Affordable Housing Hearing In Millburn Postponed Once More

MILLBURN, NJ — It's deja vu all over again, as Millburn's hearing about complying with state affordable action mandates — a hearing that was moved from December to this coming Friday — has now been pushed back again, this time to Friday, Jan. 20.

The issue has been controversial in Millburn.

Residents and officials have wrangled for years over how the town, one of the 100 wealthiest in the nation, can best comply with a state requirement for every municipality to provide affordable housing.

The mandate has roots in a 1980s New Jersey court case in which residents of Mount Laurel sued the town over access to affordable housing.

A year ago, the Millburn Township Committee approved a settlement with the Fair Share Housing Corporation, a non-profit activist group, to meet their affordable housing obligations with new development by the end of 2025.

But the proposed plan has proved controversial.

Residents (and some officials) particularly objected to an all-affordable housing development at 9 Main St., which would provide 75 units for families. A petition from residents protesting the building has amassed 2,076 signatures.

Some said that the building should have a mix of incomes, while others said they had environmental concerns with the site. READ MORE: Affordable Housing Building Draws Debate At Meeting

In December the town announced that a scheduled Affordable Housing Compliance Hearing about the settlement had been rescheduled for Jan. 13, via Zoom.

Residents have been writing letters to the judge in the case, saying more public input is needed into the plan.

In November, a local group tasked with recommending new attorneys proposed an attorney to work with the town in complying. At the Township Committee meeting that month, the members voted to hire Jarrid Kantor, who had served as Livingston's town attorney.

New Hearing

The next hearing will now be held via Zoom at 10 a.m. on Jan. 20.

The town said on Wednesday, "Zoom details will be shared when information becomes available."

Read prior reporting and see links to more background here.