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Manalapan committee approves affordable housing overlay ordinance after prior hearings
Summary
The Township Committee voted to approve Ordinance 2020-07 establishing an affordable housing overlay zone; the committee noted further technical amendments may be introduced and said detailed design and traffic questions will be handled at the planning-board stage.
The Manalapan Township Committee voted May 27 to approve Ordinance 2020-07, which establishes an affordable-housing overlay zone covering specified parcels and allows multi-family housing with an inclusionary affordable set‑aside.
The ordinance was carried to the meeting for a vote after the public hearing closed at a prior session; Attorney Roger McLaughlin told the committee he planned to prepare further technical amendments and that the adoption tonight clears the way for subsequent regulatory steps. The vote passed by roll call with four members voting yes; Committeewoman Susan Cohen recused herself.
Mayor Eric McNaboe framed the vote as part of a state-driven requirement. “Nothing in the state of New Jersey trumps affordable housing,” he said, urging residents to raise detailed concerns at planning-board hearings where project specifics will be reviewed.
Residents who spoke during public comment said they expect traffic, school and service impacts to be key issues as proposals move to site plan review. Arlene Lindstrom, a resident who called in during the meeting, said she was worried about vehicle volume and road conditions if a large townhouse development proceeds. McNaboe responded that the planning board — not the township committee — will address traffic, access points and engineering details and encouraged residents to attend those hearings.
What happens next: ordinance adoption clears a municipal step in meeting Mount Laurel/affordable-housing obligations. McLaughlin said the committee could introduce mandatory or technical ordinance amendments at a future meeting; any site-specific proposals from developers will require planning-board review, engineered traffic studies and public hearings before final approvals.
The committee also approved routine resolutions tied to housing administration at the meeting, including appointment of Renee Garrigana as municipal housing liaison and an execution of a discharge of mortgage connected to the resale of an affordable unit at 501 St. Andrews Place.
