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Cranford Planning Board adopts amended 2025 housing element, clears related ordinances
Summary
The Cranford Planning Board on March 4 adopted the Amended 2025 Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan after a public hearing and voted that three draft ordinances are consistent with the Master Plan; the board also set an appeal timeline of 45 days for challengers.
The Cranford Planning Board on March 4 adopted the Amended 2025 Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (HEFSP) following a public hearing and a presentation by Darlene Green of Colliers Engineering.
Green, sworn in by Board Attorney Jonathan Drill, summarized changes since June 2025 and said the town received two challenges to the plan—one from the Fair Share Housing Center and one from property owner Tan & Tog LLC, owner of the Reel Strong site on Lexington Avenue. She told the board the town entered mediation and made minor revisions to the plan.
The most substantive edits Green described included increasing the realistic development potential (RDP) from 24 to 27 units, adding a study of the EF Britton site for possible designation as an Area in Need of Redevelopment, updating the plan text to reflect state guidance and 2025 income limits, and reallocating credits and overlay-zone bonuses for the Downtown and Park Street areas. She confirmed that a property owner challenging the plan has 45 days after judicial approval to file an appeal.
After discussion, Chair Juan Carlos Nordelo moved to adopt the Amended HEFSP; the motion, seconded by Ms. Pedde, passed on a roll-call vote. Members voting affirmative were Juan Carlos Nordelo, Commissioner Black, Mr. Geier, Mayor Miller Prunty, Ms. Pedde, Mr. Leber and Mr. Dunn; no members voted against the plan. The board also adopted Resolution PB-2026-05 to memorialize the adoption.
During the same meeting Board Planner Nicholas Dickerson reviewed three ordinance referrals tied to the HEFSP. He advised that Ordinance No. 2026-06 (revising Affordable Housing Development Fees to reflect December 2025 N.J.A.C. 5:99 regulations and the Amended Fair Housing Act) is not inconsistent with the Master Plan. The board voted to recommend the ordinance is not inconsistent. Dickerson also said Ordinance No. 2026-07 (revising Affordable Housing Regulations to align with the December 2025 Uniform Housing Affordability Controls and N.J.A.C. 5:99) is consistent with the HEFSP; the board recommended it is not inconsistent with the Master Plan. Finally, Dickerson reviewed Ordinance No. 2026-08 to expand the Downtown Transition Overlay District and the Park Street Overlay District and advised it is substantially consistent with the Master Plan; the board recommended it accordingly.
The transcript records paraphrase of presenters and staff; no verbatim quotes from participants were included in the record.
The board’s adoption of the HEFSP and the ordinance consistency recommendations are administrative steps tied to Cranford’s compliance with state affordable-housing rules; the plan remains subject to any judicial appeal within the statutorily allowed period.
