Holmdel Will Unveil Affordable Housing Plan At Tuesday's Meeting

HOLMDEL, NJ — Update: Wednesday, Dec. 19: So many concerned residents came to Tuesday night's Holmdel Township Committee meeting that the room was almost standing room only. The Committee voted to adopt the affordable housing plan (3-1 in favor with Deputy Mayor Buontempo voting no).

On Tuesday night, Dec. 18 the Holmdel Township Committee will publicly unveil their latest affordable housing plan, and likely give their approval of it before sending it to a state judge for review in January.

Like most towns in New Jersey, Holmdel has an affordable housing obligation, mandated by law. However, for the past three years, Holmdel has been in active litigation and contesting the terms of the obligation.

State officials say Holmdel has an obligation to provide more than 700 units of affordable housing. The Holmdel Township Committee says they are working towards that mandate, with about 300 affordable housing already existing: Holmdel Mews (12 units), Hidden Woods (16 units), Gracewood Glen (9 units), Fox Chase (8 units), Palmer Square (33 units), Orchards (101 units), Holmdel Meadows (8 units) and Holmdel Village (70 units).

More affordable housing units, all family rentals, will be unveiled for Palmer Square (a site that is somewhat controversial due to chronic flooding and street closings) and North Beers Street. Details about both those sites will be unveiled at tonight's meeting.

Because Holmdel Mayor Tom Critelli has some financial connections to the North Beers Street property, he has recused himself from Tuesday night's Township Committee decision.

Some Holmdel residents, most notably a group called Holmdel Matters, said the current plan "already has its share of controversies and concerns .... It raises the specter of Section 8 housing (a.k.a. low-income housing)," the group said in an mass email sent out Tuesday.

They also said more family units could place a burden on Holmdel public schools.

"It also has long-term financial implications, including annual education funding that could be as high as $10 million per year that is not accounted for in the recent BOE referendum," Holmdel Matters said.

Once it is approved by the Township Committee tonight, Holmdel's affordable housing plan will then undergo a Fairness Hearing before a Superior Court Judge on Feb. 1, 2019.

All are welcome at Tuesday night's meeting, held at 7:30 p.m. in the court room at Holmdel municipal court at the Township building at 4 Crawfords Corner Road.

Ongoing Patch coverage of the affordable housing debate in Holmdel: Holmdel Will Advocate For Its Affordable Housing Plan In Court

Shutterstock photo