TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The Township Council approved continuing public hearings to Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m. on three affordable housing ordinances that will increase unit density in two overlay zones and approve zoning for 104 market-rate and affordable units at two specific sites during the fourth round of affordable housing.
The fourth round of state-mandated affordable housing runs 2025–2035. The two sites proposed for future development, including affordable housing, are at 370 Pascack Road (72 townhomes, including 15 affordables) and 660-682 Pascack Road (32 townhomes, including seven affordables).
Approximately a dozen residents raised concerns at the March 9 meeting about the proposed developments at both locations, noting the Valley National Bank area’s current congestion and steady traffic.
Residents raised similar concerns about the busy Pascack Road–Washington Avenue intersection, which recently was upgraded and expanded by Bergen County’s Engineering Department after years of complaints and delays over its proposed improvements.
On March 9, some residents cited negative impacts from more residents coming from the future developments, increased local traffic, and increased stress on the township’s infrastructure, including roads, sewers, schools, and emergency services.
A final revised municipal affordable housing plan and implementing ordinances are due to the state by mid-March, state officials said.
Council introduced the ordinances via a Zoom meeting on Feb. 23, which was held due to a major snow storm that hit the area Feb. 22–23.
The ordinances, 26-01, 26-02, and 26-03, amend the mandatory set-asides for affordable housing and create new AH-1 and AH-2 affordable housing districts to permit inclusionary townhouse development” on two properties: Valley National Bank, 370 Pascack Road, and five properties at 660-682 Pascack Road.
The Valley National Bank property is owned by Ormon LLC and 660-682 Pascack Road is owned by 660 Pascack Realty LLC. No developers have been publicly named for the properties.
The 660-682 Pascack Road site was proposed for a 17,100 square foot retail complex in 2022 by 660 Pascack Realty LLC that was unanimously rejected in May 2023 by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. 660 Pascack Realty LLC were appealing the rejection before deciding to become an intervenor/objector in 2024 to the township’s fourth round affordable plan.
(See “Suit over 4 Seasons Marketplace rejection lands March court date,” by Michael Olohan, Nov. 4, 2023, thepressgroup.net).
According to the township’s HEFSP, the Valley National Bank property (370 Pascack Road) is zoned for 72 townhomes (including 15 affordables) and the 660 Pascack Realty LLC property at 660-682 Pascack Road is zoned for 32 townhomes (including seven affordables).
The 660–682 Pascack Road site is currently occupied by three vacant lots and two small homes at the Pascack Road-Washington Avenue nexus.
These two affordable housing projects will satisfy the township’s 19-unit realistic development potential required under the fourth round affordable plan, officials said.
Residents can find the amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan by visiting the Planning Board website, clicking on the blue-shaded Public Notice box on the right, which brings residents to a page listing “Amended HE&FSP Plan” Residents can click on and bring up the 112-page plan. The three affordable ordinances, 26-01, 26-02 and 26-03 are also hyperinked below the affordable plan.
Officials said the state DCA, and Fair Share Housing Center, will do a mid-point review of where the local affordable housing plan stands after a five-year period. If changes need to be made because no affordable units have been produced, negotiations will likely occur over possible changes to the plan to effect affordable housing.
Neither development project has yet been proposed, and both would need to come before either the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment to present an application, and provide expert testimony on a variety of topics, including engineering, architecture, traffic impacts, stormwater management, and planning concerns.
Residents would have opportunities to ask questions of applicant experts and offer opinions on the proposals during those hearings.
According to the township’s amended fourth round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, “The Township has a 4th Round affordable housing obligation of 184 units that has been reduced to 11 units through a Vacant Land Adjustment (VLA) and a Realistic Development Potential (RDP) analysis as adjusted to 19 RDP through the Fourth Round Mediation Agreement.” The Township intends to address this number as summarized in the accompanying table.
Council Vice President Steven Cascio said the council and their attorney have tried to lower the number of market-rate and affordable units coming into town as a result of the fourth round plan.
He said from an initial obligation of 484 prospective affordable units, through various mechanisms and negotiations, they were able to lower the realistic development potential over 10 years to only 19 affordable units.
“We’re trying to do the best we can to keep the (market rate and affordable) numbers low,” Cascio said.