SIC OKs Fair Housing Plan

SEA ISLE CITY – This municipality’s City Council met to review three ordinances related to its fair housing obligations before a standing-room-only crowd of over 100. 
Council ultimately approved the ordinances unanimously. Solicitor Paul Baldini was given the floor by Council President Jack Gibson to explain the three implementing measures which addressed the city’s zoning map, inclusionary housing overlay district, added a set-aside provision and set development fees to provide for Sea Isle City’s two-unit obligation.
“All of the state’s municipalities have been living with the obligations as set forth in the Mt. Laurel decisions since the 1980s which held ‘reasonable opportunity’ for low- and medium-(income) housing must be afforded to qualified residents.
“The state Legislature ultimately put forward the ‘how’ as to methodology and the process for each municipality to be compliant,” explained Baldini as to the history of affordable housing in New Jersey.
Baldini noted that during the Christie administration the momentum for compliance fell to a halt and then in 2015 state courts revisited the issue for implementation.
“The three implementing ordinances we are considering today for approval were actually already presented in an open public meeting about one year ago, and also have come before Sea Isle’s planning board and reviewed per our housing plan,” he continued.
The elements of Sea Isle City’s compliance center on providing two units as affordable housing.
“Previously, the obligatory 2.5 percent community development costs went to the state, but now they will go to an affordable housing trust fund held by Sea Isle City. We anticipate these fees will reach about $22,421 in seven years, so in 2025, which would allow us to give a type of grant of $10,000 per project for anyone building affordable housing.
“We won’t pay out any money we have not collected. At no time, will any taxpayer money be used for this program. Mayor Desiderio was very clear and adamant about this point, and we have been able to hold the line with the state on this issue,” said Baldini.
Another element of the affordable housing ordinances provides for an age-restricted zone within civic or religious areas for senior citizen housing with a two-bedroom restriction.
Questions during the public comment period centered on site-specific questions related to a nuns’ property at 58th Street and the St. Joseph rectory and the aesthetic appearance of any construction which would need to be determined by the builder at the time, if indeed, there would be any interest in this type of construction. 
The “overlay” element of the plan was “an effort to be fair to both the neighborhood and builders by allowing an affordable housing unit along with a currently permitted number of units as well as a unit at market rates. 
Nothing has changed regarding permitting such as FEMA, parking, and height. It won’t be easy for anyone to do but we wanted to give this opportunity and also to be fair, as expressly desired by the mayor, said Baldini.
The last element of the plan was a set-aside of 20 percent for affordable housing in any zone if a builder wants to construct over and beyond what is allowed and thus would need a variance from the zoning board.
“This overlay applies only to above a five-unit threshold so is not realistic for Sea Isle. It’s meant more for large cities where a construction project might entail 150 units and so then the number of units at 20 percent of the total would make sense,” clarified Baldini.
There were a number of questions asked to hone in on specifics about Sea Isle’s obligations.
Responding, Baldini said no federal aid or grants are affected by these ordinances; there will be no increase in any taxes related to the ordinances; and that under the concept of “builder’s remedy” if Sea Isle City did not implement the plan, the municipality would be vulnerable to a potential lawsuit from a builder to construct a high-rise with multiple affordable housing units. 
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.