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Elk Township planning board adopts amended housing element, approves site plan and backs 20% inclusionary set‑aside
Summary
At its April 15 meeting the Elk Township Combined Planning & Zoning Board approved completeness for a minor subdivision, adopted the Amended 4th Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, granted a site‑plan variance to Country Roads Realty and reviewed ordinances that would require a 20% inclusionary affordable housing set‑aside for developments of five or more units.
The Elk Township Combined Planning & Zoning Board on April 15 approved a series of housing actions, adopting an amended housing element and fair‑share plan, granting a major site‑plan variance for a local development and reviewing two ordinances that would require inclusionary affordable units for future townhouse projects.
The board voted unanimously (8–0) to deem complete the Oldt Minor Subdivision application (SD‑26‑01) for properties at 923 and 925 Aura Road after Board Engineer Steve Bach told members the applicant had supplied the materials referenced in the Planner and Engineer’s letter dated July 3, 2024. Later, the board approved by roll call the Amended 4th Round Affordable Housing Obligations and adopted Resolution 2026‑10 memorializing the Amended 4th Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan as part of the township Master Plan.
Why it matters: the Amended 4th Round update and the two ordinance reviews are the township’s mechanism for meeting fair‑share housing obligations and for setting standards that will govern how future developments provide affordable units.
In a separate action, the board adopted Resolution 2026‑9 granting preliminary and final major site plan approval with a bulk variance to Country Roads Realty, LLC for property at 730 Buck Road (Block 44, Lot 4). The minutes record that the motion to adopt Resolution 2026‑9 carried with a roll‑call tally recorded as 6 in favor, 0 against, 1 abstention.
Board Engineer Steve Bach also presented and discussed two ordinances tied to townhouse development and master‑plan consistency. Ordinance 0‑3‑2026 would permit townhouse projects with inclusionary affordable units on a set of identified parcels (including the Nicholson Corner blocks). Ordinance 0‑4‑2026 was reviewed for Master Plan consistency; the minutes state that the ordinance would require any development of five housing units or more to set aside 20% of units as inclusionary affordable housing.
Public input at the meeting was limited. During the general public portion, resident Alfredo Gonzalez asked for a copy of the traffic study performed for the Aura 3 development; Board Secretary Ann Marie Weitzel said she would follow up and provide that information.
The board took recorded votes on multiple procedural and substantive items (see “Votes at a glance”). The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Votes at a glance: 1) Oldt Minor Subdivision (SD‑26‑01) — motion to deem application complete: 8–0–0 (approved). 2) Resolution 2026‑9 (Country Roads Realty, SP‑25‑01): recorded as 6–0–1 (adopted). 3) Approval of Amended 4th Round Affordable Housing Obligations: 8–0–0 (approved). 4) Resolution 2026‑10 (memorializing Amended 4th Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan): 8–0–0 (adopted). 5) Resolution 2026‑11 (procedural adoption recorded in minutes): 8–0–0 (adopted). 6) Review of Ordinance 0‑4‑2026 for Master Plan consistency and Resolution 2026‑12: 8–0‑0 (adopted).
What to watch next: adoption of ordinances 0‑3‑2026 and 0‑4‑2026 by the governing body (if referred) and any follow‑up distribution of the Aura 3 traffic study requested by a resident.
