Madison council endorses 4th‑round housing element to avoid builder’s remedy

The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Madison voted to adopt Resolution 106 (2026), endorsing the borough’s fourth‑round housing element and fair‑share plan and affirming the borough’s intent to implement the plan.

The endorsement, approved in a special meeting called to meet a March 16 deadline, reiterates a planning-board‑adopted document that the borough attorney said is part of Madison’s master plan. Marina, the borough attorney, said: “The housing element and fair share plan was already adopted by the planning board. It’s their document. It’s part of the master plan.”

Mayor Conley said the council’s endorsement is largely procedural because the planning board will handle standard development applications, but the governing body would be involved for any area‑in‑need‑of‑redevelopment designations. “If we failed to implement strategies to encourage or allow affordable housing, we certainly would be exposed to a builder’s remedy,” Conley said, describing the legal and development risk the endorsement is intended to reduce.

A council member asked whether projects presented to the planning board would require another council vote; Marina and the mayor clarified that routine land‑use applications follow planning‑board standards, and that variances or planning‑board approvals do not change affordable‑housing requirements in the adopted plan.

Councilmembers Landrigan, Range, Harlan Putas, Hannahan and Cohen voted yes; Councilmember Forte was absent. The motion and second were recorded on the meeting transcript but the members who moved and seconded the motion were not identified by name in the audio record. The resolution endorses the 4th‑round housing element and affirms the borough’s intent to implement related ordinances and resolutions as recommended by the planning board.

Mayor Conley opened public comment and said no members of the public were logged in; the council then adjourned the special meeting.