NOVEMBER 12, 2008 MINUTES
A
special meeting of the Planning Board of the Township of Roxbury was held on November
12, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. with Chairman Scott Meyer presiding. After the salute to
the Flag, the Chairman read the “Open Public Meetings Act.”
BOARD
MEMBERS PRESENT: Scott Meyer, Steve Alford, Charles Bautz, Linda Lutz, John Ciaramella, Michael Shadiack, Richard Zoschak, Jim Rilee, Robert DeFillippo, Joseph Schwab
ABSENT:
Larry Sweeney
PROFESSIONAL
STAFF PRESENT: Tom Germinario, Esq., Russell Stern, P.P.
NEW BUSINESS:
Adoption
of a new Housing Element/ Fair Share Plan and Master Plan Amendment
Mr. Stern made a
presentation of the Housing Element/Fair Share Plan to the Board. Roxbury Township is far ahead of a lot of communities by adopting this element. One of the
main components of Master Plan is the Land Use Element and the statement of the
goals, objectives and policies of the community towards growth. The Housing
Element needs to be submitted to COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) by
December 31, 2008 in order to protect the municipality’s zoning and protect the
municipality from builder remedy lawsuits.
Once the Board
adopts this document the Governing Body will review and endorse it by
Resolution. The Fair Share Plan tells how the Governing Body will enact this
housing element and also includes a spending plan to implement the housing
plan. Roxbury had received approval of the Second Round Housing Plan in 1997.
The Third Round Housing Plan was completed in 2005 and submitted. Then COAH
enacted new regulations increasing the Township’s obligation from 245 to 837
including prior round obligations. They met with COAH and got it reduced to
640 units.
We now have a
plan to address the 640 units. The plan has three components, the prior round
new construction obligation of 256 that has been met, the Third Round new
construction obligation to 2018 of 349 units and the last component, the
rehabilitation obligation of 35. Mr. Stern explained how the obligation of 640
units was further reduced to 585 because of an adjustment to the growth share.
They can fully
satisfy the prior round obligation with the minimum obligation of 63 units of
age-restricted rental units, credit for group homes, senior units and rental
units for a total of 256 to satisfy the prior round obligation.
For the Third Round
Growth Share obligation, the adjusted number, 295, has been met with existing
units and projects approved but not constructed. The plan will satisfy the
growth obligation units and outlines how through a combination of units already
constructed, a buy down program, approved projects, optimizing bonus credits
and a Market To Affordable program and zoning to accommodate. When growth share
is evidenced we will utilize municipal properties. Roxbury also qualified for a
compliance bonus.
The Plan might be
amended next year as more information becomes available and how COAH interprets
the new regulations. There is also potential for revisions to COAH because of
litigation and because the State changes the obligation and how it should be
addressed.
The plan
outlines the specific projects that address the COAH obligations and includes
the Spending Plan for the Housing Trust Fund.
The four
municipal sites proposed if growth is materialized include the Port Morris Fire
House, Edith Road that will be amended from rental to ownership, the DPW site
and the King Town site.
The Market To Affordable
program will contribute $25,000 to $50,000 to make the units affordable. The
Spending Plan will be amended in 2009 for 11 Salmon Road for a Habitat for
Humanity if necessary.
Mr. Rilee felt
this is agreat plan and they have met some of our needs already. This is a
plan that allows the Township the opportunity to have more of an influence in its
development.
After this plan
is approved the funds for the Housing Trust Fund can be used towards Port
Morris firehouse and the DPW site that are in need of redevelopment and
cleanup. They have exceeded the obligation in the Third Round Plan by 12 units.
These excess units could go toward a rehabilitation requirement.
Mr. Alford
wondered if our social services got involved in the COAH for rehabilitations.
This is a County program. It would make sense if they are involved. Mr.
DeFillippo said even church or other organizations could get involved in this.
The Fair Housing
and Spending Plan will be evolved after this plan is approved and even with
this Third Round Submission more will be required. The plan will be adopted at
the December 2, 2008 Council meeting. The Spending Plan might be amended with
regard to the rehabilitation aspect.
The State
recently gave municipalities a choice to opt into the Highlands Plan to get an
extension to the end of 2009 to comply with COAH. By doing this plan within the
deadline Roxbury gave nothing up to the developer or the State.
Demographics
supporting the Plan were also included in the Housing Element.
Mr. Stern thanked the Housing Committee and Chuck McGroarty of Banisch
Associates. The Board thanked Mr. Stern.
The meeting was
open to the public. No one from the public commented. The meeting was closed
to the public.
A motion to
approve the Resolution adopting the Housing Plan Element as part of the Roxbury
Township Master Plan with an amendment to Edith Lane and specifying Landing Road and capitalization of Third Round consistently was made by Mr. Ciaramella,
seconded by Mr. Bautz.
Roll
call: Mr. Ciaramella, yes; Mr. Alford, yes; Mr. Bautz, yes; Mrs. Lutz, yes;
Mr. Shadiack, yes; Mr. Zoschak, yes; Mr. DeFillippo, yes; Mr. Rilee, yes; Mr.
Schwab, yes; Mr. Meyer, yes.
The meeting was
adjourned by motion at 8:40 p.m.
FOR
THE PLANNING BOARD
TOWNSHIP OF ROXBURY
_________________________________
Eugenia
Wiss, Planning Board Secretary
11/17/08
