obligation at 12 units in areas it said were unbuildable because of wetlands; the Builders Association sued. According to the resolution, the parties agreed to split the difference and settle at 105 units for this round instead of pursuing extended litigation.
Mayor Barbara Nortel and Borough Attorney (Mr.) Farr briefed the council on the settlement during the consent-agenda discussion, saying the figure applies to the current DCA round and could change in future rounds subject to further negotiation and DCA processes. Attorney Farr advised the council that the settlement covers only this round of the DCA process.
Councilmembers moved and seconded approval of the full consent agenda; the measure passed on roll call.
The consent agenda also included authorization to sell surplus police property online, creation of a beautification trust fund so donations can be held in a separate account, and temporary appropriations to bridge the borough until the final budget is adopted.
Council members did briefly discuss the county-mandated revaluation financing (see separate article for the revaluation ordinance and funding), including whether the five-year financing carries interest; the meeting record indicates the five-year arrangement will be a split payment and was described as not involving a separate bond issuance for interest in the council—s explanation.
The council opened and closed the public comment period for the resolutions with no speakers addressing the consent-agenda items.
Votes at a glance: the consent agenda, including the settlement with the New Jersey Builders Association, passed on roll-call vote.
