Boro fast-tracks affordable housing
Due to pressing need, Menna prompts council to act quickly
BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer

The Red Bank Borough Council expedited passage of two ordinances this week that will support the creation of affordable housing in Red Bank.

The new ordinances introduced Monday would require developers to construct or fund affordable housing units in compliance with requirements of the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).

Developers with applications currently before the planning or zoning boards would be subject to the new rules if the application is voted on after the borough’s round three plan is accepted by COAH.

Councilman Pasquale Menna said he is concerned that because there are so many applications in front of the planning and zoning boards with high numbers of residential units, some of these may be passed before the borough has the ordinances in place.

“Ninety percent of our public works department,” said Menna, “would be eligible for this housing, and a lot of our volunteers.

“If we don’t adopt the plan ... and some of the big applications now in front of the planning and zoning boards pass, we will be way too late to help them.”

Councilwoman Jennifer Beck said she shared Menna’s concerns about the large applications that could go a long way in helping the borough to meet the third-round COAH obligations.

The council planned to simply discuss the two ordinances at its meeting on Monday, but Menna felt the need was so urgent that, with Assistant Borough Attorney Thomas Hall giving the go-ahead, the council introduced the ordinances, planning to hold the final vote at their next regular meeting.

Mayor Edward J. McKenna Jr. said that he is proud that the borough, despite the fact that much of its COAH obligations in the past have been forgiven due to lack of space for new development, has worked to create affordable housing.

“We’ve created about 200 units of affordable housing,” said McKenna, “primarily for seniors.”

He said that the best examples of affordable housing in the borough are the River Street Commons, Locust Landing and Wesleyan Arms.

“Obviously,” said McKenna, “the need is there. It’s unfortunate that Red Bank, like so many other towns, is caught up in its own success.”

Hall explained that the third round of COAH obligations has been announced and municipalities have until Dec. 23 to create a plan that would allow for the construction of affordable housing units.

According to Hall, for every eight new residential units built in the borough, a developer must build one additional affordable housing unit, and for every new commercial project that generates 25 new jobs, one new affordable housing unit must be created.

As a part of the overall plan that must be submitted to COAH, the Borough Planning Board must calculate how much development is expected within the borough over the next ten years.

The ordinances allow the borough to impose the cost for building the affordable housing units on developers.

If a developer is creating nine new units, than one must be an affordable housing unit. If the developer is creating less than nine, than it shall pay its share into a trust fund created by the borough that will be used to fulfill the COAH obligations.

The first ordinance establishes the trust fund, and the second ordinance sets the formula for calculating the amount developers would have to pay into that fund.

The ordinances are set for final reading and adoption on Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Borough Hall.

“The ordinances have to be in place in support of our plan submitted to COAH,” said Hall.

Round one of COAH’s fair housing plan, according to Hall, focused on creating reasonable opportunities for affordable housing through the municipal zoning ordinances.

The second round was focused on the rehabilitation of existing homes.

Affordable housing is defined as housing that can be acquired for thirty percent or less of one’s income.

According to Donna Rose, executive director of the Monmouth Housing Alliance, in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Monmouth County, a single person must earn at least $42,000 per year.

“That’s four times minimum wage,” Rose has said. “We’re seeing average rents of about $750 to $900 for a one-bedroom apartment.”

She said that a “low income” wage earner makes between 35 and 50 percent of the median income, which, in 2000, was about $54,226.

Rose said there are about 500 homeless families in Monmouth County.