Toms River Affordable Housing Plan Faces Hearing

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River's plan to provide 1,285 units of affordable housing by 2025 will be the subject of a compliance hearing in Superior Court in Ocean County next month.

A notice posted on the township's website says the compliance hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, before Judge Mark Troncone.

The hearing is for Troncone to review and approve the township’s updated Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, including implementing ordinances, as meeting Toms River's obligation to "provide a realistic opportunity to satisfy its rehabilitation, Prior Round and Third Round 'fair share' of the regional need for housing affordable to low income and moderate income households" under the 2015 state Supreme Court decision, according to the notice.

Toms River officials announced in December that the township had reached an agreement to provide 1,285 affordable housing units between now and 2025, an amount that was 50 percent in initial estimates of what the township should provide. It came after a lengthy legal battle with state housing advocates.

Township officials said most of the units needed to fulfill the mandate already are under construction or have been approved,which means new construction impact will be minimal to residents.

Toms River officials also were critical of the housing policy in the December announcement.

"The state’s misguided affordable housing policy has led to excessive development, which results in higher property taxes, infringement upon local control, overcrowded local schools and overstressed municipal services," officials said.

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