JACKSON – The Township Council will be voting tonight on several ordinances that were prompted following the Planning Board’s adoption of a master plan and affordable housing plan.
Mayor Michael Reina had previously told The Jackson Times, “Both the Master Plan and Affordable Housing plan reflect the many changes occurring here now in Jackson.” He also noted that “the DOJ (Department of Justice) consent order has shaped it in many corridors and neighborhoods.”
“Many areas were gray – causing zoning questions, issues and unfortunately a few lawsuits. Reading what I have seen it looks solid, covers the ‘gray’ areas and hopefully tightens up regulations that can be adhered to by all and duly enforced if it warrants,” the mayor added.
That consent order however does not involve the ordinances being voted on tonight. The three ordinances introduced two weeks ago were generated in response to the Affordable Housing plan which calls for 1,000 units on 17 different sites.
The master plan is a blueprint for growth in town that focuses on land use, transportation, utilities, housing, historic preservation, climate change vulnerability, open space and recreation areas.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn explained that “the master plan team worked on this for 18 months” and that it included recreation improvement goals and smart development.
The three ordinances, 2025-29, 2025-30 and 2025-31 call for amending regulations pertaining to the “RG3-Regional Growth Zone” and land use and development regulations that would establish an inclusionary zone district providing affordable housing units to be developed. These units would be subject to certain conditions and requirements.
Kuhn said the purpose of the affordable housing plan was to provide “the development of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income housing in a suitable location.”
She said a table showing this zone would be included within the tax map of Jackson and the ordinances would also cover all affordable housing requirements concerning unit measurements, parking, signage, trash and loading.
Councilman Nino Borrelli said he received the three ordinances three days prior to the meeting. “I need time to digest and review them to visit the areas of town that will be affected in the future by this. I feel by these major ordinances we are spot zoning.”
Borrelli added, “I want to hear from residents as these are major zoning changes that could change the suburban character of Jackson and place a huge burden on our taxes, township services and infrastructure.” His remarks drew loud applause from the audience.
He voted no to all three ordinances stating, “I don’t know enough to make an informed decision. We talk about traffic in our town at almost every council meeting and how we deal with it. Why are we adding to it with these ordinances? We can barely keep up with what we currently have going on.”
The rest of the council voted in support of the ordinances which will have a public hearing at the Council’s August 26 meeting. “I’m going to vote yes because I believe this is something we have to do or we will get into trouble,” Kuhn added
Councilman Giuseppe Palmeri said, “affordable housing was dictated to us by the state. We have to build these over the course of the next 10 years. They overruled the municipality.”
Council Vice President Mordechai Burnstein said “the planning board had multiple hearings where residents had many opportunities to give their comments and thoughts.”
“Dr. (Michele) Campbell our planning board chairwoman and Miss (Lisa) DeMarzo really put their life and soul into these ordinances and to this master plan. The affordable housing plan was actually signed by Mayor Reina after tough negotiations with the state. He got a lower number (of required housing units) than Jackson has historically ever gotten,” Burnstein added.
Burnstein said the ordinances include stipulations and conditions “that are historic” which call for sufficient parking within the developments, a requirement for 10% of a development to be open space and a requirement mandating that every development have multiple entrances in order for emergency apparatus to get into those areas safely.
