Moorestown’s needs
As published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, NJ Edition, 1/21/2016
Moorestown’s affordable-housing plan is actually two plans — one showing how it would build 386 units and the other for 406 units (“Moorestown criticized on affordable housing plan,” Friday).
The number 386 comes from the 2014 regulations that were proposed but not adopted by the state Council on Affordable Housing. Because Moorestown did not receive guidance from Superior Court in Burlington County on the number of units needed, the township used a ruling by Superior Court Judge Thomas C. Miller for its plans.
Moorestown also decided that it lacks the land to be required to provide 1,477 new units
— the number the Fair Share Housing Center, an advocacy group, contends the township needs.
Moorestown and other municipalities hired Econsult Solutions to develop affordable- housing numbers. Moorestown’s number, 171, was not available for the November filing deadline. Moorestown’s plans for 386 and 406 units would provide more than double the necessary units.
A special master appointed by Superior Court Judge Ronald E. Bookbinder has recommended that the township zone for 1,313 affordable units. However, the circumstances under which the special master wrote her report have changed.
Brian M. Slaugh, Moorestown housing consultant, Trenton
