MONTVALE, N.J.—A Montvale Planning Board vote on a resolution to grant preliminary approval for a controversial 185-unit, 50-foot-high multifamily housing development on a 7-acre site—which includes 37 affordable housing units—will likely occur at the board’s July 2, 7:30 p.m. meeting.
The proposed 185-unit “inclusionary development”—setting aside 20 percent of units for affordable housing—was included in the borough’s 2017 affordable housing settlement plan.
‘Preliminary approval’ vote
The July 2 vote will be for “preliminary approval” due to Hornrock Properties currently seeking approval of an application with Park Ridge to construct an access road on an adjacent one-acre sliver of land through Park Ridge to the Montvale site.
If and when that is approved, Hornrock can apply for final site plan approval in Montvale.
The first scheduled hearing on the access road application is July 16, 8 p.m. in Park Ridge.
185 units criticized
Final public comments on the 185-unit proposal were heard April 16, including critical comments from an attorney representing Park Ridge and a vocal Park Ridge resident.
The comments from attorney Carmine Alampi and David O’Sullivan became combative at times over legal and housing density concerns, related to each town’s affordable housing approaches and subsequent development—issues agitating residents, public officials and likely to affect both communities.
While Montvale settled its affordable housing plan in late 2017 and looks to construct housing required by it on seven acres of former Sony property there, Park Ridge remains embroiled in legal negotiations with Hornrock Properties, who has proposed plans to build nearly 1,000 units on an adjoining 30 acre Park Ridge site.
A Superior Court judge recently ordered Park Ridge, Hornrock Properties and Fair Share Housing Center to settle or face a September trial date on sticky issues such as determining a methodology on how to properly calculate affordable obligations.
A case conference to evaluate settlement progress or a trial timetable is set for July 15 before Judge Gregg Padovano.
Hornrock is proposing to construct 972 housing units, with a 20 percent set-aside of affordable units, on its adjacent 30-acre Park Ridge site, to help Park Ridge fulfill its “unmet need” affordable housing obligation.
Park Ridge consistently has maintained that “high-density overdevelopment” is not necessary to fulfill its affordable obligations. Both adjacent properties comprising the Montvale and Park RIdge sites were former Sony property.
Hornrock excluded
At a recent Superior Court case conference, Park Ridge attorney Scott Reynolds said the borough was negotiating with Fair Share Housing Center – without consulting with Hornrock Properties – to try to negotiate an affordable housing settlement apart from Hornrock with no development necessary on the 30-acre Sony property.
The proposed Park Ridge affordable settlement plan includes zero development on the Sony site.
Park Ridge contends its affordable plan, recently revised to include a 50-unit, 100 percent affordable complex near Bear’s Nest townhomes, should be sufficient to satisfy its affordable obligations.
Park Ridge driveway?
As of press time, negotiations had not been settled between Park Ridge and Fair Share Housing Center and a July 15 Superior Court case conference to assess progress was planned.
At its July 16 Park Ridge Zoning Bear hearing, Hornock is requesting a use variance from the Park Ridge Zoning Board to permit a driveway use on Park Ridge property and a bulk variance to permit less than the number of parking spaces on the Park Ridge lot to support the existing office building.
The former Sony office building there is unoccupied except for Hornrock Properties’ staff.
Without approval for the access road, Hornrock cannot apply for final Montvale approval of its 185-unit complex.