Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Affordable Housing Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stanhope Council introduces comprehensive affordable-housing ordinance, schedules March 10 hearing
Summary
The Borough of Stanhope introduced Ordinance 2026-02 to create a new Chapter 57 ‘Affordable Housing,’ codifying Fourth Round requirements including monitoring via AHMS, a 20% inclusionary set-aside for qualifying developments, development-fee schedules, and long-term affordability controls; the council unanimously approved introduction and set a March 10 public hearing.
The Borough of Stanhope on Feb. 10 introduced Ordinance 2026-02, a comprehensive rewrite establishing Chapter 57 (“Affordable Housing”) to implement P.L. 2024, c.2 and related state rules for the borough’s Fourth Round housing obligations. Mayor Wronko presided as the ordinance was read by title and the council voted unanimously to introduce it on first reading and set a public hearing for March 10, 2026.
Borough Planner William Hamilton told the council the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan revisions leave the borough’s obligation of 101 affordable units unchanged but modify some study-area boundaries after county sewer-service and slope considerations. Attorney Leo said the ordinance is intended to align borough code with the state Fair Housing Act and the Department of Community Affairs’ rules.
Key provisions in the introduced ordinance require annual electronic monitoring and trust-fund reporting through the state Affordable Housing Monitoring System (AHMS); establish a municipality-wide 20% affordable set-aside for developments meeting the threshold; and set design and parity requirements so restricted units use the same materials and have comparable access to amenities as market-rate units. The ordinance specifies control periods for ownership units (minimum 30 years) and rental units (minimum 40 years; 45 years for projects receiving Low-Income Housing Tax Credits), sets occupancy and bedroom-distribution standards, and requires an Affirmative Marketing Plan subject to court or Division review.
The text also codifies development-fee rules and trust-fund governance: residential development fees are established at 1.5% of equalized assessed value (with a 6% bonus fee for additional density units in certain variances), non-residential fees at 2.5%, and spending of trust funds must conform to a court-approved spending plan with specified reporting deadlines and an administrative cap (no more than 20% on administration). The ordinance includes enforcement remedies, remedies for noncompliance and processes for administrative agents and the Municipal Housing Liaison.
Council members pressed the planner on several technical items: Councilman Riccardi asked Hamilton to verify acreage changes and population figures and flagged a discrepancy in the trust-fund spreadsheet where a $50,000 line item did not match a $37,061 total; Hamilton committed to reviewing the figures and correcting typographical or citation errors. Councilman Thornton criticized the late timing of revisions, noting the borough is weeks from regulatory deadlines; Attorney Leo explained the timing stems from statewide processes tied to the Fair Share dispute-resolution and guidance schedules.
The ordinance was introduced on a motion by Councilman Wachterhauser, seconded by Councilman Smith; the Clerk was instructed to post and publish the ordinance and notify the Land Use Board as required. Because the ordinance is at first reading, the council has scheduled a March 10 public hearing for formal public comment and final action.
