Pompton Lakes planning board adopts housing element, approves zoning changes to implement fair‑share settlement

Pompton Lakes — The Pompton Lakes Planning Board voted unanimously to adopt an amended housing element (the Fair Share Housing Plan) and approved two enabling land‑use actions intended to implement a settlement addressing the borough’s 4th‑round affordable‑housing obligation.

Sanogita Chavan, who identified herself as working with H2M Architects and who testified as the planner preparing the amendment, told the board the settlement assigns the borough a portion of a 4th‑round obligation. "It's a total of 65 units," Chavan said, "so we are assigning 40 units, to be a part of that." She described how the amended housing element uses a mix of mechanisms, including selected redevelopment‑area sites and credits, to address the borough’s unmet need.

The board also reviewed and approved a draft amendment to the Bridal redevelopment plan that would allow residential use on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a specified property. Chavan told the board the ordinance tied to that amendment would cap the building at a maximum of 140 units, "20% of which would be affordable," and said she believes the amendment is consistent with the borough’s master plan.

Finally, the board reviewed ordinance 26‑05, introduced by the borough council, which would create an overlay for properties along Montclair Avenue (identified by Block 1800, lots 13.01 and 13.02) to provide additional opportunities to satisfy affordable‑housing requirements. Chavan reiterated that the planning board’s role in that review is advisory under state statute and that the council still must consider formal adoption.

Each item was opened for public comment; no members of the public spoke. The board then took roll‑call votes on the three formal items. For the resolution adopting the amended housing element and amending the master plan, the board recorded the following affirmative votes when the clerk polled members: Mister Simone, Mister Otto, Mister Trost, Doctor Penderpster, Mister Bovey, Mister Keating, Mayor Sarah, and Councilman Sanders. The board similarly approved the PB‑02 draft amendment (chapter 190, article 14A; block 100, lot 8) and found ordinance 26‑05 "not inconsistent" with the master plan by unanimous roll‑call votes.

Board members and counsel stressed that the approvals are regulatory steps to achieve compliance and do not authorize or approve any specific development or project. Chair noted the borough council was scheduled to act on the enabling ordinances the next day to complete the local adoption process.

What happens next: The planning board forwarded its approvals and consistency recommendation to the governing body for final action. Any future project applications necessitated by the adopted changes would be subject to separate land‑use reviews and approvals by the appropriate boards.

Votes at a glance: Resolution adopting housing element and master‑plan amendment — Motion by Mister Trost; second by Mister Keating; roll‑call — all present voted "yes" (names recorded in the minutes). Approving PB‑02 draft amendment (chapter 190, art. 14A; block 100, lot 8) — motion and second recorded in the minutes; roll‑call unanimous. Finding ordinance 26‑05 not inconsistent with the master plan (recommendation to governing body) — motion recorded; roll‑call unanimous.

(Reporting note: quotes and roll‑call names come from the planning‑board transcript and on‑the‑record testimony.)