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Cranford adopts Round Four affordable-housing rules, trust fund spending plan and marketing measures
Summary
The Township Committee unanimously approved ordinances and four resolutions to update affordable-housing rules, adopt an affirmative marketing plan and a rehabilitation manual, and submit a Fourth Round trust-fund spending plan seeking program and court approval to meet new State Round Four requirements.
Cranford’s Township Committee unanimously adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions on March 10 intended to bring the township into compliance with the State’s Fourth Round affordable-housing requirements.
The Committee adopted ordinances updating the Township’s development-fee schedule and affordable-housing regulations and approved expansions to certain overlay districts. In a linked vote the Committee also approved a binding resolution committing to adopt any remaining implementing ordinances and resolutions, an Affirmative Marketing Plan, a Rehabilitation Manual and a Fourth Round Affordable Housing Trust Fund Spending Plan to be submitted to the Program and/or court for review and approval.
Township Attorney Thomas Slattery said the measures implement requirements of the Amended Fair Housing Act and N.J.A.C. 5:99 and thanked municipal staff and consultants for meeting State deadlines. “These steps align the Township Code and administrative materials to current State regulations and create a spending plan that projects anticipated revenues to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund,” Slattery said in explanation to the committee.
During public comment residents asked where affordable units are located and how “affordability” is determined; Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty replied that affordability is calculated by an income formula and noted that existing affordable units are in multiple buildings across town. Some members of the public asked for additional resident notice when overlay zones are expanded; Township Attorney Slattery explained that notice to residents within 200 feet is not required for the ordinance at issue.
The adopted spending plan and supporting documents are intended to meet the Administrative Office of the Courts’ Directive #14-24 and related Round Four filing requirements. The Committee’s action requests program and court review and approval of the Spending Plan.
The Committee recorded unanimous aye votes on the package; the supporting ordinances and resolutions will be published in the Westfield Leader and posted as required.
