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Residents press council to remove 200-unit 'hill' proposal as committee forms to address fourth-round obligation
Summary
Residents urged Lambertville officials to remove a 200-unit housing proposal on 'the hill' and to pursue alternative sites; council approved an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and plans a public discussion on the state 'fourth round' obligation due January 31.
Several residents on Monday urged the City Council of Lambertville to take the 200-unit proposal on “the hill” off the table and seek alternatives to meet the town’s affordable-housing obligation.
Jeff Tile (33 Wilson Street) told the council the town needs a formal health and environmental review and a transparent methodology for housing numbers. He said removal of 14 acres known as Bacon Land from calculations and additional site analysis could help reduce the town’s obligation and avoid placing units in environmentally constrained areas. “If the hill is included it becomes the excuse as an easy place to just put the numbers even though it doesn't work there,” Tile said.
Judy Gleon (86 North Union Street) associated herself with prior comments on the bridge closure’s economic effects and urged the council to publicly vote to eliminate the 200-unit proposal, calling for open exploration of other options. “Everyone wants affordable housing in this town,” Gleon said; “the council has to eliminate the 200 units on the top of the hill — it has to be called to a vote.”
The mayor said the council will appoint an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to begin meeting in January; the consent agenda adopted a resolution establishing the committee for 2025. The mayor named members who had agreed to serve and said staff will follow up on committee organization and possible additions.
Council members and the mayor discussed next steps for the state’s fourth-round obligation, noting a binding resolution is listed as due January 31 and that further guidance from the state (and potential legal developments) could affect timing. The mayor proposed scheduling a public session in early January with counsel and technical consultants (including a vacant-land analysis) to clarify the town’s options and avoid premature decisions.
The council did not adopt any binding change to the housing element during the meeting; members agreed to form the advisory committee and to pursue additional technical review and public discussion before taking formal votes.
