TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—During a 35-minute Zoom meeting Feb. 23, the Township Council introduced three revised affordable housing ordinances tied to the township’s fourth-round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. Council members also agreed to schedule five budget meetings over the next month and delayed action on several resolutions, including shared-service agreements and professional services thresholds, until March 9.
Affordable housing ordinances
The Feb. 23 special meeting was held ahead of a state-imposed March 15, 2026 deadline for towns to submit final affordable housing plans and implementing ordinances to the state Department of Community Affairs. The ordinance changes stem from a mediation agreement between the township and Fair Share Housing Center approved Dec. 29, 2025.
The new ordinances would implement the township’s fourth-round affordable housing plan, covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2035.
The ordinances were referred to the Planning Board for review and recommendation at its March 4 meeting (7 p.m.). They are scheduled for a public hearing before the Township Council on March 9.
Ordinance 26-01 increases the mandatory affordable housing set-aside to 20% of units for developments of five or more units townwide. The revised ordinance also incorporates development fee provisions into a 51-page affordable housing amendment.
Ordinance 26-02 amends zoning by creating two new affordable housing districts — AH-1 and AH-2 — to permit inclusionary townhouse developments on specified properties, and adjusts the required affordable set-aside for Block 3405, Lot 1 to align with the new Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. Block 3405, Lot 1 includes Stone Mill Garden Center along Ridgewood Road, owned by CRSMSS LLC.
Under Ordinance 26-02, the AH-1 Zone would permit 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 would permit 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. Those 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 increases maximum permitted residential density on an affordable housing overlay zone for Block 3202.01, Lot 3 from 15 dwelling units per acre to 18 dwelling units per acre. That site includes Bethany Church of the Assemblies of God, 605 Pascack Road.
Shared services and professional services resolutions
Council members delayed consideration of several resolutions because of an amended agenda, and said the items are expected to be taken up at the March 9 meeting.
Three resolutions related to shared-service agreements are expected to be on the March 9 agenda. Resolution 26-180 would authorize a shared-services agreement with Bergen County for secure, high-speed fiber-optic internet service. Resolution 26-182 would authorize a shared-services agreement with Hawthorne for the purchase of brine solution to treat road surfaces prior to winter storms. Another would authorize a shared-services agreement with Emerson for street-sweeping services.
Council also delayed two resolutions setting 2026 compensation thresholds for board engineers until March 9.
Resolution 26-176 would set a 2026 “threshold” of $140,000 for engineer John Yakimik of Boswell Engineering, with hourly rates listed at $239 for project management and $314 for a survey field crew.
Resolution 26-177 would set a 2026 “threshold” of $140,000 for engineer Paul Azzolina of Azzolina & Feury Engineering, with a rate not to exceed $136 per hour.
Budget meetings
Council members agreed to hold five budget meetings over the next month. The schedule is:
- Monday, March 2, 7 p.m.
- Monday, March 9, during conference session
- Monday, March 16, 7 p.m.
- Monday, March 23, during conference session
- Monday, March 30, 7 p.m.
Meetings are also broadcast on YouTube.
Correction
We incorrectly reported March 2 that five resolutions were approved by the council on Feb. 23. Due to an amended agenda, the items were not considered and were not approved; they are expected to appear on the March 9 agenda. The resolutions are 176, 177, 180, 182 and 183, covering “not to exceed” $140,000 amounts for the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Board attorneys, and shared services for Bergen County fiber optics, brine purchase from Hawthorne, and street sweeping from Emerson. This is the revised article. We regret the error.