Clark Township planning board adopts Round 4 housing element and fair-share plan

The Clark Township Planning Board on June 5 adopted a housing element and fair‑share plan intended to meet state Round 4 affordable‑housing requirements and preserve the township—s ability to seek court approval and immunity from exclusionary‑zoning lawsuits. The motion to approve the plan, with minor editorial changes discussed at the meeting, passed on a roll call vote.

The plan responds to a 166‑unit Round 4 prospective need for 2025–2035 and a separate 71‑unit rehabilitation obligation. Paul Rickey, the township planner, said the board—s vacant‑land analysis produced a realistic development potential (RDP) of "0 units," leaving the township to address an unmet need rather than zone for the full 166 units.

Why it matters: under the amended Fair Housing Act process, municipalities that adopt a binding resolution and file a court application can obtain immunity from builder—s‑remedy lawsuits; the township must file its affordable‑housing plan by the June 30 deadline to preserve that pathway.

The adopted plan relies largely on overlay zoning applied to existing, developed sites rather than rezoning large vacant parcels. Rickey identified five overlay…