Reluctantly, Town Council Introduces Zoning Change for Affordable Housing

Frequently, when the Livingston Township Council is in session, it is asked to hear from groups making presentations and trying to persuade the council to approve or deny whatever they’re promoting.

Some of the presentations come from professionals regarding proposed projects. Other presentations may be delivered by passionate residents who see a need for reform.

This week, however, the council received a special presentation -- one they won’t soon forget.

The Troop 12 Boy Scouts of Livingston presented the council with a plaque containing the names of 141 Eagle Scouts to be displayed in town hall. Mayor Rudy Fernandez, who accepted the plaque on behalf of the council, described Troop 12, which was founded in 1926, as a "Who's Who in Livingston.” More information on the group can be found here.

After the presentation, the council moved on to an agenda that included the introduction of two new property ordinances. Fernandez explained the ordinances were builder's remedy lawsuits filed against the town relating to four pieces of property: the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, Don's Restaurant, the old Squiretown school complex, and the old DuBrow's site.

The court ruled the township must zone the property that once housed DuBrow's Nursery as an R-5H Residence District. The court also ruled the Squiretown property off of Old Road be zoned an R-5I Residence District. Both zone changes could clear the way for affordable housing on those sites.

The council voted unanimously to introduce the new ordinances, but many members let those in attendance know that they were in no way supporting the court's ruling.

After voting, council member Gary Schneiderman voiced his opposition to the ruling. "We have the right to appeal and fight against this," he said.

Deputy Mayor Stephen Santola concurred and explained it was necessary for the council to vote in favor of the new ordinances. "We are compelled to introduce the new zoning in order to have our rights to an appeal."

Township Manager Michele Meade added a statement within each ordinance that stated they were being created out of protest. The council will have a final hearing on the issue on March 28.

In other matters before the council:

• Approval was granted to award a contract of $188,838 to the Sanbord Map Co. for surveying and mapping services that will be used to create the town's system, which has been discussed in great detail over the past month.
• In the conference portion of the meeting Michele Meade shed light on the town's decision to apply for a Sustainable Land Use Planning Grant from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions.

Meade explained this particular grant would enable the township to analyze the roads in town for vehicular and pedestrial traffic and determine which streets are in need of repairs the most. 

The town council will meet next Monday night with the conference meeting beginning at 7:30.