Boonton planning board adopts fourth-round housing element, counting 74 housing authority units toward 99-unit obligation

The Boonton Planning Board voted to adopt the town's fourth-round housing element and fair share plan, a step planners say is required to participate in the state's new affordable-housing process.

Chris, the town planner, told the board the plan is intended to meet two numeric obligations in the fourth round: a rehabilitation (present) need of 23 units and a prospective need of 99 units. "The key number that you need to know is that your town has two obligations," Chris said during the presentation.

To satisfy the 23-unit rehabilitation obligation, the plan continues the town's Home Improvement Program, which Chris said is managed by Pat and would be funded through the town's affordable housing trust fund. The program provides assistance to qualifying homeowners, subject to deed restrictions and income qualifications.

For the 99-unit prospective obligation, the plan relies on two primary strategies. First, Chris said Division Street's redevelopment zoning already permits up to 45 units per acre—above prior commitments—creating additional affordable-unit credits when compared with the previous 25-units-per-acre assumption. He also noted a potential 50% credit bonus tied to proximity to the train station that increases the effective credit calculation for Division Street.

Second, the plan claims 74 units from local housing authority properties at Chestnut Street and Plain Street that had not been previously credited. Chris said the town recently contributed funding for drainage improvements at Plain Street and argues those units meet the statutory characteristics for affordable housing and therefore can be counted toward the prospective need.

The planning board approved the resolution to adopt the housing element and fair share plan by roll call; all present members voted in favor. The roll call recorded votes for Mr. Brewer, Mr. Murray, Mr. Kokar, Mr. Olooki, Mr. Supa, Mr. Ventini, Mr. Roble, Mr. Zambereno, Mayor Lynch and Mr. Phelps; Mr. Schnitzer was absent.

The plan includes statutory appendices (marketing plan, spending plan, prior resolutions and development fee ordinances) and will be forwarded to the town council for endorsement. Chris and the board emphasized that municipalities that wish to participate in the state compliance process must meet the June 30 deadline; Chris said some rule details are still being released and that the plan assumes certain technical rules for calculation but does not itself change the town's set-aside ordinance.

Next steps: the planning board's adopted plan will go to the town council for endorsement; participating towns must take final steps by June 30 to preserve standing in the state process.