Next Date For Millburn Affordable Housing Hearing Is In April

MILLBURN, NJ — The next hearing in Millburn's ongoing affordable housing saga will take place on April 19, rescheduled from earlier this month.

The Affordable Housing Compliance Hearing and Motion to Enforce Litigant's Rights will take place that day at 10 a.m. at the Historic Court House in Newark.

The hearing is meant for the court to determine whether a proposed plan for affordable housing meets Millburn's state mandate "to provide a realistic opportunity for satisfaction of its 'fair share' of the regional need for housing affordable to low- and moderate-income households."

Each town in New Jersey must comply with state affordable housing mandates, due to a 1980s court case.

But how and where should each town provide that housing? Therein lies the challenge.

More than a year ago, the Millburn Township Committee approved a settlement with the Fair Share Housing Corporation, a non-profit activist group, to ultimately meet the affordable housing obligation by 2025, including some new development.

But residents (and certain officials) objected to an all-affordable housing development proposed for 9 Main St., which would provide 75 units for families. A petition from residents protesting the building has amassed more than 2,000 signatures.

In one of the most expensive zip codes in the country, finding any sort of affordable housing in the area is a struggle.

History And How To Post A Letter

• Read prior reporting and see links to more background here.
• Post a letter or release on Millburn/Short Hills Patch here.