Hillsborough Could Face Lawsuit, Rejects Housing Plan: Mayor

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough could face a lawsuit after the township planning board unanimously voted to deny an affordable housing application due to environmental concerns.

"Public health and safety is always the top priority in Hillsborough Township, and this was the impetus for my motion," said Mayor Shawn Lipani.

Lipani moved to deny the Campus Associates application at the Feb. 25 planning board meeting which spurred the board to unanimously deny it.

Since the application did include an affordable housing element of 23 units there will be potential litigation brought against the township.

The application was ultimately denied because the application did not comply with the township's stream corridor ordinance, which requires a 150 feet boundary.

The township's ordinance is more restrictive than the Department of Environmental Protection which has a minimum requirement of only 50 feet.

Campus Associates' application only allotted for a 50-foot boundary.

Additionally, the downstream water flow capacity was also brought into question and the existing neighborhood of Taylor and Johanson Avenues raised concerns over flooding issues during the hearings.

"It is through the Planning Board process that applications such as this are reviewed and all aspects considered," said Lipani. "Here is a prime example of how the process works in so much as providing the factual testimony for consideration which resulted in this denial."

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