Affordable Housing Front And Center For Moorestown Council

MOORESTOWN, NJ - Moorestown Council will consider five proposed ordinances related to affordable housing when it meets Monday night. Moorestown Council will meet on Monday night, May 20, 7 p.m. at town hall. There will be a workshop session at 7 p.m., followed by the official action meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Two proposals will have a public hearing and are up for a final vote. The first proposal calls for a 100 percent senior affordable housing complex on Centerton Road to help the township satisfy its affordable housing obligation of 337 new units by 2025.

The maximum density proposed allows for no more units than provided for in the township's agreement with the Fair Share Housing Center. The developer intends to put market rate senior housing on the site, and wanted to ensure that the whole complex would be set aside for seniors, according to officials. Read more here: Council Introduces Senior Housing Proposal; Diocese Proposes Site

The other creates an Affordable Multiple Family Residences 5 (AMF-5) district on Centerton Road. Its permitted uses include a continuing care retirement community, senior congregate care community, age-restricted multiple dwellings, municipal use and open space.

At least 20 percent of the homes will be affordable to very low to moderate income housing, and 15 percent is set aside for rental units. Read more here: Council Introduces Affordable Proposal; Will Modify 2 Others

The other three proposals are set to be introduced, with public hearings and final votes scheduled for June 10. One would establish zoning on the Nagle Tract on the corner of Hartford and Centerton roads. There would be 150 total units, with 45 set aside for affordable housing. Read more here: Change Made In Affordable Housing Plans For Nagle Tract

Another would establish zoning on the MRD site on Route 38. There would be 175 total units, with 35 set aside for affordable housing.

The final proposal would establish general parameters for various affordable housing program participation that track state law, affordable housing regulations and other portions of township code, at the recommendation of Moorestown’s Affordable Housing Consultant.

There will be three consent agenda items that deal with paying for services related to affordable housing, including:
98-2019: AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF $70,047.05 FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A HOUSING PLAN FOR MOORESTOWN TOWNSHIP, BURLINGTON COUNTY (CLARKE CATON HINTZ): This resolution would allow for the payment of 6 months of services of the Affordable Housing Planner provided from November 2018 through April 2019;

99-2019: AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF $17,242.51 FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A HOUSING PLAN FOR MOORESTOWN TOWNSHIP, BURLINGTON COUNTY (JEFFREY R. SURENIAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC) This resolution would allow for the payment of 3 months of services of the Affordable Housing Attorney provided from January 2019 through end of March 2019; and

100-2019: AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF $1,187.50 FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR SPECIAL COURT MASTER SERVICES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A HOUSING PLAN FOR MOORESTOWN TOWNSHIP, BURLINGTON COUNTY (JOHN MACZUGA, P.P. AICP OF JDM PLANNING ASSOCIATES, LLC) This resolution would allow for the payment of the most recent month of services of the Court-appointed Special Master.

There are nine total items on the consent agenda.

There will also be one proposed ordinance and two consent agenda resolutions concerning Strawbridge Lake. First, during the workshop session, representatives from Bach Associates and Princeton Hydro will present an overview of ongoing, and proposed, Strawbridge Lake improvement projects.

During the regular action meeting, there will be a public hearing and final vote on a proposed ordinance to set aside $760,000 and borrow $532,000 in bonds and notes for various improvements along Strawbridge Lake.

The improvements include a pathway along the lake, restoration of the Children's Pond, and storm water improvements around Haines Drive. Preliminary engineering and design of the three projects are concluding and the projects are being bid. The township also has a $200,000 county grant to cover the work remaining to be done on these projects. Read more here: Temporary Capital Budget Covers Strawbridge Lake, ADA Proposals

One non-consent agenda item concerns setting aside $35,000 from Moorestown’s Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund for environmental improvements at the lake. The other concerns the awarding of a $35,000 contract to Princeton Hydro for vegetation control services at the lake.

The final proposed ordinance that will see a public hearing and final vote is one to change the fees for inspections related to various construction projects. The changes allow for reasonable increases in revenue that will help defray the costs of:

• enhancing software to allow a "public portal" to make the application and inspection process more efficient and user-friendly; and
• allowing for staffing initiatives that will expedite permit reviews and allow more convenient scheduling for residents with respect to inspections.

The fee increases are necessary to continue with improvements without raising property taxes, according to the agenda packet on the township's website. To view the changes, click here.

There are also four items on the consent agenda. To view the full agenda, visit the agenda center on the township's website.