Lebanon adopts comprehensive affordable housing ordinance to meet state requirements

The Lebanon Township Committee on March 11 adopted Ordinance No. 03-2026, the "Lebanon Township Fourth Round Affordable Housing Ordinance," a broad rewrite of municipal affordable-housing rules to conform with the New Jersey Fair Housing Act and Uniform Housing Affordability Controls.

The ordinance, introduced at the meeting and approved after the public hearing produced no speakers, implements the Township’s Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and reflects a Consent Order with Fair Share Housing Center, the Committee said. Mayor Jay Wojcik presided over the meeting and Mr. Tom McKee moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion passed with Ms. Beverly Koehler and Mr. McKee and Mayor Wojcik voting yes and Mr. Rich Webb recorded as an abstention.

The ordinance establishes multiple compliance mechanisms and program rules: a rehabilitation program with a minimum hard-cost allocation of $10,000 per unit and a 10-year affordability control period for rehabilitated units; an accessory-apartment program that requires recorded deed restrictions, utility-capacity verification and developer subsidies (at least $25,000 per low-income accessory apartment and $20,000 per moderate-income accessory apartment); and rules for alternative living arrangements and supportive housing projects.

It also sets unit-mix and affordability targets for new construction, requiring an equal split between low- and moderate-income units, at least 13% of restricted rental units to be reserved for very-low-income households, a minimum 20% affordable set-aside for developments of five or more units, and limits on age-restricted housing. Accessibility standards, affirmative-marketing requirements and detailed rent- and resale-price calculations tied to regional median-income limits are included.

To administer and monitor the program, the ordinance requires appointment of a Municipal Housing Liaison and authorizes designation of one or more Administrative Agents to manage applications, marketing and deed-restriction enforcement; it also mandates annual reporting to the Department of Community Affairs through the Affordable Housing Monitoring System.

The ordinance became effective upon adoption and publication as provided by law; Mr. McKee, who moved adoption, and Mayor Wojcik, who seconded, completed the formal vote recorded by the Clerk.

The Township’s next steps include implementation of the Administrative-Agent and Municipal-Housing-Liaison roles and the filing of required monitoring and spending reports with the State.