3 More Properties To Be Rezoned To Meet Bridgewater's Affordable Housing Obligation

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Three more properties are slated to be rezoned as sites for affordable housing development in Bridgewater.

The Township Council unanimously introduced three ordinances at its Thursday meeting to rezone the properties. These actions aim to help the Township meet its 421 affordable housing units obligation by 2035.

One site is located at 520 Route 22 East, which is a 5.53-acre lot located next to the former Hyatt House hotel, which has been converted into the Bridgewater Court apartments.

The property currently hosts an office building. "KRE" or Kushner Real Estate is proposing a 128-unit inclusionary family rental development with 28 affordable units.

Another proposed location is 1400 Frontier Road, a 16-acre property off Chimney Rock Road, just west of the Chimney Rock Crossing shopping center.

This location would be used to build a 340-unit restricted development inclusive of a set-aside of 70 affordable senior rental units, in additionto an on-site 5-bedroom, supportive needs group home.

Lastly, 250 Route 28 has been designated. This roughly seven-acre site is located between Routes 28 and 22 near Branchburg.

Known as Bridgewater Plaza, the property currently contains two office buildings, including a Social Security office and various medical practices such as ENT Allergy & Associates.

A 140-unit inclusionary family rental development, inclusive of a set-aside of 31 affordable units, is being proposed.

These introduced ordinances are part of Bridgewater's ongoing efforts to address its affordable housing requirements.

These three sites are in addition to the controversial rezoning of a property on Route 202/206 despite opposition from Bridgewater and Somerville residents.

The ordinance rezoned the 1.52-acre wooded, vacant site on Route 202/206 and Cornell Boulevard, next to Time To Eat Diner, to allow for affordable housing. The plan is to construct 11 100 percent affordable multi-family residential development units and four disabled veteran housing units.

A public hearing and final action on the ordinances is scheduled for March 5. This date is ahead of the March 15 deadline set by the state for all New Jersey municipalities to adopt the ordinances to meet its affordable housing plan for 2035.

At the Thursday Council meeting, Mayor Matthew Moench noted that his law firm is representing a collection of municipalities, known as the Local Leaders for Responsible Planning, who are challenging the methods that state officials use for determining housing requirements, calling them unconstitutional.

He asked that the Council circle back with legal counsel prior to the March 5 hearing to see if the Township's affordable housing obligation has changed before making a final vote on the three ordinances.

"I just want to make sure that we are not we're not acting sooner than we need to act in case any of the courts have any impact on the law," said Moench.

Council President Joan Gieger also noted that "Bridgewater is probably one of the best towns in the state in terms of compliance, in terms of overcomplying... they follow the law."

Councilman Michael Kirsh added that, "It was alluded to that Bridgewater has a very positive track record as it relates to previous affordable housing rounds. That is a strength of this community."

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