Planner presents S‑1 senior-overlay to enable assisted-living development; council to consider endorsement of fourth‑round housing plan

Planning Director Beth McManus told the council on July 2 that a proposed S‑1 senior-overlay district would facilitate an assisted‑living development on a roughly 1.25‑acre site along North Maple between Franklin and Marshall streets. The project is part of Ridgewood’s fourth‑round affordable‑housing strategy and would create affordable‑housing credits because licensed assisted‑living facilities are required to set aside 10% of beds for Medicaid recipients.

"This S 1 Overlay District really has 1 purpose, and that is to permit the assisted living facility that is set forth in our housing plan already," Beth McManus said, summarizing the ordinance language and the choice it gives the property owner between existing underlying zoning or the S‑1 alternative.

Key provisions: McManus said the overlay would require a minimum lot size of 1.25 acres, allow approximately 120 beds, require 10% of beds to be reserved for Medicaid residents (to generate affordable-housing credit), place vehicular access on side streets (Franklin and Marshall) rather than on North Maple, and locate parking behind the building to create a street-friendly frontage. The ordinance sets a maximum building height of 56 feet.

Planning and process: The Planning Board adopted the borough's fourth‑round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and submitted it to the state. McManus said Ridgewood's fourth‑round obligation was adjusted from 427 units to 4 under the vacant‑land adjustment process; the resulting unmet need (the difference) is addressed in the plan’s discussion but not required to be satisfied in full.

Council action and next steps: Council members spoke favorably of the proposal and the developer’s responsiveness during negotiations with Kensington (an intervener in the declaratory-judgment proceeding). McManus said if council chooses to introduce the ordinance at the July 9 meeting, it will be referred to the Planning Board (anticipated July 15 review) and could return for final adoption on Aug. 13. The council also will be asked to adopt an endorsement resolution for the Planning Board–approved Housing Element at next week's public meeting, which is a required procedural step toward court/program compliance certification.

Ending: Council members described the S‑1 overlay and the Housing Element endorsement as tools to achieve senior housing options while complying with state affordable‑housing law. No ordinance adoption vote occurred on July 2; introduction and referral were the next procedural steps.