Council moves to adopt Kipp Avenue redevelopment plan, highlights expanded affordable housing target

Council President Stephanie McGowan moved on Dec. 22 to adopt the Kipp Avenue redevelopment plan covering 64 Kipp Avenue and adjacent parcels, and the council carried the measure after the required second-reading motion and roll call.

McGowan summarized planning-board feedback that reviewed the plan for consistency with the borough master plan and recommended specific design and parking changes. She said the borough has moved the rental affordable-housing target from 15% to 20% to align with recent state practice and to demonstrate a commitment to affordable housing. The council president also flagged a robust planning-board discussion about parking layout and an off-site allocation approach, noting planners raised questions because many supportive-housing residents do not own vehicles.

The planning board considered the project and approved a motion to forward its feedback; McGowan said she abstained at the planning-board vote because she expected the project to return to the council. On the council floor, McGowan made the motion to adopt the redevelopment plan on second reading; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call.

Council discussion on the adoption was limited in the public record; no members of the public spoke during the council’s opportunity for comment on the ordinance. The council packet included the planning-board feedback referenced by McGowan, which focused on parking configuration and compatibility with the master plan.

What happens next: adopting the redevelopment plan moves the Kipp Avenue project forward to implementation steps that will require coordinated design review and any statutory filings associated with redevelopment plans. The council’s action does not itself finalize building permits or construction timing, and McGowan said the planning-board recommendations remain for council and developer consideration.