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Allendale council endorses land use board's housing element and files fair share plan ahead of deadline
Summary
The Borough of Allendale endorsed the Land Use Board's housing element and fair share plan and will file the plan by the June 30 deadline; the plan documents a 4-unit realistic development potential with five credits, contests a state's present-need figure, and opens a 60-day objection period through Aug. 31.
Allendale's mayor and council voted to endorse the borough's housing element and fair share plan, advancing the town's efforts to meet fourth-round affordable-housing obligations before a June 30 filing deadline.
The endorsement followed a presentation by the borough's planning consultant, Ed Snicus of Burgess Associates, and comments from affordable-housing attorney Jeff Saranian. Saranian told the council that "we have to file a housing element and fair share plan by June 30 to meet that number," and he warned the council that an objection period runs for 60 days after filing, with mediation expected in September if objections are filed.
Snicus summarized the plan's core calculations. The state's prospective allocation for Allendale in the fourth round is 200 units; the plan identifies a 4-unit realistic development potential (RDP) increase tied to an analyzed 1.75-acre site (the Savini restaurant parcel) and counts programmatic credits that together yield five credits toward that 4-unit RDP. Snicus said the borough captured and will convert an existing two-bedroom unit on Elm Street into a two-bedroom group-home configuration that supplies two family-unit credits; in addition, two deed-restricted units on Trotters Lane could be purchased or extended to provide two family credits, and an alternative-living-arrangement conversion supplies a bonus credit. "We have affirmatively addressed our perspective RDP need of 4 units with 5 credits," Snicus said.
The planner also disputed a large state estimate for present need, saying the plan documents a windshield survey identifying roughly 10 units in need of rehabilitation rather than the state's figure of 159. The plan appends a spending plan tied to the borough's affordable-housing trust fund to finance targeted rehabilitation, acquisition and deed-extension efforts.
Council members praised the multi-year work: the mayor said Allendale had a strong track record in prior rounds and that the plan "is something the borough should be proud of." Councilors asked about likely objections; Saranian and Snicus advised the borough to prepare to defend its methodology in the August—September objection and mediation window.
By formal motion, the council approved Resolution 25-174 endorsing the planning board's adopted housing element and fair share plan. The council vote recorded members in favor; the endorsement allows the borough to file the plan with the state program and begins the 60-day objection period (objections due by Aug. 31). If objections are filed, counsel and consultants said the borough will enter mediation in September.
What happens next: the borough will submit the endorsed plan to the state program, publicize the filing and monitor the objection period; if objections arise, the council's consultants plan to represent Allendale in mediation.
