VILLAS — Township Council endorsed its affordable housing plan by resolution May 4. The township has an obligation from the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to provide 107 affordable housing units by 2018.
Township Planning Director Bill Galestock said 80 percent of the township is affordable housing but it doesn’t count towards its COAH obligations.
COAH obligations are divided into Round One, Two and Three regulations. Round One and Two consists of the township’s unmet affordable housing obligations from 1987 to 1999, which totals 324 housing units.
In 2004, COAH created Round Three of affordable housing obligations, which cover from Jan. 1, 2004 to 2018 with new rules. Round Three obligations are not based on a fixed number of units needed but based on “growth share,” which is based on new construction.
For every five market-rate units constructed, there is an obligation of one affordable unit. For every 16 new jobs created in the township by a business, one affordable unit must be constructed.
Under Round Three, the township has an obligation of 100 affordable units.
Combined with an obligation of 324 units from Round One and Two, the township’s total was 424 affordable housing units. However, the township was able to gain credit and reduce that number with some senior housing.
Although the township has a lot of senior affordable housing, COAH allows only 25 percent of its obligation to be met through senior housing.
Solicitor Tony Monzo recommended council consider a growth share ordinance so “developers share the affordable housing burden” by paying development fees. The township cannot force developers to participate who already have approval.
An affordable housing fee ordinance would require commercial developers to pay a development fee of 2.5 percent of assessed value and new residential developments would be required to pay a development fee of 1.5 percent of assessed value. The money would go into a dedicated trust fund for affordable housing in the township.
At this point, the borough is not putting its growth share ordinance into effect. Filing with COAH will protect the township for two years from a Builder’s Remedy Lawsuit. During that time, the township can decide if it wants full certification, which would protect the township through 2018.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.
Lower Township – The days of the subscription lifestyle are here. Just bought that new house? To be able to use the bathroom is $12.95 a month. You want to cook in your new kitchen? It’ll cost you $14.95 a month….
