Hopewell Borough adopts affordable‑housing, development‑fee, cannabis‑hours and water‑easement ordinances

At its March 5 meeting, the Hopewell Borough Council voted on and adopted a series of ordinances and resolutions aimed at implementing affordable‑housing requirements, updating local development fee rules, adjusting cannabis retail hours, and correcting a waterline easement.

Board of health alternates (Ordinance 909). Council adopted Ordinance 909 to add alternate positions to the Board of Health to ensure quorums and continuity. Councilmember roll-call votes were recorded in favor during the meeting (record of votes on the public record).

Affordable‑housing and U‑Hack controls (Ordinance 910). The council adopted Ordinance 910, which accepts the state’s uniform housing affordability controls (U‑Hack) and aligns borough administration with state rules governing income verification, unit administration and resale formulas. Planning staff said the ordinance implements a state template and applies when the borough administers affordable units. The council took public comment before adopting the ordinance.

Development‑fee ordinance (Ordinance 911). Council repealed and replaced the borough’s development‑fee ordinance to comply with current state rules. The ordinance enables the borough to collect fees on certain new residential and non‑residential development that would be placed in an affordable‑housing trust for eligible uses (rental assistance, new units, administrative costs). Planning staff told the council the borough previously had a development‑fee ordinance but has not collected significant fees in earlier rounds; this update positions the borough to collect and spend those funds under state rules.

Cannabis retail hours (Ordinance 912). Council amended local code to allow authorized cannabis retailers to match shopping‑center hours (closing at 9:00 p.m.). The ordinance passed on recorded vote; the transcript shows one recorded “No” vote during the roll call and the remainder in favor.

Waterline easement correction (Ordinance 913). The council adopted an ordinance vacating a recorded 30‑foot waterline easement and accepting a conveyance of a new 20‑foot waterline easement (Block 8, Lot 44.01) to align the recorded easement with the pipe’s actual location. The change accompanies a separate consent/encroachment agreement noted on the agenda.

Administrative steps to implement affordable housing. As part of the consent agenda, council approved resolutions appointing an administrative agent and a municipal housing liaison, endorsing an updated affordable‑housing plan, and adopting an affirmative‑marketing template required by the state. Planning staff said the administrative agent will administer income verification, tenant selection and marketing required under U‑Hack.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 909 (Board of Health alternates): adopted (roll call recorded in meeting). - Ordinance 910 (U‑Hack / affordable‑housing controls): adopted (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 911 (Development fee ordinance): adopted (roll call recorded). - Ordinance 912 (Cannabis store hours): adopted; one recorded “No” vote on roll call. - Ordinance 913 (Waterline easement correction): adopted (roll call recorded).

Next steps. Planning staff will post the adopted ordinances and the state‑required administrative templates (affirmative marketing, administrative‑agent designation) to the borough’s files. Council also approved a block of resolutions (2026‑35 through 2026‑46) that implement program administration for affordable housing and create the trust account/budgeting mechanics to receive any future development fees.