HOWELL – Howell Township has settled into an agreement with the Monmouth County Superior Court to allow for the township to set their fair share affordable housing obligation at 895 units, confirmed Township Manager Brian Geoghegan.
At the June 12 meeting, the council passed a resolution that allowed for the negotiation of a settlement agreement between the two parties in terms of Howell’s affordable housing obligation. The resolution not only set the townships obligation at 895 affordable housing credits, but it also provides the township time to come up with a compliant affordable housing plan and grants them immunity from builder’s remedy litigation.
Builder’s remedy suits are when a developer sues a town claiming that the town is trying to keep low income residents out. Such a suit in Mt. Laurel has led to every town in New Jersey having to plan for affordable housing.
It was announced at the Aug. 14 meeting that the township had officially reached a settlement for 895 affordable housing credits over Howell’s third round affordable housing obligation period, which is from 1999-2025, according to Township Attorney Joseph Clark.
The 895 units decided upon is actually 400 units less that what the Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC) calculated for Howell. The settlement is also likely preventing the township and its taxpayers from costly trials, according to officials.
