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Colts Neck lays out plan to meet state affordable-housing obligations; committee aims to extend controls, convert existing units
Summary
Committee members described a multi-pronged approach to satisfy Round 4 obligations (101 units): extend affordability controls on current units, convert market-rate units to affordable housing where possible, and prioritize senior and veteran housing to limit school impacts. The township said it had received a court judgment of repose requiring a $2 million set-aside and that an appeal has been filed.
The Colts Neck Township Committee presented a detailed update on the township'9s affordable-housing obligations and its strategy to satisfy new state requirements without large-scale new development.
Committeeman Allan Bazetta summarized the town'9s status, telling residents the township'9s remaining Round 3 balance is 138 units and that Round 4 (2025—2035) assigns the township 101 units. He said the town recently received a court judgment of repose requiring the township to set aside $2 million for water and sewer if a developer brings a project that needs those utilities; the township has appealed that decision.
Bazetta outlined a mitigation strategy centered on three elements: extending affordability controls on existing in-ground units whose affordability periods are expiring, negotiating conversions of market-rate homes to deed-restricted affordable units, and developing targeted senior or veteran housing that would minimize impacts on public schools. "If we can extend those affordability controls and convert existing homes, we can satisfy a significant portion of the 101 obligation without new development in town," Bazetta said. He added that some conversions or extensions could reduce the existing balance in Round 3 as well.
Bazetta said the township will pursue options that yield credits under the new round'9s rules, including possible bonuses for converting market-rate units to affordable units. He stressed that the town'9s goal is to "satisfy that number with the least impact on our town" and to report progress to the public later in the year.
During a long public Q&A, residents raised technical and procedural questions: how recapture and right-of-first-refusal work for units under deed restrictions; whether converting market-rate units required buying properties or could be done through other incentives; how sewer or alternative septic (amphidrome) testing affects feasibility for larger projects; and which agencies or courts will make final determinations.
Officials replied with procedural details: the planning board will place the housing element and fair-share plan on its agenda for June 9, the governing body will hear the planner Beth McManis'9 presentation on June 11, and negotiations to extend controls or convert units are already under way with third parties. Township legal counsel and the planning subcommittee were described as working on implementation steps; the township also noted new state DCA tools and potential grant funding for life-cycle housing.
The public exchange included claims and corrections about past transactions at "the Grand" (an existing affordable-housing development), and committee members clarified that some recapture options only vest after deed restrictions expire, while conversion and extension incentives in Round 4 can yield credits when done sooner.
Mayor Terara Shabbus and other officials encouraged residents to consult published materials and upcoming planning-board documents for the full technical record and emphasized that litigation and negotiations are ongoing. "We're working tirelessly to satisfy that number with the least impact on our town," Bazetta said.
Next steps: the planning-board hearing on the housing element (June 9) and a planning presentation to the governing body (June 11) will provide more detail; the committee said it will continue reporting progress to residents.
