WOODCLIFF LAKE—A Land Use Board public hearing on proposed amendments to the borough’s fourth-round affordable housing plan is set for Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, 188 Pascack Road, ahead of the mid-March state deadline for approved plans.
After the Feb. 24 hearing, officials said the revised plan is expected to return to the Borough Council for a final vote March 16. Councilor Joshua Stern told Pascack Press the borough received a one-day extension on the state deadline, moving it from March 15 to March 16.
Officials said Daniel Hauben of T&M Associates, the borough’s affordable housing planner, is expected to give a brief presentation Feb. 24 outlining the changes.
Residents may ask questions at the Land Use Board hearing and again before the council vote March 16. Officials said residents must appear in person to participate.
Stern said one of the largest changes is proposed zoning tied to the former Party City site, allowing 91 units, including 18 age-restricted affordable units, which officials said would help address the borough’s fourth-round “unmet need” requirement of 58 units.
The draft amendment document, titled First Amendment to the Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, is available online under Land Use Board Applications on the Land Use Board website.
Key figures in the draft amendment
The proposed plan states the borough updated its “realistic development potential” (RDP) after a vacant land analysis found Woodcliff Lake could support zoning capacity that could yield 131 affordable units under inclusionary development standards.
The plan also states the borough’s “prospective need” is 360 units, creating an “unmet need” of 229 units. Under the state framework referenced in the draft, the borough must provide a realistic opportunity for at least 25% of that unmet need to be created during the fourth round — 58 units, officials said.
Projects and mechanisms cited in the plan
The draft outlines multiple sites and mechanisms used to satisfy the RDP and unmet need, including:
Toward the 131-unit RDP (affordable housing capacity)
- 240 Broadway area: Redevelopment plan contemplated for 63 units, including 12 affordable units, on an expanded tract (including 258 and 264 Broadway), with bonus credits cited due to proximity to the train station.
- Hilton Hotel, 200 Tice Blvd.: A redevelopment plan is expected to permit 147 units, including 30 affordable units, with bonus credits cited.
- BMW redevelopment site: A previously adopted plan permits 370 units, including 74 affordable units (34 family and 40 supportive/special needs), with credits split between RDP and unmet need in the draft.
- 126 Broadway: Eight apartments, including two affordable units, with transit-oriented bonus credits cited.
- 230 Broadway (North Broadway): A third-round project with 24 affordable units; the plan proposes applying a surplus of four units to the fourth-round RDP.
- Waterfront Rest Home Boarding House: The draft states the borough will continue to credit 13 bedrooms/units of transitional housing toward the RDP.
Toward the 58-unit unmet need
- BMW redevelopment site: The draft applies the remaining 36 supportive housing units toward unmet need.
- THO Townhouse Overlay Zone: The plan anticipates four affordable units at full build-out (based on a 20% set-aside) on Block 908, Lot 2 (88 Overlook Drive).
- 100 Tice Blvd./former Party City site: The draft calls for an ordinance permitting up to 91 total units, including no fewer than 18 age-restricted affordable units.