PARK RIDGE—Local officials say the borough is moving ahead with plans to comply with a Fourth Round mediated affordable housing settlement and meet its state-mandated deadlines for compliance by a March 15 deadline. The Borough Council is likely to introduce ordinances to implement its 2025–2035 Fourth Round affordable housing plan — which requires construction of three affordable units — at a mid-February council meeting following approvals by the state and input from the local Planning Board, said the borough clerk.
Clerk Maggie Giandomenico told Pascack Press that draft ordinances to change local zoning would be filed with the state’s Affordable Housing Dispute Resolution Program by Friday, Jan. 16 to implement the borough’s proposed fourth round affordable housing plan.
At the sine die meeting Jan. 6, the council approved a fourth round mediated agreement between Fair Share Housing Center and Park Ridge, requiring only three units to be built in the 10-year fourth round period.
Until the agreement is finalized and certified by a Superior Court judge, it will not be made public, the clerk said. The initial borough Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, due by June 30, is available online. However, the mediated agreement will amend that plan, local officials said.
Mayor Keith Misciagna told us that the borough’s fourth round mediated agreement “will help us maintain the ability to determine what development in Park Ridge is appropriate.” He added, “We feel it is very beneficial to Park Ridge.”
Misciagna told us that the agreement, “recognizes that the Borough lacks sufficient developable land to address its full obligation. Thus, its Round 3 obligation is subject to a vacant land adjustment which adjusts its Round 3 obligation of 225 to a Realistic Development Potential (“RDP) of 146.
He noted, “The same is true of Round 4 whereby the 119-unit obligation is adjusted to an RDP of three, which yields a Round 4 balance, or unmet need of 116,” said the mayor.
Misciagna said to address the Fourth Round’s unmet affordable housing need and provide redevelopment opportunities, Park Ridge agreed to increase housing densities associated with several overlay zones, such as AH-1 (Affordable Housing) and NB (Neighborhood Business) zones. Officials said the densities would be made public when the ordinances are considered by council.
Misciagna noted, “Additionally, the (mediated) agreement calls for a conversion of the AH-2 Zone from a 100% affordable development to a 20% inclusionary development.”
Towns were required to have objections to fourth round plans resolved by Dec. 31, 2025 after mediation via the state’s Dispute Resolution Program, officials said. Some are still wrapping these up while a March 15 deadline looms to approve implementing ordinances for the plans.
The mediated agreement addresses 2025–2035 obligations as well as prior third round (1999–2025) obligations, said officials, Giandomenico said that zoning ordinances to implement the fourth round plan would likely come before council, and the public, at the Feb. 24 council meeting.
Both Misciagna and borough affordable housing counsel Michael Edwards said the mediated settlement with Fair Share Housing Center should result in “compliance certification” and provide protection from “builder’s remedy” lawsuits for towns out of compliance with Fourth Round obligations.
Initiated by developers, these lawsuits can lead to the superseding of local zoning and the court imposition of higher density developments.