Clinton Township Newsletter

1 8 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 8 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com C L I N T O N T OW N S H I P M U N I C I PA L N E W S w w w. C l i n t o n T W P N J . c o m As I'm sure you know, affordable housing has been a difficult issue for many municipalities in New Jersey for the past 30+ years. Unfortunately, the executive and legislative branches have not seriously addressed the constitutional requirement for communities to provide an appropriate amount of affordable housing. As a result, in March of 2015, the Supreme Court, with great reluctance, ruled that the courts would assume responsibility for determining the obligation each municipality has to provide this housing for the so-called Third Round period running from 1999-2025. Our Township then joined with several hundred other municipalities in a legal effort to ensure that the magnitude of this obligation made sense in the real world and was apportioned fairly. While this work was going on, to protect against a so-called builders remedy law suit in which a developer could propose a project consisting of 80-85% market and 15-20% affordable units, the Township filed a Declaratory Judgement action in Somerset County Superior Court. During the past spring and summer, our professionals considered proposals from and interviewed those developers who had expressed interest in building affordable housing in the Township. The proposals were then discussed with Council and the Planning Board in executive session. Settlement negotiations also then began with Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC), the only public interest organization entirely devoted to defending the housing rights of New Jersey's poor through enforcement of the Mount Laurel Doctrine, the landmark decision that requires all towns to provide their "fair share" of their region's need for affordable housing, and an organization designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as an "interested party" in all affordable housing cases in the State. The negotiations with FSHC centered on agreeing to both the Township's "fair share" number and a compliance plan to achieve this number. Our discussions started with an obligation, from FSHC's perspective, of 1,454 units (which was capped by law at 913 units) and concluded recently at an obligation of 337 affordable housing units. The projects contained in our settlement include 100% affordable projects on portions of the Windy Acres and Marookian properties, a large inclusive project on the Headley Farm above the Annandale train station, and a smaller inclusive project on an undeveloped lot in Beaverbrook. Of note, a proposed 491-unit development on an environmentally sensitive parcel, and a proposed project which would have built on part of the golf course at Beaverbrook, were not selected. This settlement was unanimously approved by Council on December 13, 2017. The next step will be a Fairness Hearing in the Superior Court, where anyone from the public will have the right to object to the settlement or raise concerns. We believe the Fairness Hearing could occur sometime in February, 2018. Following this, there will be multiple public hearings in front of the Planning Board and Council to develop a new Affordable Housing Plan and the associated zoning changes. I would like to thank Council, the Planning Board and our professionals for their hard work and their support in making these difficult decisions for our Township. A copy of the settlement agreement has been posted on the Township website. Respectfully, John Higgins, Mayor A L e t t e r f r o m John Higgins, Mayor, Clinton Township, NJ Questions? Call the Township Clerk: 908.735.8800, ext 204. YOU CAN NOW PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES ONLINE Please see the "PAY YOUR BILLS ONLINE" tab at: www.ClintonTWPNJ.com Administrative (Non-Police and Court) address: 1225 Route 31 South, Lebanon, NJ 08833 Police and Court: 1370 Route 31 North, Annandale, NJ 08801 R A B I E S C L I N I C The Annual Rabies Clinic, held jointly with the Town of Clinton, will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018, from 8:00 am – 11:00 am at the Municipal Building at 43 Leigh Street in Clinton. Both dogs and cats are vaccinated at this free event, open to Clinton Township and Town of Clinton residents. PA r k I n G P r o h I B I t I o n F o r s n ow P L ow I n G A n d r e m ovA L Whenever snow has fallen and the accumulation is such that it covers the streets or highways, an emergency shall exist, and no vehicle shall be parked on the streets or highways or portions thereof indicated. The above parking prohibitions shall remain in effect after the snow has ceased until the streets have been plowed sufficiently and to the extent that parking will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic. Any unoccupied vehicle parked or standing in violation shall be deemed a nuisance and a menace to the safe and proper regulation of traffic and any police officer may provide for the removal of such vehicle. The owner shall pay the reasonable costs of the removal and storage which may result from such removal before regaining possession of the vehicle. The above regulations apply to all municipal streets in the Township. m A I L B ox e s A n d s n ow The Township asks all homeowners with rural mail delivery to check the distance between the mailbox and the curb. Mailboxes hanging over the curb may be too close to the street and run the risk of being damaged by a snow plow. Our Public Works drivers make every attempt to be mindful of mailboxes. In the event your mailbox does sustain damage, the Township will either repair your mailbox or reimburse the homeowner up to $75 with proof of receipt. Questions? Call the Township Clerk: 908.735.8800, ext 204.

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