TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council on Feb. 23 introduced revised affordable housing ordinances and approved shared-service agreements aimed at improving municipal internet service and helping keep local roads safe and clean.
Council introduced the affordable housing ordinances at a special meeting held via Zoom. The measures would increase required affordable housing set-asides, allow inclusionary townhouse development in new districts, adjust residential density in specific zones, and revise the township’s development fee provisions as part of its affordable housing regulations.
The ordinances were referred to the Planning Board for review and recommendation at its March 4 meeting (7 p.m.). A public hearing before the council is scheduled for March 9.
The special meeting was held ahead of a March 15 state deadline for municipalities to submit final affordable housing plans and implementing ordinances to the state Department of Community Affairs. The ordinance revisions stem from a mediation agreement between the township and Fair Share Housing Center approved Dec. 29, 2025. The session lasted 35 minutes.
The ordinances would implement the township’s Fourth-Round affordable housing plan, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2035.
Set-asides; new districts; density changes
Ordinance 26-01 would increase the mandatory affordable housing set-aside to 20% for developments of five or more units town-wide.
Ordinance 26-02 would amend local zoning by creating two new affordable housing districts—AH-1 and AH-2—to permit inclusionary townhouse development at specific sites. The ordinance also would revise the required affordable set-aside for Block 3405, Lot 1, consistent with the township’s new Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.
Block 3405, Lot 1 includes the Stone Mill Garden Center property on Ridgewood Road, owned by CRSMSS LLC.
Under Ordinance 26-02, the AH-1 Zone is intended to allow an inclusionary townhouse development of up to 72 total units, including a minimum of 15 affordable units, on Block 2329, Lot 2—the Valley National Bank site at 370 Pascack Road—owned by Ormon LLC.
The AH-2 Zone is intended to allow an inclusionary townhouse development of up to 32 total units, including a minimum of seven affordable units, on Block 2110, Lot 1 and Lots 6-11. The properties include a corner home at 659 Meisten Street and five lots along Pascack Road, where three vacant homes were demolished and two rental homes remain.
Ordinance 26-02 also would increase maximum permitted residential density in an affordable housing overlay area for Block 3202.01, Lot 3 from 15 dwelling units per acre to 18. The site includes property at Bethany Church of the Assemblies of God, 605 Pascack Road.
The township’s development fee provisions are incorporated into the revised Ordinance 26-01, a 51-page affordable housing amendment that also includes the increased set-aside requirements.
Shared services approved; budget meetings scheduled
Council approved three resolutions authorizing shared-service agreements with Bergen County, Hawthorne and Emerson.
Resolution 26-180 approved an agreement with Bergen County for secure, high-speed fiber-optic internet service. Resolution 26-182 approved an agreement with Hawthorne for the purchase of brine solution used to treat roads ahead of winter storm events. Resolution 26-163 authorized an agreement with Emerson to provide street-sweeping services.
By consensus, council also scheduled five budget meetings over the next month: March 2 (7 p.m.); March 9 (conference session); March 16 (7 p.m.); March 23 (conference session); and March 30 (7 p.m.). Meetings also are broadcast on YouTube.
Council also approved two resolutions setting 2026 compensation limits for the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Board engineers.
Resolution 26-176 set a 2026 not-to-exceed amount of $140,000 for Engineer John Yakimik of Boswell Engineering and set hourly rates of $239 for a project manager and $314 for a survey field crew.
Resolution 26-177 set a 2026 not-to-exceed amount of $140,000 for engineer Paul Azzolina of Azzolina & Feury Engineering, with an hourly rate not to exceed $136.