Court Approves Princeton's 4th Round Affordable Housing Plan

PRINCETON, NK — A Superior Court judge has approved Princeton's affordable housing plan for the Fourth Round housing cycle, clearing the way for the municipality to meet its state-mandated obligations through 2035.

Judge Robert Lougy of the Superior Court of NJ, Law Division – Mercer County, issued the Decision and Order on Feb. 13, accepting the recommendations of the state's Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program. The order approves Princeton's Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.

The order dismissed legal challenges to Princeton's plan filed by two groups — the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development and the Wilentz, Cleaves & McPherson parties. Program Judge Thomas C. Miller, J.S.C. (Ret.) found that New Jersey's constitutional affordable housing requirements and existing land use processes were sufficient to address the concerns raised by both groups.

Patch has reached out to PCRD for comment.

Lougy concluded that Princeton's plan provides a realistic path to building homes affordable to low- and moderate-income residents and called the settlement between Princeton and the Fair Share Housing Center "fair and equitable."

Princeton must adopt and file all required ordinances by March 15. Missing that deadline would cost the municipality its legal protection against lawsuits from developers seeking to build affordable housing without local approval, known as builder's remedy litigation.

Municipal Planner Justin Lesko said the municipality is prepared to meet the deadline.

"We are fully prepared to adopt the implementing ordinances necessary to secure final certification by the March 15 deadline," Lesko said in a statement.

The court's ruling follows a Feb. 10 recommendation by Judge Miller, who found that Princeton's plan established a legally sufficient framework for meeting the town's affordable housing obligations.

Under the settlement, Princeton will combine past unmet housing obligations with new requirements into a single plan, totaling 364 units of credit toward its affordable housing goals.

A separate review by Special Adjudicator Christine Confone-Navarro reached the same conclusion, finding that the settlement accounts for all outstanding housing obligations across multiple rounds of state requirements and includes enforceable measures to ensure the plan is carried out. She also recommended approval.

Both Miller and Confone-Navarro highlighted the 108 Stockton St. redevelopment project, which is slated to deliver 48 affordable homes near public transit, services and employment. The project has been endorsed by the Fair Share Housing Center and is backed by executed redevelopment and financial agreements.

Councilwoman Mia Sacks, who chairs the Council's Affordable Housing, Planning and Redevelopment Committee, called the ruling a significant milestone.

"We are extremely pleased that the Court has accepted the Program's recommendation to adopt Princeton's Fourth Round Plan in its entirety," Sacks said in a statement. "This successful outcome represents many years of work, and enables Princeton to fulfill its housing obligation over the next decade through thoughtful planning rather than courtroom uncertainty."

Once Princeton files its ordinances by March 15, the court will schedule a compliance hearing to formally certify the plan, locking in the town's legal protections for the duration of the Fourth Round housing cycle, which runs from 2025 to 2035.

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