Borough planner says Ordinance 08-26 aligns with housing plan; board adopts consistency resolution

A borough planner told the board that Ordinance No. 08-26, an amendment to the borough's affordable housing and development fee ordinance, is consistent with the borough's housing plan element and master plan, and the board voted to adopt a consistency resolution.

Peter, the borough planner, told members the combined ordinance is largely drawn from the updated Fair Housing Act and the new UHAC regulations (referred to in the meeting as JAC 5:99), and "my professional planning opinion is that they are entirely consistent with the housing plan element and fair share plan and generally consistent with the borough's master plan." He said the rules list program types and requirements developers must meet to receive affordable housing credit.

Following the planner's presentation, a committee member moved to accept the planner's report and adopt the accompanying consistency resolution for Ordinance No. 08-26; the motion was seconded and the board took a roll call vote. A member raised a requested wording change to the resolution's first paragraph; the planner agreed that the edit was appropriate. The roll call produced seven affirmative votes and the chair declared the ayes carried, approving the consistency resolution.

The board had no site plans or subdivision hearings on the agenda. The planner noted there were no applications scheduled for the board's next meeting on Wednesday, June 3, but recommended not cancelling the date because administrative items might arise. The board opened the meeting for public comment; no members of the public spoke. The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn carried.

The planning board's action is a procedural finding that the ordinance conforms with the borough planning documents; it does not itself adopt the ordinance as local law. Any further steps (such as formal introduction, additional hearings, or council action) were not specified in the transcript.