‘Costly’ settlement calls for affordable housing on Winnepeg Ave.
Last Updated on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 01:06 pm Written by Laura Stetser Wednesday, July 25, 2012 09:38 pm
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - With a vote of 4-1, the Township Committee approved the introduction of an ordinance authorizing the development of affordable housing along Winnepeg Avenue during its meeting Wednesday, July 25.
Once adopted, the ordinance puts into effect a settlement agreement between the township and the owner of English Creek Manor Mobile Home Park, whom since 2006 has been attempting to build a large development on the wooded tract of land between its current mobile home park and Winnpeg Avenue.
Township Solicitor Marc Friedman said the settlement was reached with input from the attorney hired by the residents in the area who opposed the initial plans to build 576 units. Through litigation, the total number of units was reduced to 225, he said.
“This settlement was based upon input of the citizens,” Friedman said. “It’s how the density was reduced from six units per acre to four and modifications were added in like the Winnepeg Avenue buffer zone.”
The settlement also allows the township to purchase 40 acres of land from the developer, which is adjacent to Tony Canale Park. The land could provide park access off of Winnepeg Avenue as well as create opportunity for additional “active recreation” spaces there.
Committeeman Joe Cafero said, “all things considered, it’s not bad deal,” but Committeeman John Carman, who cast the sole dissenting vote, said the residents had no choice but to comply with the settlement.
“It’s like being asked if you want two legs or one leg cut off; of course they chose one leg,” Carman said.
Mayor James “Sonny” McCullough said he was still not pleased with being forced to settle, but voted in favor of the measure to end the lawsuit.
“This is all because the state of New Jersey did not recognize the adequate low and moderate housing already in existence,” McCullough said. “We have more mobile homes than any other city in the state. Therefore, it gave a group of businessmen the opportunity to sue Egg Harbor Township. This is a recommendation to settle. This has been very costly to the taxpayers of Egg Harbor Township.”
The ordinance also calls for the township to revise its zoning map to create a new zone called AH-RG-4, an affordable housing zone that allows for the four-units-per-acre density.
The existing mobile home park, which fronts English Creek Avenue, would be permitted to continue as a nonconforming use and could have up to six units per acre. The mobile home park property and the new phase would have to be subdivided, the ordinance states.
To comply with current affordable housing laws, the project will have to include a mix of full market rate homes with low- to moderate-income housing. The low- to moderate-income housing is required to be integrated within the full-priced homes, rather than sectioned off in a separate portion of the development.
Only single-family homes would be able to front Winnepeg Avenue. Any attached dwellings, to be townhomes, would need to be contained inside the neighborhood, not facing any public streets, it states.
The matter now faces a second reading and vote by committee and an official public hearing on Sept. 12 before adoption.
From there, the settlement would be sent to the judge who heard the case, Friedman said. The developer would then follow the standard process of applications through the Planning Board.
Read more:
Committee reluctantly passes affordable housing measure
Egg Harbor Township hopes land moves lead to more affordable housing projects
Ordinance 32 no more as COAH dispute drags on
Egg Harbor Township Committee agenda
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|