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Hamilton Township Council approves package of ordinances, refers affordable-housing changes to planning board
Summary
The Hamilton Township Council on Feb. 25 approved a consent agenda, adopted several ordinances including a $200,000 capital roof project, and referred code changes on affordable-housing fees to the Planning Board for review under NJSA 40:55D-26. A revised YMCA lease also cleared the council with one abstention.
The Hamilton Township Council approved a slate of routine and substantive measures at its Feb. 25 meeting, advancing amendments to land-use regulations, adopting capital and right-of-way ordinances, and approving a temporary budget amendment related to recent storms.
Council President opened the meeting and announced a set of amendments to the posted agenda, including the addition of a resolution naming an acting deputy municipal clerk for the night and CA17, an amendment to the 2026 temporary budget to cover storm-related snow removal expenses. “There has been an amendment to the agenda, since it was posted on the website,” the Council President said as the council moved to accept the change.
Why it matters: The council’s actions set spending priorities and move the township toward compliance with new affordable-housing requirements. Council members voted to refer proposed revisions to the land-use code—specifically replacement language for Chapter 550, Section 167 and Section 168 addressing affordable-housing development fees—to the Hamilton Township Planning Board for review pursuant to NJSA 40:55D-26. Staff told the council the township must adopt the required ordinances on or before March 15 to comply with the new law.
Key votes and measures: The council approved on second reading Ordinance 126-005, allocating $200,000 from capital-improvement funds for roof work on the police/Municipal Court building; the measure passed unanimously. Council approved Ordinance 326-007 to accept a right-of-way dedication from Meadowbrook Realty LLC for property at 1201 State Highway 33 and Ordinance 426-008 to vacate and extinguish public rights for portions of Williamson Avenue (a paper street). Several first-reading ordinances were introduced and advanced: Ordinance 126-009 and Ordinance 226-010 amend Part 3 (land use) to replace existing affordable-housing fee sections; Ordinance 326-011 would revise the township code on criminal-history background checks (definitions and fee requests).
Lease/recusal: Council considered a revised long-term lease to the Hamilton YMCA for recreational facilities on a portion of Block 2730, Lot 14.01 (the Saw Mill property). The council closed public comment and held a roll-call vote in which one member recorded an abstention; the ordinance moved forward with the remaining votes recorded as passing.
Consent agenda: The council approved Consent Agenda items CA1–CA17, which included two grant awards (about $16,007 and $35,000), curb and sidewalk improvements, capital replacements (two mowers and a 2026 Ford F-550), professional service agreements, road-improvement work (CA14), refunds for tax overpayments, and the temporary-budget amendment CA17 for storm response. Council asked about CA4 (Robert Frost Drive), a road-improvement item described by staff as a $464,000 project covering several streets near Alexandria School.
Next steps: The referrals to the Planning Board will be reviewed under NJSA 40:55D-26; staff said the planning review and subsequent hearings will allow the ordinances to return to the council for final action before the March 15 statutory deadline. Other adopted ordinances and resolutions take effect according to the township’s standard implementation process.
The meeting continued with public comments and closed after members offered final thanks to staff.
