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Stanhope adopts new affordable‑housing code, overlay zones and related spending plans
Summary
The Borough of Stanhope adopted a comprehensive Affordable Housing ordinance implementing P.L.2024 changes, created five Affordable Housing Overlay zones with a 20% set‑aside, and approved related spending, marketing and rehabilitation plans to meet Fourth‑Round obligations.
The Stanhope Borough Council on March 10 adopted Ordinance 2026‑02, a comprehensive rewrite of the borough’s affordable‑housing regulations to implement P.L.2024, c.2 and related state controls. Mayor Wronko opened a public hearing on the ordinance, which replaces the prior Municipal Housing Liaison provisions and creates a new Chapter 57 covering definitions, monitoring and enforcement. The ordinance requires municipalities to report via the AHMS portal, prescribes affordability control periods, and formalizes monitoring and enforcement steps for deed restrictions and rehabilitated units.
The council also adopted Ordinance 2026‑03, creating five Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) zones (AHO‑1 through AHO‑5) on specified blocks and lots and setting a mandatory 20% affordable unit set‑aside for qualifying developments. The overlay establishes per‑zone densities (for example, AHO‑2 and AHO‑3 at 22 units per acre), bulk and design standards, parking requirements meeting RSIS and state EVSE rules, and siting rules intended to intersperse restricted and market units.
Council members said the package is designed to satisfy the borough’s Fourth‑Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. The council voted to adopt the ordinances by roll call (Romano moved; Riccardi seconded; all voting members present voted yes; Councilman Thornton was absent).
In tandem with the ordinance adoptions, the council approved three resolutions tied to implementation: adoption of an Affirmative Marketing Plan, a court‑required Affordable Housing Trust Fund Spending Plan prepared by borough planner William Hamilton of Bowman Consulting, and a Rehabilitation Plan establishing minimum per‑unit hard‑cost subsidies and program administration. The spending plan authorizes use of development‑fee proceeds in compliance with UHAC and P.L.2024 guidance and requires Court approval before funds are spent. Attorney Leo requested a clerical correction to the endorsement resolution, which the council corrected before adoption.
Why it matters: the ordinance consolidates state statutory changes into local code, prescribes durable affordability controls (including 30‑ to 45‑year compliance periods for various funding streams), defines monitoring obligations for the Municipal Housing Liaison and administrative agents, and creates overlay zoning intended to provide realistic development opportunities. The council recorded that the measures are subject to Superior Court oversight and the Department of Community Affairs reporting requirements.
What happened next: the council instructed the clerk to post the adopted ordinances and authorized publication. Implementation steps described in the ordinance — including AHMS reporting, recording deed restrictions, and the Spending Plan’s court approval — are necessary before trust‑fund expenditures or development‑fee draws occur.
