Saddle River adopts zoning for 42-unit age-restricted affordable housing to meet court fair-share obligations

On May 18 the Borough of Saddle River adopted Ordinance 26-119 to establish Affordable Housing District 6, enabling an age-restricted, 100% affordable housing project totaling 42 units (16 units from a fourth-round settlement plus 26 units from the third round).

Municipal attorneys and planners told the public the ordinance implements the borough's housing element and fair-share plan and is intended to secure a judgment of compliance and repose under the settlement process. The planned project site was described as a triangular parcel between Route 17 and East Allendale Road; the transcript identifies the project as age-restricted, 100% affordable and comprising 42 units.

Public commenters during the hearing urged the council and developer to consider pedestrian safety, including sidewalks or safe access to downtown, and asked whether the county had been consulted on traffic and crossing conditions near the site. Borough staff said the developer and engineering team had been engaged and that the borough had negotiated additional parking and minor reconfiguration to provide roughly four to five more spaces in response to local concerns.

Council members recorded a motion and roll-call vote adopting Ordinance 26-119; Council President read the passage statement that the ordinance "has been approved upon second reading and will be posted on the Saddle River website." The ordinance was presented as a required element to complete the borough's fair-share obligations under court order.

The ordinance's adoption is a zoning change that allows the developer to proceed toward site-plan submission, after which planning-board review will determine final design, parking and pedestrian accommodations.