Warren committee adopts suite of measures to implement Fourth‑Round affordable-housing plan

The Warren Township Committee adopted a series of ordinances and resolutions on March 12 to implement its Fourth‑Round affordable-housing obligations, including zoning changes, administrative contracts and trust‑fund spending rules.

The measures included adoption of Ordinances 26‑06 through 26‑11 to update development-fee rules and create new affordable‑housing (AH) zoning districts (AH‑9, AH‑10, AH‑11 and AH‑12), approval of an amended AH‑4 that removes hotels as a permitted use and provides for age‑restricted inclusionary housing, and endorsement of a Fourth‑Round Affordable Housing Trust Fund Spending Plan and Affirmative Marketing Plan. The Committee also approved professional contracts to administer affordable units and programs and authorized an agreement and deed‑restriction payments to extend affordable‑housing controls on existing age‑restricted units.

Why it matters: The package implements elements of the Township’s Housing Element and Fair Share Plan that were the subject of mediation and a court order establishing Warren’s Fourth‑Round obligation. The actions move policy decisions from planning stage to implementation — zoning changes, spending rules and administrative contracts are intended to ensure the Township meets court and state regulatory requirements for creating and preserving affordable units.

Key actions and approvals - Zoning and code changes: On second reading the Committee adopted Ordinance 26‑06 (repeal/replace development fees to fund affordable housing) and Ordinances 26‑07 through 26‑11 establishing and adjusting AH districts (AH‑9 through AH‑12 and amendments to AH‑4). Each ordinance passed on roll call with Committeemen McCarey and Blick, Deputy Mayor Kian and Mayor Fine voting yes; Committeeman Croson was absent. - Spending plan and marketing: The Committee adopted Resolution 2026‑099 (Affordable Housing Trust Fund Fourth Round Spending Plan) and Resolution 2026‑100 (Affirmative Marketing Plan), actions the Township said were required by recently adopted State regulations and by terms of the Mediation Agreement with Fair Share Housing Center. The marketing plan sets regional outreach requirements and requires listings on the New Jersey Housing Resource Center and regional outreach to Housing Region 3 (Hunterdon, Middlesex and Somerset counties). - Administrative contracts and program operations: The Committee awarded a professional services contract to Community Grants, Planning & Housing (CGP&H) as the administrative agent for affordable units (Resolution 2026‑098; not-to-exceed $16,600 per year) and to Rehabco, Inc. to administer the Housing Rehabilitation Program (Resolution 2026‑093; $10,000). The spending plan allocates trust-fund resources for these functions. - Preservation of existing units: The Committee authorized (Resolution 2026‑105) execution of agreements and deed restrictions with Cooperative Housing Corporation to extend affordable-housing controls for 15 supportive age‑restricted units that will expire during the Fourth‑Round period, with a payment of $175,000 ($17,500 x 10 units) from the Township’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund for deed‑restriction extensions and bonus credits.

Context and officials’ remarks Township Administrator Mark Krane and Township Attorney William Willard explained that the measures implement elements of the Amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan approved by the Planning Board and endorsed by the committee, and that several items on the consent agenda were directly tied to implementation of the Township’s Fourth‑Round obligations. As the Clerk read the meeting notice, she noted the meeting was “in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of New Jersey,” a procedural step the Committee followed before taking action.

Residents and board liaisons offered limited public comment on housing topics. During agenda-only public comment, John Lindner, chairman of the Planning Board, thanked the Committee and professionals for their work on affordable-housing planning. At the privilege-of-the-floor public session, Rick DePinho asked for clarification on Ordinance 26‑14 (reassignment of two affordable units to the Berlant/Straits Lane project), and Attorney Willard and Mr. Krane provided explanations regarding unit transfers and project footprint.

What happens next The Committee’s approval of the spending plan and affirmative marketing plan completes local adoption steps required by the Mediation Agreement and state rules; some ordinances were adopted on second reading and are effective according to municipal timeline. The administrative agent contract will be used to implement outreach, income qualification and unit placement. The Committee also reserved its right to amend the plan if final adjudication of the Township’s Fourth‑Round obligation changes, as noted in the Resolution endorsing the Amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.

Officials and contact information The Township identified Community Grants, Planning & Housing (CGP&H) as the administrative agent. Additional documents, including full ordinance texts, the spending plan, affirmative marketing materials and professional-service contracts, are available in the Township Clerk’s office and on Warren Township’s website.

Ending: The Committee tied the housing implementation measures to the court‑ordered Fourth‑Round process and said these steps permit the Township to proceed with outreach, deed‑restriction preservation and the administrative work needed to place and track affordable units.