Message from Mayor Josh Losardo | May 5, 2022
I’d like to address questions I have been receiving regarding residential development taking place in Scotch Plains as well as surrounding communities.
Town’s Settlement Agreement with Fair Share Housing
In January 2018, Scotch Plains settled its affordable housing obligations in a court proceeding with Fair Share Housing Center. In New Jersey, all municipalities are constitutionally obligated to provide for the development of affordable housing. To get municipalities to satisfy their obligations, developers can file lawsuits against towns to construct housing at much higher densities than a municipality would otherwise permit.
As a result, Bowcraft on Route 22, Parker Gardens on Terrill Road, as well as other properties outlined in the settlement agreement, are being developed into inclusionary housing developments containing both market-rate and affordable units.
While I oppose discriminatory zoning practices and support the development of affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income families, I take every opportunity to advocate for common sense reforms to the provisions in which a municipality’s affordable housing obligations are calculated. Current practice, for example, does not consider how the construction of new units mandated by the settlement agreement may impact our schools, infrastructure, or traffic. Our representatives in the State Legislature must work with the Governor to give towns, such as Scotch Plains, more control over when evaluating development impacts.
Revitalization of Our Downtown Corridor
The Township will meet our affordable housing obligations by revitalizing our downtown with new mixed-use developments. Permitting additional density downtown will allow us to focus development there while protecting our well-established residential zones from further development.
The owners of existing and new businesses in town know their futures are bright when downtown Scotch Plains is home to new residents who will live, work and shop along Park Avenue, East Second Street and Front Street.
Investing Energy in What We Can Control
Our lawmakers in Trenton control whether or not affordable housing laws are modified in our state.
Our local officials, therefore, must invest energy in initiatives within our control. This is why Scotch Plains will permit the sale of recreational cannabis on Route 22 only. This may bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to the municipality and reduce our near total reliance on the collection of property taxes.
Moreover, generating new revenue streams is a reason why my colleagues and I adopted the Township’s Downtown Redevelopment Plan last November. The Plan will lead to more economic development and increased tax ratables to stabilize property taxes.
I’ve also joined other area mayors to identify ways to improve mobility and public safety throughout our greater community. Late last month, we formed the “Route 28/South Avenue Mayors’ Consortium” with a commitment to work collaboratively to capitalize on the benefits of new proposed development in the entire region while mitigating mobility and traffic circulation challenges, specifically along the North and South avenue corridors.
All of us understand the potential regional impact on traffic congestion, mobility, infrastructure, and municipal services when redevelopment occurs. We also understand that development in one town impacts the mobility and economic fortunes of neighboring towns. By working more closely together, we can all have brighter futures.
Conclusion
I urge residents to advocate for common sense reforms to affordable housing obligations by contacting our State legislators. I will continue to do the same at every opportunity.
For more information about affordable housing or the Fair Share Housing litigations, please visit https://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/index.php/departments/affordable-housing and click on the various documents available there.
